Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Cocoon: The Return

Play trailer Poster for Cocoon: The Return PG Released Nov 23, 1988 1h 56m Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
31% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 34% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
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).
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Cocoon: The Return

Critics Reviews

View All (13) Critics Reviews
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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (236) audience reviews
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 Read all reviews
Cocoon: The Return

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Two of a Kind 18% 37% Two of a Kind Watchlist Field of Dreams 88% 86% Field of Dreams Watchlist TRAILER for Field of Dreams The Navigator 88% 78% The Navigator Watchlist Masters of the Universe 21% 41% Masters of the Universe Watchlist Always 70% 58% Always Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All Cocoon: The Return photos

Cocoon: The Return

Cocoon: The Return (1988) Cocoon: The Return (1988) Cocoon: The Return (1988) Cocoon: The Return (1988) Cocoon: The Return (1988) View more photos

Movie Info

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
Producer
Richard D. Zanuck, David Brown, Lili Fini Zanuck
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
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
Surround
Most Popular at Home Now