Gareth Edwards (who later made Rogue One ) directed this for $15,000. Six years after aliens crash-landed, giant creatures roam the "infected zone" between Mexico and the US. This is a road-trip romance set against Lovecraftian giant aliens. Stunning cinematography on a micro-budget.

Neill Blomkamp’s apartheid allegory. An alien ship stalls over Johannesburg. The refugees inside (the "Prawns") are forced into slums. This found-footage / documentary hybrid is brutal, sad, and action-packed. It asks: What if we were the monsters?

Set in 1950s New Mexico. A switchboard operator and a radio DJ discover a strange audio frequency. The entire film is a rapid-fire dialogue mystery, culminating in one of the most haunting UFO reveal shots ever (a silent, massive triangle gliding over the forest). Masterful low-budget filmmaking.