Rowdy Roddy Piper's Best Movie Is An '80s Sci-Fi Classic That's Only Streaming On One Service

Are you in the mood to kick a** and chew bubblegum? If so, Amazon Prime Video is streaming John Carpenter's "They Live," one of the best sci-fi horror films of the '80s. As of this writing, that's the only streaming service where everyone can watch Carpenter's classic, which sees Roddy Piper and Keith David team up to take down some aliens.

Piper plays Nada, an everyman who — after obtaining some special sunglasses — discovers that Earth is secretly inhabited by aliens. The invaders also just so happen to be disguised as society's ruling-class citizens, and they broadcast subliminal messages through the media and billboards to keep humanity under their control. David plays Nada's friend, Frank, but these are the type of pals who are prone to brawling with each other in alleyways.

"They Live" is one of the best alien invasion movies ever made — one that blends action with satire to lambast politicians, the media, capitalism, and the commercialization of our culture. It's also the only Piper movie to receive a fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as the WWE legend generally starred in low-budget schlock ("Hell Comes to Frogtown" slaps, regardless of what the naysayers say). With that said, what made critics fall in love with "They Live"?

"They Live" is a smart flick, but John Carpenter embraces the absurdity and mayhem we want from alien movies starring pro wrestlers. It's also a great sci-fi Western, with Roddy Piper portraying a drifter who wanders into a town and finds trouble — not unlike the cowboys Clint Eastwood used to play. "They Live" is a pure Carpenter movie, and that's why it's awesome. What's more, the core message of "They Live" still feels relevant almost 40 years after its release.

As Phil Hoad of The Guardian noted, "The film was responding to the start of the U.S. rust belt and Reagan-era consumerism, but its themes of working-class subjugation and omnipresent media control have only become more pressing." Some critics, such as Jason Bailey of Flavorwire, also praised "They Live" for subverting the action movie tropes of the '80s. After all, the story is centered around an everyman, as opposed to a larger-than-life human terminator. "Piper's character fumbles frequently, often to the accompaniment of Carpenter and Alan Howarth's twangy, poor-loser score; it's a sharp contrast to the indestructible, infallible action heroes of the Stallone/Schwarzenegger era."

"They Live" is essential viewing for sci-fi, horror, and action fans — and it's available for your viewing pleasure on Amazon Prime Video. So load it up, have a good time, and ponder its deeper meaning after enjoying all of the fist fights and shootouts.