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Dark Skies

Play trailer Poster for Dark Skies PG-13 Released Feb 22, 2013 1h 37m Sci-Fi Mystery & Thriller Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
42% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Lacy (Keri Russell) and Daniel Barrett (Josh Hamilton) share a peaceful life in the suburbs with their sons, Jesse (Dakota Goyo) and Sam (Kadan Rockett). However, that peace soon shatters with a series of disturbing events that escalate. When it becomes clear that their family is being targeted by an unimaginably terrifying, deadly -- and possibly alien -- threat, Daniel and Lacy draw on their courage and determination to protect their family and identify what is after them.
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Dark Skies

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Critics Consensus

Dark Skies writer director Scott Stewart has a solid cast, an interesting premise, and some admirable ambitions, but he can't figure out what to do with any of them, and the result is a dull, muddled effort that will bore all but the most devoted horror buffs.

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Critics Reviews

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Tara Brady Irish Times Alas, several decades of Majestic 12 conspiracy theories work to undermine the novelty and Stewart's best efforts. Fun, nonetheless. Rated: 3/5 Dec 4, 2018 Full Review Drew Taylor IndieWire Alien abductions are a truly terrifying idea, and building an alien abduction movie on the template of "Poltergeist" is a great idea. But "Poltergeist" had one thing "Dark Skies" is sorely in need of: follow-through. Rated: C Dec 4, 2018 Full Review Kim Newman Empire Magazine Dark Skies is utterly generic, down to a meaningless title lifted from the 1996 X-Files knock-off TV series. Rated: 3/5 Dec 4, 2018 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Apart from a handful of visually striking sequences causing a visceral reaction, there's too little story to invest in. Rated: 2/5 Sep 20, 2023 Full Review Victor Stiff Victor Stiff Reviews While it's slow and features thinly-sketched characters, it's still capable of getting under your skin to unnerve you. Nov 2, 2021 Full Review Damond Fudge KCCI (Des Moines, IA) [The movie] is just an OK idea with just an OK execution. It's not very frightening or original. Jun 29, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Andrew C Ok so I love scary movies and this movie is the one that truly gave me nightmares. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/30/25 Full Review Logan L One of the better alien abduction movies, though it feels a little bland and cliché in places. An aspect I personally liked about this movie is that it reminds the viewer sometimes stories don’t have happy endings or morals/lessons. While this can be a letdown for some, I think it works well here given what the entire movie is about. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/19/25 Full Review C B The producers of this movie (Paranormal Activity, Insidious, etc.) throw every supernatural/paranormal cliche at the wall like a plate of spaghetti, hoping something sticks. But sometimes less is more. Keri Russell is excellent as the beleaguered mom, as is J.K. Simmons in the type of role he was born to play and plays often. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/23/25 Full Review Sam B One of the more entertaining and scarier alien films I've seen in awhile.. they do a great job with the aliens... i was entertained thru the whole film Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/18/25 Full Review J C This was an unexpected treat borderline horror, sci fi movie with great themes and acting. One of my favourite sleeper horror movies. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/17/25 Full Review Calvin T For a alien movie...that was put together well ✌🏾 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Dark Skies

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Cast & Crew

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Scott Stewart

Director

Keri Russell

Lacy Barrett

Josh Hamilton

Daniel Barrett

Dakota Goyo

Jesse Barrett

Kadan Rockett

Sam Barrett

J.K. Simmons

Edwin Pollard

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Dark Skies

Keri Russell as Lacy Barrett in "Dark Skies." Keri Russell as Lacy Barrett and Kadan Rockett as Sam Barrett in "Dark Skies." Josh Hamilton as Daniel Barrett in "Dark Skies." Josh Hamilton as Daniel Barrett in "Dark Skies." Kadan Rockett as Sam Barrett in "Dark Skies." Keri Russell as Lacy Barrett in "Dark Skies." Josh Hamilton as Daniel Barrett and Kadan Rockett as Sam Barrett in "Dark Skies." Dark Skies (2013) Dark Skies (2013) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Lacy (Keri Russell) and Daniel Barrett (Josh Hamilton) share a peaceful life in the suburbs with their sons, Jesse (Dakota Goyo) and Sam (Kadan Rockett). However, that peace soon shatters with a series of disturbing events that escalate. When it becomes clear that their family is being targeted by an unimaginably terrifying, deadly -- and possibly alien -- threat, Daniel and Lacy draw on their courage and determination to protect their family and identify what is after them.
Director
Scott Stewart
Producer
Jason Blum
Screenwriter
Scott Stewart
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Production Co
Alliance Films, Blumhouse, Automatik Entertainment, Robotproof
Rating
PG-13 (Drug Content|All Involving Teens|Violence|Language|Sexual Material|Terror Throughout)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 22, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 21, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$17.4M
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Datasat, Dolby Digital
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