Among the ever-growing list of Alien copycat movies, Outland remains an underrated gem. Unlike the run of 1980s creature features like Forbidden World, Creature, and Leviathan, which tried to capture the magic of the xenomorph, this sci-fi thriller focused its attention on Alien’s working-class grit. Returning with a 4K Blu-ray restoration this month, it’s ready to find a new generation of fans.

Released in 1981, Outland stars Sean Connery as the new federal marshal for an isolated mining colony on Io, one of Jupiter’s moons. Taking cues from the 1952 western High Noon, it’s a brutal tale of murder and corruption in a frontier community — with a cynical edge of anti-capitalist commentary, borrowed straight from the dystopian corporate worldbuilding of Alien.

When Connery's character William O'Neil arrives on Io, he finds himself in a tough environment where life is cheap and working conditions are harsh. The company boss brags that his miners are bringing in a record haul, but we soon understand that this isn't sustainable. When two workers die under suspicious (and grotesque) circumstances, O’Neil begins to investigate, uncovering an amphetamine ring that endangers the lives of everyone on the base.

Read our full appreciation of Outland here.

Some hotels ask you to choose between getting ahead and getting away, but this one doesn’t. Set on a private marina in Newport Beach, the award-winning Balboa Bay Resort combines coastal leisure with executive polish, making it as ideal for brainstorming as it is for basking.

Sip your morning espresso while taking in the harbor views, then let your afternoons drift into spa time, poolside catch-ups, or quiet balcony calls that feel suspiciously like vacation. Inside, contemporary rooms and sleek meeting spaces bring a dose of California confidence, while the waterfront dining scene delivers a reward that’s well earned. As the sun sets over the bay, the pace slows, the inbox fades, and balance stops feeling theoretical.