In case you didn’t know, this beloved TV character’s name is not short for "Alfred." It actually comes from the term "Alien Life Form," but don’t be alarmed: This alien is as friendly as they come. ALF is the quirky and lovable adopted family member of the Tanner family, who gained the heart of the American public in the 80s and 90s.

ALF’s story begins after this alien’s spaceship crash-landed in the garage of the Tanner’s, a typical suburban American family. Although his many antics often bring trouble for the entire family, ALF’s big heart quickly makes the Tanners fall in love with him, harboring and keeping him hidden from the U.S. government.

Image: Erik Mclean

Are we in the presence of the most famous film alien in history? While we might not be able to answer this question (the remaining entries on this list might very well be as beloved), E.T. is definitively a heavy contender for this highly-coveted title. It’s been over 40 years since this extraterrestrial’s only on-screen appearance, but he still remains as iconic as he ever was.

Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film tells the story of Elliot, a typical American boy who befriends a lovable alien stranded on Earth. Elliot, alongside his family and friends, helps E.T. go back home, leaving us with a few of the most memorable moments in cinematic history.

Image: Rick L

Not every alien on this list has to look weird: Leave it to the amazing Robin Williams to portray one of the most beloved TV aliens in history. "Mork and Mindy" shows the adventures of Mindy McConnell, an American teenager who befriends an alien simply known as "Mork from Ork."

Not many know that this now classic TV show was an offshoot of another beloved American show, "Happy Days." Williams's only appearance in a Happy Days episode impressed producers so much that they decided to give this TV legend his first chance.

Image: photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0

Marvin the Martian might be the first alien on this list to pose a threat to mankind, but don’t worry: His plans usually backfire in a spectacular fashion, usually thanks to a wisecracking rabbit or to a lisping duck with anger issues.

Originally voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc, perhaps what’s more memorable about Marvin is his unusual design: You wouldn’t expect a creature of outer space to sport a red unitard, green skirt, nor a fashionable broom on his helmet, right?

Image: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0

If you had to describe Chewbacca to someone who had never seen the film, the image they would form in their head wouldn’t necessarily describe Han Solo’s partner in crime, right? After all, they would probably think of Chewie as some sort of huge and extremely adorable teddy bear, unaware of the danger they would be in if they called this iconic Wookie cute.

However, as ferocious as Chewbacca was to any Storm Trooper that dared to step in his way, he was also an extremely loyal and loving comrade to any of his many rebel friends. Few movie sounds are as memorable as Chewie’s deafening roar.

Image: Kadyn Pierce

First things first: In case you didn’t know, the titular alien species in the "Alien" film series does have a name. Well, sort of. These jet-black monstrosities are actually known as the Xenomorph. However, should you ask an etymology aficionado about what this Ancient Greek word actually means, the answer would simply be "an alien or strange creature." So, in a way, these creatures can simply be called "Aliens.".

In any case, few extraterrestrials have instilled so much fear into the hearts of moviegoers: Their razor-sharp claws, amazing strength, and acidic blood definitively make them one of the most dangerous creatures in film history. In fact, only one fictional alien species has been able to stand their ground against the vicious Xenomorphs and, as luck would have it, they are the next entry on this list!

Image: Hossam el-Hamalawy, CC BY 2.0

Way before the 2001 movie "Alien vs Predator" pitted these two science-fiction juggernauts against one another, the Predator had already established itself as the deadliest hunter in the galaxy. This alien race lives for one thing and one thing only: To prove their skills by tracking and hunting down the most dangerous and exquisite creatures.

The 1987 film "Predator" introduced the world to this cold-blooded hunter by placing him in a terrifying environment: The film follows Vietnam War veteran Major Dutch (played by Arnold Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his efforts to escape the Predator that’s hunting them in the deep jungle. However, the second Predator film saw an even more unnerving scenario: The Predator hunting down prey in the streets of Los Angeles.

Image: Anderson Mancini from Sao Paulo, Brazil, CC BY 2.0

Is Mr. Spock on this list? It seems only logical. In a list almost entirely comprised of extraordinary and bizarre creatures, it only took a set of pointy ears to turn actor Leonard Nimoy into one of the most instantly recognizable fictional aliens in history.

Mr. Spock has been a staple of the Star Trek universe since the very first episode of the original show aired in the 1960s. Spock quickly became a fan favorite: His highly logical brain, combat skills and passion for science made him extremely interesting to TV audiences. Not only that, Nimoy’s deep voice and magnetic personality added to the depth of this character.

Image: Wonderlane

When audiences saw Tim Burton’s 1996 black comedy "Mars Attack!," they were quickly enthralled by the menacing yet funny-looking Martians attacking our country. However, few of them knew that these aliens were actually much older, dating back to a 1960s trading card game produced by Topps.

The lore established by the trading card series and the film is pretty much the same: One day, our planet finds itself invaded by a race of Martians hell-bent on taking over our planet. While the Earth is first unable to defend against their superior technology, our tenacity and grit allow us to battle these hideous space invaders.

Image: Derpy CG

We’ll end this article with the last son of Krypton. Sometimes we tend to forget that Superman, a superhero believed by many to be the ultimate American icon, arrived on our planet as a baby from outer space. After his home planet was doomed, Kal-El’s biological father sent him far away across the galaxy, with his small vessel crash-landing into a small farm in Smallville, Kansas.

Baby Kal-El was found by Jonathan and Martha Kent, two farmers who instantly adopted him as their own child. Now known as Clark, the boy that would eventually become the "Man of Steel" found his powers at an early age, and set out to defend our world from all sorts of dangers.

Image: Esteban López