# Why do aliens in movies/TV always invade the USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 27, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014 "2009-03-27T17:03:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/61 "2009-03-30T15:19:42Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Because of our obesity problem, we cannot run away as quickly, and we are also therefore chewier. šŸ˜ƒ And tastier. And we offer more variety, for hungry alien families that canā€™t decide whether theyā€™re in the mood for Mexican or Chinese or Italian. America is the worldā€™s food court! ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/62 "2009-03-30T17:44:36Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > > [@mbh](#): > > > > You forget the words of the French prime minister: ā€œWe have just signed an accord with the Martians!ā€ > > Soā€¦ howā€™d that work out? Ask Neville Chamberlain. Most alien invasions in the United States center on the major cities and landmarks. But there is the short story _It came from Schenectady_. And the movie _Superman II_ had the aliens first invading the moon and then ā€¦ Houston. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/63 "2009-03-30T18:03:12Z")
In conjunction with the release of the movie Independence Day, BBC radio broadcast a drama telling the story of what was going on in Britain during the movieā€™s events. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/64 "2009-03-30T18:19:40Z")
Does Bollywood make alien-invasion movies? Do those aliens invade India? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/65 "2009-03-30T19:37:27Z")
Well, if their ā€˜sensorsā€™ picked up energy production/consumption, wouldnā€™t America be the logical choice? Or maybe they just like the big American breasts. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/66 "2009-03-30T20:41:20Z")
Close Encounters of the Third Kind had them in Mexico first, returning American airplanes they collected over the gulf of Mexico. Then they put a ship in the Gobi, which shows their sense of humor. But eventually they help to Hollywood convention by buzzing Ohio and landing in Wyoming. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/67 "2009-03-30T20:51:52Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Undocumented aliens from outer space. Themā€™s the best kind! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/68 "2009-03-30T21:15:58Z")
The humans, cylons, and cylo-human from Battlestar Galactica settle first in Africa, then migrate all over the world. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/69 "2009-03-31T02:51:01Z")
Because the USAā€™s _still_ more exciting than Bucharestā€¦ on a Monday night. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/70 "2009-03-31T03:14:48Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > But Movies have to cater to a broader audience Especially around the butt area. [QUOTE=badbadrubberpiggy] [QUOTE=aruvqan] In Signs isnt that first video of the aliens from Mexico? A birthday party or something, wasnt it? [/QUOTE] I havenā€™t seen the movie in awhile, but I think youā€™re right. I donā€™t remember the exact country it was in, somewhere in South America, though, IIRC. [/QUOTE] Mexico is in North America. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/71 "2009-03-31T03:22:40Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > The humans, cylons, and cylo-human from Battlestar Galactica settle first in Africa, then migrate all over the world. I hope that was not a spoiler , I was trying to avoid all BSG related threads till the season 4 dvd came out. Declan ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/72 "2009-03-31T03:27:12Z")
In The Abyss, the aliens settle away from humans in deep ocean. Sensible. Thereā€™s a lot of good real estate down there if you donā€™t mind water. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/73 "2009-03-31T11:05:18Z")
Nevermind, beaten to the joke ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/74 "2009-03-31T12:43:41Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Sutherland got it right. > > To aliens the concept of ā€œCountryā€ would be meaningless. Wanna explain how you know that? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/75 "2009-03-31T12:49:06Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > I hope that was not a spoiler , I was trying to avoid all BSG related threads till the season 4 dvd came out. > > Declan Better stay off the Internet until then! ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/76 "2009-03-31T17:25:35Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > I hope that was not a spoiler , I was trying to avoid all BSG related threads till the season 4 dvd came out. > > Declan Damn. Sorry about that. Itā€™s all in how they get there and what happens. Can a mod spoiler that for me? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/77 "2009-04-02T09:29:47Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Because of our obesity problem, we cannot run away as quickly, and we are also therefore chewier. šŸ˜ƒ Thatā€™s actually part of the plot (sort of) of a new Doctor Who story. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/78 "2009-04-02T14:42:00Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > Thatā€™s actually part of the plot (sort of) of a new Doctor Who story. ā€œIā€™m waving at fat!ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/79 "2009-04-02T22:09:05Z")
The aliens in [the Thing](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084787/) attacked Antarctica. Which is either very stupid of themā€¦or not particuarly ambitious. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/80 "2009-04-03T00:21:55Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > The aliens in [the Thing](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084787/) attacked Antarctica. Which is either very stupid of themā€¦or not particuarly ambitious. I donā€™t think thatā€™s an accurate description. The Thing crashlands on earth and goes into hibernation. It then attacks (possibly in self defense) the humans who wake it up. It isnā€™t a planned invasion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014.md?page=5)