Aliens often compete with superheroes, vampires and zombies to top hit film lists — but more than a third of Americans say UFOs are not a fantasy.
That is the word from a new National Geographic Channel study finding that 80 million Americans are particular UFOs exist and that one in 10 believe they’ve spotted one.
“We wanted the pulse on people’s opinions,” says Brad Dancer, senior vice president of research and digital media for National Geographic. “We wanted to get a sense of how Americans view UFOs, what people believe and how mainstream pop culture may or may not be playing into their opinions on it.”
The results are in: Seventeen percent of Americans don’t believe UFOs exist, 36% think they do, and 48% aren’t sure.
The survey was commissioned for National Geographic Channel’s series Chasing UFOs, premiering Friday at 9 p.m. ET.
About 79% of those surveyed think the government has kept information about UFOs a secret from the public, and 55% believe there are real-life Men in Black-style agents who threaten people who spot UFOs.
So what if they stopped by? The survey shows:
•22% would try to befriend the alien, 15% would run away, 13% would lock their doors, and only 2% would try to inflict bodily harm.
•If angry aliens did attack Earth, 21% would call the Hulk in to deal with it, 12% would call Batman, and 8% would call Spider-Man.
•Nearly 65% think Barack Obama would be better suited than Mitt Romney to handle an alien invasion.
Sources and more information:
• A third of Earthlings believe in UFOs, would befriend aliens
Aliens often compete with superheroes, vampires and zombies to top hit movie lists – but more than a third of Americans say UFOs are not a fantasy. Justin Norton, AP This photo taken in December 2006 at the Area 51 exhibit at the Alien Zone in Roswell, N.M., shows an alien standing outside a crashed spaceship.
• UFO series proves something is out there – well, maybe
Mauricio Ruiz, from left, discusses a UFO sighting with James Fox, Ben McGee and Erin Ryder in the Texas episode of “Chasing UFOs,” premiering Friday. Photo: National Geographic Channels Snake Oil Productions, Photographer National Geographic Channels Snake Oil Productions Mauricio Ruiz, from left, discusses a UFO sighting with…
• Survey: Obama better if aliens invade