The plot of "Aliens" is set 57 years after the events of "Alien." Ripley is discovered drifting through space in hypersleep and is brought to a human colony called LV-426. When contact with the colony is lost, a group of Colonial Marines, accompanied by Ripley, is sent to investigate. They find the colony in ruins, with the alien xenomorphs responsible for the devastation.
"Aliens" introduces the concept of the Queen Alien, a larger and more powerful creature that serves as the hive's central egg-laying organism. The film emphasizes intense action sequences as the Colonial Marines, led by Corporal Dwayne Hicks (played by Michael Biehn), and Ripley face off against the xenomorphs.
The movie explores themes of motherhood and maternal instinct through Ripley's connection with Newt, a young girl who is the only survivor of the colony. Sigourney Weaver's performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, showcasing the film's ability to combine thrilling action with compelling character development.
"Aliens" received critical acclaim and was a commercial success. It is often regarded as one of the greatest sequels in cinematic history, and James Cameron's direction is praised for maintaining the tension and horror of the original while introducing a new dimension of action and excitement. The film further solidified the "Alien" franchise as a significant and influential part of science fiction cinema.