'Alien' has been named the scariest movie creature of all time.

The frightening creation first appeared on movie screens in 1979, bursting out of John Hurt's chest, and came out on top of a Radio Times reader survey, pipping the skeleton army from 'Jason and the Argonauts' to the post.

Only two modern villains appeared in the top 10 - the life-sucking Dementors from the Harry Potter movies and Pale Man, which feeds on children and fairies, from 2006 film 'Pan's Labyrinth'.

The Thing came third in the scary stakes, while 'Nightmare On Elm Street's' serial killer Freddy Krueger and the great white shark from Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws' complete the top five.

Dracula, Godzilla and killer doll Chucky are all also in the top 10.

Other terrifying creatures, who didn't quite scare moviegoers enough to make the top 10 include 'Star Wars' Jabba the Hutt, the Terminator and the Tyrannosaurus Rex from 'Godzilla'.

The poll results come shortly after Neill Blomkamp confirmed he is to make a new 'Alien' movie.

The South African-Canadian director revealed he's agreed a deal with 20th Century Fox to make the eagerly-awaited new film, after taking inspiration from veteran 'Alien' actress Sigourney Weaver during the making of 'Chappie'.

He said: ''Speaking to Sigourney Weaver, when we were doing Chappie, she set off a bunch of thoughts in my head - I had come up with an idea that didn't have Sigourney, it was a different idea. But I spent all of the shooting time with her, it was like, holy s***, that could actually be really interesting.''

Top ten greatest movie monsters:

1. Alien - Alien

2. Skeleton Army - Jason And The Argonauts

3. The Thing - The Thing

4. Freddy Kruger - A Nightmare On Elm Street

5. Jaws - Jaws

6. Dracula - Dracula

7. Godzilla - Godzilla

8. Pale Man - Pan's Labyrinth

9. Dementor - Harry Potter

10. Chucky - Child's Play