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Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito ... see more see more... , Martin Short , Sarah Jessica Parker , Michael J. Fox , Rod Steiger , Tom Jones , Jim Brown , Lukas Haas , Natalie Portman , Pam Grier , Lisa Marie , Brian Haley , Sylvia Sidney , Jack Black , Ray J , Paul Winfield , Brandon Hammond , Jerzy Skolimowski , Janice Rivera , Rance Howard , Richard Assad , O-Lan Jones , Christina Applegate , Joe Don Baker , Timi Prulhiere , Barbet Schroeder , Janice Riveria , Chi Hoang Cai , Tommy Bush , Joseph Maher , Gloria M. Malgarini , Betty Bunch , Gloria Hoffmann , Willie Garson , John Roselius , Michael Reilly Burke , Vinny Argiro , Valerie Wildman , Richard Irving , Jonathan Emerson , Tamara 'Gingir' Curry , Rebecca Broussard , Steve Valentine , Coco Leigh , Jeffrey King , Enrique Castillo , C. Wayne Owens , Joseph Patrick Moynihan , Roger Peterson , John Finnegan , Ed Lambert , John Gray , Gregg L. Daniel , J. Kenneth Campbell , Jeanne Mori , Velletta Carlson , Kevin Mangan , Rebecca Silva , Josh Phillip Weinstein , Julian Barnes , Ken Thomas , Darelle Porter Holden , Christi Black , Sharon Hendrix

This quirky science fiction comedy is a characteristic feature by iconoclastic director Tim Burton, known to moviegoers for Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The st... read more read more...oryline affectionately harkens back to the deadpan sincerity of such '50s and '60s science-fiction films as The Day the Earth Stood Still and War of the Worlds. Flying saucers have been reliably seen over the capitals of the world, and the whole world awaits with bated breath to see what will transpire. Among those waiting is the President of the United States (Jack Nicholson), who is assured by his science advisor (Pierce Brosnan) that the coming aliens are utterly peaceful. This advice is hotly contested by the military (led by Rod Steiger), who advices the President to annihilate them. When the aliens land, they are seen to be green, garish, and very cheerful. But appearances prove deceiving when the "friendly" aliens abruptly disintegrate the entire U.S. Congress. Hollywood notables appear in vast quantities in roles (and sub-plots) of all sizes in this zany feature. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

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49% liked it

361,234 ratings

Critics

51% liked it

59 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Tim Burton

Release Date: December 13, 1996

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DVD Release Date: June 24, 1997

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Stats: 16,471 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (16,471)

  • fb100002359227440
    March 17, 2012
    fb100002359227440
    Tim Burton's trash parody of Sci-fi picture from the 50's is a kinda funny and scary black comedy, but the script is not very entertaining and make the audience want look for better movies and I agree with them. Rotten.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    September 9, 2011
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Flawed, but still clever satire of american culture. It's both a homage and parody of 50's crappy sci/fi flicks with a very acid sense of humour, and just happens to be the right mix of all of the above. So it's no wonder why it got so many people pissed. It makes a mockery out o... read moref every single "sacred" thing out there, from family to the military. Unlike your average alien invasion flick, the army doesn't save the day, neither some super genius scientist (the only one in the film is portrayed as a tre-hugging moron) and everything that could go wrong goes very much wrong.

    You just can't be mad with a film that has Mrs Sex and the City's head attached to the body of a chihuahua dog. That and a mariachi band performing the USA anthem. They also kill pretty much every single character in the movie. It's the last good thing Tim Burton did.
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    August 23, 2011
    StarCrossedVoyager
    Very good in the way that I know it's meant to be a mockery. All the actors had their 'funny' voices on and although it's not an amazing film it works very well just to cheer you up with a few tacky laughs. The aliens are pretty funny but that alien woman who gets into the White ... read moreHouse was just creepy with her arm waving.
  • coollala0910
    August 15, 2011
    coollala0910
    I actually enjoyed Mars Attacks. I think the reason why critics weren't too nice about was that they may have taken it too seriously. As I was watching it, I took as a spoof film and not a serious alien invasion film like Battle: L.A. or Independence Day. Plus, its nice to see Ti... read moremBurton do something thats not up his alley.

    The film features a large ensemble cast. In the film, the First Family (played by Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, and Natalie Portman) discover that the Earth will be able to make contact with alien life. The Martians don't end up coming in peace and violence ensues after a hippie throws a dove up in the air when they land. So, President Jack Nicholson and a few other funny characters must stop the global invasion.

    This is an underrated film in my opinion. Just don't take it seriously and you won't be thrown off. The comedic performances are nicely done. Mars Attacks is a throwback to the sci-fi B-Movies of the 50s and 60s and it is a good one.

    Let me go into brief detail about the ensemble cast. Theres Jack Black, Michael J. Fox, Sarah Jessica Parker, Danny Devito, Martin Short, Pierce Brosman, Tom Jones, and many others. They know how to act not too stupid and not too serious. Jack Nicholson's two roles are very funny. I also liked the scripting and score.

    Some users on RT critiscize the effects. Theeffects are supposed to be cheesy! The entire movie is cheesy so you haters should DEAL WITH IT! *Puts on sunglasses* While the film isn't perfects, its a fun, quirky, hilarious, spoof that can easily grow on you. I reccomend this one to those looking for a cheesy and entertaining film. This is probably Tim Burton's most overlooked. And if you're longing to see a decapitated Sarah Jessica Parker, you're in luck. An instant guilty pleasure!

    If Rodders is reading, please forgive me.

    "You gave up pork?"
  • ajv2688
    July 9, 2011
    ajv2688
    I can never decide whether this movie is so bad it's good, or if it's just plain horrible. Burton is an excellent director, and this movie is supposed to be an homage to the sci-fi films he grew up with. It comes off as more of a spoof of those films instead, with all it's absu... read morerdity. It's hard to believe that so many A list stars wanted to be involved in this film, but like the audience, they expected a brilliant film from Burton. If this movie would have toned down on the special effects, had a simpler storyline, and maybe not so many big stars, it could have been great.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    May 24, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Designed as a B movie with an homage to Sci Fi and horror films of the 1950's, Tim Burton crafts an eccentric, enjoyable Sci Fi comedy. Burton successfully captures the tone and atmosphere of classic space invasion films. That makes it more enjoyable. Mars Attacks! has everything... read more you'd expect from a Tim Burton film. Diehard Burton fans will certainly rejoice at this slight departure. But thats whats great about Tim Burton, no matter what film he makes, he always has the traditional elements which makes his films so much fun, eccentric and entertaining. The cast are a mixed bunch. You have some terrific actors here, and some not so great actors. But the strength of the film lies within it's originality. The comedy is lowbrow and the acting is cheesy, but it's meant to be. Mars Attacks! is a terrific Sci Fi space invaders film with horror and comedy elements. .Mars Attacks! is simply put a wonderfully crafted film with a good cast that all deliver something amusing on screen. Critics as usual seem to have missed the point of Mars Attacks! this is a terrific well crafted film that brings back the old school 1950's Sci Fi vibe to a modern day audience. For that, the film succeeds and I view it as a Tim Burton classic. and one of his most underrated film.
  • jamers2011
    November 27, 2010
    jamers2011
    Horrible, but somehow appealing.
  • skeletonking101
    November 24, 2010
    skeletonking101
    this is probably the best rendition of a modern day B-movie done by Tim Burton.
  • cosmo313
    August 15, 2010
    cosmo313
    This may be one of Tim Burton's more underrated and lesser films, but this zany homage to cheesy 50s alien invader films is nonetheless very well done, hugely entertaining, and a whole lot of gleefully campy fun.

    It's actually rather dark and a little gruesome (this is a Burto... read moren film overall), but it comes across as kind of shocking since it is supposed to be a tribute film. Still though, ther's a lot of good gags, and the overall look and special effects are just awesome.

    The star studded cast is pretty awesome, and it wasn't until recently that two stars who made it big in blaxploitation films were in this (Jim Brown and Pam Grier)
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 24, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    a really wierd funny movie, its not great but its good. B

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
August 25, 2008
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

Perhaps they don't create quite enough deeply funny earthlings to go around, but a thoroughly meanspirited big-budget movie is always a treasurable rarity. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
August 25, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

oaded with wit, nifty little ideas and an extraordinary sense of design, but its allure is of quite a particular nature, much closer to that of Ed Wood than of Burton's earlier, and far more commercia... Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Just a parade of scattershot gags, more often weird than funny and most often just flat. Full Review

Desson Thomson
October 29, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Only moderately amusing. Full Review

Peter Stack
June 18, 2002
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

Hilarity never seemed so tedious. Full Review

Rick Groen
April 12, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

This may not be a Christmas movie, but it sure captures the elusive spirit of the season, and the simple pleasure is contagious. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Not as much fun as it should be. Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

The film's penchant for repetition is faithful to its '50s source material and is the very quality that turns Mars Attacks! into such a marvelously unstable comedy. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

First he made Ed Wood, a tribute to the man fondly recalled as the worst movie director of all time. Now Tim Burton seems to have made a tribute to Wood's work. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

A stillborn affair that could have been -- and should have been -- a whole lot hipper and funnier. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • Billy Glenn Norris: I surrender.
    • President Dale: We still got two out of three branches of congress, and that ain't bad!
    • Grandma Norris: Richie, I think these guys are very sick.
    • Richie Norris: What's happend to them? What's killin them?
    • Grandma Norris: I think it must be my music.
    • Donald Kessler: Nathalie? Nathalie, is that you?
    • Nathalie Lake: Yes, How are you feeling?
    • Donald Kessler: Not terribly good, i'm afraid.
    • Nathalie Lake: May I ask you just one question?
    • Donald Kessler: Sure, Of course you can, Nathalie.
    • Nathalie Lake: Were you flirting with me on the show? Because if you were, I just want you to know that i liked it.
    • Donald Kessler: You did? Really? I watched you quite a bit. I had something of a schoolboy crush on you for. Oh, Gosh, Ages!
    • Rude Gambler: You are Tom Jones!
    • President Dale: Can we just all get along?
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Mars Attacks! Trivia

  • In the production of Mars Attacks, Tim Burton has said many times that he was told repeatedly he could not kill off Jack Nicholson's character in a movie. This led to his decision to cast Nicholson in 2 roles, both of which are killed off.   Answer »
  • What is the connection between Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan, Tom Jones and Michael J Fox?  Answer »
  • Who was the presidents daughter in Mars Attacks?  Answer »
  • Who directed the following movies? - Sleepy Hollow - Corpse Bride - Big Fish - Batman - Mars Attacks!  Answer »
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