You've seen the famous aliens, planets and scientists, but now it's time to venture even farther into the depths of space.

The moment of first contact with extraterrestrials is a staple of science fiction. It usually involves a frantic scientist having a Eureka moment, realising in a single dramatic instant that Earth is being visited by creatures from light-years away.

"The Arrival" was quietly released by Orion Pictures on May 31, 1996, one month before the comic book-like alien invasion spectacle of "Independence Day" landed, and a year before

Exclusive: What makes a great science fiction movie? Prof. Lisa Yaszek dives into the commonalities among iconic sci-fi movies across the decades.