Battle for Terra

Play trailer

Battle for Terra

PG

2009

1h 25m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Animation

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

96 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When strange objects appear in the sky above the peaceful world of Terra, some of the inhabitants believe the gods have come to visit. Instead, human invaders swoop down and kidnap a number of Terrareans, including Mala's (Evan Rachel Wood) father. Mala saves a downed pilot, Jim Stanton (Luke Wilson), hoping he'll help her find her father. While certain Earthlings plot to take control of Terra, Mala and Stanton realize that the fates of both their peoples hinge on the choices they make.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Despite its earnest aspirations to be a thought-provoking sci-fi alternative, Battle for Terra lacks both a cohesive story and polished visuals, and fails to resonate.

Read Critics Reviews

Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

The animation has an almost filigree quality that contrasts favourably with all but the best of its competitors.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 16, 2010

Full Review

Robbie Collin

News of the World

With its suspiciously similar plot and cheapo production values, a name change to Chav-atar is all but a formality.

Rated: 1/5

Feb 16, 2010

Full Review

Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

This 3D computer animation is more otherworldly than most sci-fi films, and its environmentally conscious theme couldn't be more timely.

Dec 16, 2009

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Though entertaining enough to divert your children’s attention for the duration and keep them quiet in the theater, the ideas within are big enough to inspire discussion and critical thinking in youngsters.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 5, 2023

Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

Battle for Terra's story won't win prizes for originality and nor will its rather lacklustre animation carry off any gongs.

Nov 29, 2020

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The humans display less detail than cheap plastic action figures and the aliens astoundingly disprove the theory that creatures with large eyes are inherently cute.

Rated: 4/10

Nov 28, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Crap, illogical and dull.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Battle for Terra definitely tries to set itself apart from other animated movies by going for a more thought-provoking plot where neither side is entirely in the wrong and I can't say I was uninterested but, setting aside the fact that this movie wasn't meant to be animated, it ultimately doesn't live up to its potential thanks to subpar animation, hit-or-miss voice acting in spite of the talent involved and visually uninteresting action sequences. Still has respect from me for trying to go against the grain rather than go for a safe formula...I've been reviewing way too many animated movies over the past three weeks, I need a break.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Battle for Terra is Earth Forces fighter idenction for Star Wars

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie is so bad. All of the humans looked the same — I couldn't tell the difference between the main character, and the rest of the soldiers. The same thing with the "terrians," the inhabitants of planet Terra. Also, it seems like after the huge battle, the movie suddenly changed from fighting over the planet to making peace and giving the humans a small chunk of land. There was really no transition as to where i it changed from war to peace.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Meh. Maybe younger kids who like space would think its cool but its a no for me.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the movies I think deserves more attention for it's beautiful animation and interesting story.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/10/18

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Aristomenis Tsirbas

Director

Evan Rachel Wood

Mala

Brian Cox

General Hemmer

Luke Wilson

Jim Stanton

James Garner

Doron

Chris Evans

Stewart Stanton

April and the Extraordinary World

97%

77%

April and the Extraordinary World

Watchlist

TRAILER

for April and the Extraordinary World

Titan A.E.

51%

61%

Titan A.E.

Watchlist

Monsters vs. Aliens

73%

59%

Monsters vs. Aliens

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Monsters vs. Aliens

Treasure Planet

68%

73%

Treasure Planet

Watchlist

Home

53%

64%

Home

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Home

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Box Office Guru Preview: Wolverine Sinks Claws Into Summer Box Office

Critics Consensus: Wolverine Isn’t Looking Too Sharp

View more photos

Synopsis

When strange objects appear in the sky above the peaceful world of Terra, some of the inhabitants believe the gods have come to visit. Instead, human invaders swoop down and kidnap a number of Terrareans, including Mala's (Evan Rachel Wood) father. Mala saves a downed pilot, Jim Stanton (Luke Wilson), hoping he'll help her find her father. While certain Earthlings plot to take control of Terra, Mala and Stanton realize that the fates of both their peoples hinge on the choices they make.

Director: Aristomenis Tsirbas
Producer: Keith Calder, Jessica Calder, Dane Allan Smith, Ryan Colucci
Screenwriter: Evan Spiliotopoulos
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Snoot Entertainment
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Sci-Fi Action Violence)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 1, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 23, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.6M
Runtime: 1h 25m

Most Popular at Home Now