Cocoon: The Return

PG

Released Nov 23, 1988

1 hr. 56 min.

Fantasy

List

31%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

34%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Five years after the first "Cocoon," the friendly aliens from the planet Anterea return to Earth to rescue some incubation pods, which have been found by a team of scientists. The elderly people (Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley) who left Earth with them come along to visit with friends and family in Florida. Resuming their old lives proves alluring against the prospect of eternal life on Anterea. Meanwhile, the aliens try to rescue their children, with the help of scientist Sara (Courteney Cox).

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nate m

It's good to see the old cast again - most of them for the last time in film. The plot is thin, there's little drama, but if you liked the first movie, you'll probably have a relaxing couple of hours with this one.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Probably better if you watch it back to back with the under-rated first film. The performances are still wonderful. Even if the film just isn't necessary. You could also always skip this and make believe everyone lived happily ever after on a planet where they don't age more or die.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

kevin w

Three years after the success of the first outing proved that there was a profitable market for the seniors-fearing-death-and-meeting-life-extending-aliens-fantasy niche, quite simple a return to form - as mentioned right there in the title. Filled with mock-ups of the World War 2 era songs, the old gang all come back for one more run at St. Petersburg, Florida to save one of the resting alien creatures left on the first outing. A different director, different writers, but essentially the same formula applies, weaker perhaps because little is done to freshen the recipe up some.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Frances H

Not as good as the first one.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/05/19

Full Review

Audience Member

This is an unfairly hated sequel. It wasn't really needed but it closes up the loose ends mostly solid. Needed a better director but as a whole it's a fun ride. Guttenburg has more of the load from Dennihey this time but he does well and Tandy and her hubby are both fantastic. Ameche and Brimley are more in the background this time.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Reviews are wrong - it's fantastic just like the first one.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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Daniel Petrie

Director

Don Ameche

Arthur "Art" Selwyn

Wilford Brimley

Benjamin "Ben" Luckett

Hume Cronyn

Joseph "Joe" Finley

Jack Gilford

Bernard "Bernie" Lefkowitz

Steve Guttenberg

Jack Bonner

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The central weakness of Cocoon: the Return is that the film lacks any compelling reason to exist. Yes, it is a heartwarming film. Yes, the performances are wonderful, and, yes, it's great to see these characters back again. But that's about it.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Insinuates that the seniors are bored of their paradise… its perversely pleased in taking away everything they have gained. [Full review in Spanish]

Jun 16, 2022

Full Review

Polly M. Robertus

Common Sense Media

A muddled morality tale.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 2, 2011

Full Review

Jeremy C. Fox

Pajiba

Mostly we get reheated leftovers and with even more mawkishness from the older actors and unfunny schtick from Steve Guttenberg.

Sep 16, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 2, 2005

Full Review

Caffeinated Clint

Moviehole

Near on par with the original...Sweet, Funny, Memorable

Rated: 3/5

Mar 4, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

Five years after the first "Cocoon," the friendly aliens from the planet Anterea return to Earth to rescue some incubation pods, which have been found by a team of scientists. The elderly people (Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley) who left Earth with them come along to visit with friends and family in Florida. Resuming their old lives proves alluring against the prospect of eternal life on Anterea. Meanwhile, the aliens try to rescue their children, with the help of scientist Sara (Courteney Cox).

Director: Daniel Petrie
Screenwriter: Stephen McPherson
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, Zanuck/Brown Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 1988, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.5M
Sound Mix: Surround

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