Every week, Ultimate Movie Year looks back into the past to highlight the best film that came out that weekend.

“Aliens”
Released July 18, 1986
Directed by James Cameron

We've cheered for many cinematic heroines over our lifetimes, particularly in the past few years, as women are headlining action, adventure and superhero films more and more. But even more than 30 years later, Sigourney Weaver's journey as Ellen Ripley in "Aliens" uniquely stands tall among her peers.