Who directed the original 1979 film "Alien"?

Ridley Scott directed the original 1979 film "Alien."

The science-fiction horror film follows the crew of the commercial spacecraft Nostromo, who investigate a mysterious derelict vessel and encounter a deadly extraterrestrial organism. Scott shaped the movie around an atmosphere of isolation, industrial decay, and sustained uncertainty rather than constant action. Sigourney Weaver stars as Ellen Ripley, who became one of cinema's most famous survival protagonists.

The film was written by Dan O'Bannon from a story developed with Ronald Shusett. Swiss artist H. R. Giger designed the alien creature and much of its unsettling visual world, giving the film its distinctive biomechanical style. Jerry Goldsmith composed the score, while the production used detailed miniatures, practical creature effects, and elaborate sets.

"Alien" is sometimes confused with later franchise entries or with James Cameron's 1986 sequel, "Aliens." Scott directed the first film; Cameron directed the sequel. The 1979 original is also notable for winning the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and for its famous tagline, "In space no one can hear you scream."