Pixels (2015)
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When an alien force mistakes vintage arcade game footage for a declaration of war, a team of former champions must defend Earth from a digital invasion.
The story
In the present, electronics installer Sam Brenner is summoned to the White House by the President of the United States. They discover that an alien force has misinterpreted a 1982 time capsule containing footage of arcade games as a declaration of war. The aliens are now attacking Earth with technological recreations of classic games. To defend the planet, the President assembles a team of former arcade champions, known as the 'Arcaders,' to lead the defense. The team must navigate various locations, including London and New York City, to stop the escalating threat and prevent the aliens from winning their high-stakes battle for Earth's survival.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1982, Sam Brenner and his friends participate in a video game championship, where a time capsule containing the footage is launched into space. In the present, the President of the United States, a former friend of Brenner's, summons him and a team of 'Arcaders' to defend Earth against an alien force that mistook the old footage for a declaration of war. The aliens are using technological recreations of classic games like Galaga, Centipede, and Pac-Man to attack Earth. The Arcaders fight through various locations, including London and New York City, and eventually face the alien leader in a final showdown as Donkey Kong. During the final battle, it is revealed that one of the humans, Eddie, had cheated in the original 1982 championship. Upon realizing he is the true champion, Brenner defeats the alien leader. The film ends with a peace agreement between Earth and the aliens, and the characters' lives are settled, including a reunion for Ludlow and a new relationship for Brenner and Violet.
- First release year
- 2015
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- United States; China; France
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Chris Columbus
- Writers
- Tim Herlihy · screenplay; Timothy Dowling · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Adam Sandler · Sam Brenner; Kevin James · Will "Chewie" Cooper; Michelle Monaghan · Lieutenant Colonel Violet van Patten; Peter Dinklage · Eddie "The Fireblaster" Plant; Josh Gad · Ludlow "The Wonder Kid" Lamonsoff; Brian Cox · Admiral James Porter
- Genres
- science fiction; action; comedy
- Themes
- nostalgia; technology vs. nature; friendship
- Tone and mood
- humorous; action-packed
- Premise and plot tags
- video game culture; alien invasion; retro-tech
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2010 French short film by Patrick Jean
- Reception
- The film received negative reviews from critics but was noted for its inventive special effects and use of licensed arcade characters.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 17% · scale: percentage · review count: 201; Metacritic · score: 27 · scale: 100 · review count: 37
- Production trivia
- The film was the first Sony Pictures film to be released in the Dolby Vision format in Dolby Cinema in the US and Canada.; The production budget was negotiated down from $135 million to $110 million.; The film's first trailer received 34.3 million global views in 24 hours, breaking a Sony record.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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