a catalogue of documented anomalies on planet Earth // maintained by the Aliens
> RECORD OBS-0143 | status: DEBUNKED | filed 2026-07-31
Home > Extraterrestrial > Alien Autopsy Film Hoax

Alien Autopsy Film Hoax

RecordOBS-0143
CategoryExtraterrestrial/UFOs
StatusDEBUNKED
SummaryIn 1995, a film purporting to show an autopsy of an alien from the Roswell crash was released, sparking worldwide controversy. The film was later admitted to be a fake by its creator, Ray Santilli, though he claimed it was a reconstruction of a genuine film that had deteriorated.
OriginThe film was released in 1995 by Ray Santilli, who claimed it was original footage from a U.S. Air Force cameraman.
Claimed
  • The film showed a genuine alien autopsy from the Roswell crash.
  • The film was authentic and had been obtained from a retired military cameraman.
  • The alien body in the film was real.
Evidence / consensusThe film is widely considered a hoax. Santilli later admitted it was a re-creation, and the creators have detailed how they made the alien prop using animal organs and a sculptor from Doctor Who.
> OBSERVER NOTE:
The alien autopsy film is a textbook example of a hoax that exploited public belief in UFOs. The admission of its fabrication did little to quell ongoing conspiracy theories.

Sources

  1. Fake Roswell Alien Head
  2. The Alien Autopsy Scandal: this fascinating tale of a bizarre DIY hoax hits Spinal Tap levels of hilarity | Television & radio | The Guardian
  3. ‎The Alien Autopsy Scandal - Apple TV

Sources are external and provided for verification. Listing does not imply the Observer endorses their claims.