Alien named as top 18-rated scene

Alien featured iconic set design

The gory "chestburster" scene in sci-fi classic Alien has been named the greatest 18-certificate movie moment.

Movie magazine Empire is marking its 18th birthday with a list of the top 18-rated moments in film.

John Hurt's bloody demise edged out the decapitation scene from The Omen, with the transformation sequence in An American Werewolf in London at three.

A second 18-rated poll, for the greatest shower scene, confirmed Psycho as the soap-sud champion.

TOP FIVE 18 RATED SCENES 1 Dinner chestburster - Alien (pictured) 2 Glass decapitation - The Omen 3 Wolf transformation - An American Werewolf in London 4 Crucifix abuse - The Exorcist 5 Ready Ralph? - Risky Business

In Ridley Scott's 1979 Alien, astronaut Hurt gets a mystery creature stuck to his face.

He appears to have recovered after it falls off but as he sits down to lunch, a fang-toothed creature explodes from his chest.

Movie lore claims that to heighten the sense of shock, the rest of the cast were not fully briefed on what was about to happen.

The decapitation scene in 1976's apocalyptic thriller The Omen horrified audiences by being shot in slow motion and from multiple angles.

Most of the films included in the top 18 are classic horror movies, such as The Exorcist, The Thing and The Evil Dead.

But raunch makes an appearance at number five with Rebecca De Mornay's entrance in Risky Business.

And gangsters make a significant contribution with Reservoir Dogs, The Godfather and Casino all making the chart.

In the shower scene poll, college comedy Porky's comes in at number two, with the volleyball team from Carrie at three.