Mars Attacks! (1996)
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A satirical take on 1950s sci-fi tropes unfolds as a massive Martian invasion strikes Earth.
The story
When a Martian spaceship gathers hundreds of others to travel to Earth, the United States faces an unprecedented first-contact event. While the government attempts to establish peaceful communication with the visitors, a misunderstanding leads to a violent escalation. The Martians quickly move from diplomacy to a full-scale invasion, striking major cities and the White House. As the military struggles to contain the threat, various individuals across the country must find ways to survive and resist the alien onslaught in a chaotic, satirical portrayal of a 1950s-style disaster scenario.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a peaceful first contact turns into a massacre, the Martians begin a global invasion. The U.S. President, Dale, is forced into a bunker while the Martians seize control of the capital. Meanwhile, a group of survivors in Las Vegas, including a former boxer and the singer Tom Jones, attempt to escape the city. In a separate thread, a young boy named Richie and his grandmother discover that a specific song, 'Indian Love Call', can neutralize the Martians. They broadcast the song over the radio, which eventually reaches the entire globe, neutralizing the Martian leadership and their forces. The film concludes with the survivors reuniting and the destruction being cleaned up.
- First release year
- 1996
- Runtime (minutes)
- 106
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tim Burton
- Writers
- Jonathan Gems · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jack Nicholson · President Dale / Art Land; Glenn Close · Marsha Dale; Annette Bening · Barbara Land; Pierce Brosnan · Professor Donald Kessler; Danny DeVito · unknown; Martin Short · Jerry Ross; Sarah Jessica Parker · Natalie Lake; Michael J. Fox · unknown; Rod Steiger · unknown; Tom Jones · Tom Jones; Lukas Haas · unknown; Natalie Portman · unknown
- Genres
- science fiction; black comedy
- Themes
- satire; alien invasion
- Tone and mood
- black comedy; satirical
- Premise and plot tags
- sci-fi; parody; retro
- Source material / true-story basis
- Topps trading card series
- Content notes
- dark humor
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but has since achieved cult classic status among fans of 1950s sci-fi.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 57% · review count: 94; Metacritic · score: 52 · review count: 19
- Awards and nominations
- Best Dramatic Presentation · Hugo Award · nomination
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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