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Mars Attacks!

Play trailer Poster for Mars Attacks! PG-13 Released Dec 12, 1996 1h 43m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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55% Tomatometer 89 Reviews 53% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler (Pierce Brosnan) that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.
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Mars Attacks!

Mars Attacks!

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Critics Consensus

Tim Burton's alien invasion spoof faithfully recreates the wooden characters and schlocky story of cheesy '50s sci-fi and Ed Wood movies -- perhaps a little too faithfully for audiences.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Salisbury Empire Magazine A giddily madcap, surreal, sardonic satire that sets out to be deliberately cheesy. Rated: 4/5 Dec 7, 2018 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Oh, those Martians! They are funny, mean little buggers, and they're worthing checking out. Rated: 3/4 Dec 7, 2018 Full Review Peter Rainer New Times It's a destructo orgy without any phony-baloney sanctimony about the fellowship of man -- or spaceman. Dec 7, 2018 Full Review Justin Brown Medium Popcorn This was a wild movie with enough fun moments to keep me surprisingly entertained throughout. Rated: 3/5 Jul 2, 2025 Full Review Brandon Collins Medium Popcorn While there were some moments that I enjoyed, I never quite connected with the overall tone of the film. I'm also not the biggest fan of slapstick, over-the-top comedy. Shout-out to Jack Nicholson for giving us two equally insane performances. Rated: 2/5 Jul 2, 2025 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Even with a few decent laughs and unforgettable antagonists, the end result isn’t spectacular; it’s a unique sci-fi genre blend, recalling productions from a bygone era of schlockier monster movies, but it’s only moderately entertaining. Rated: 4/10 Nov 8, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Blu B When you see something like this it really makes you look back at the 10 year run Burton had before this and look back in wonder how it all resonated with the public so much. Because you could honestly say every single one of those projects was one step away from being something like this. This is a love letter to B movies, filled with camp, and the Burton imagination for better or for worse. It's not bad at all all around honestly. It makes sense and I'll give it this, it's unique and not trying to copy Marvel lol. But in all seriousness, it's so weird and just I don't know who this is for. The biggest problem of all is there is way too many characters and nonsensical subplots. Jim Brown/Grier's plots could be removed and nothing lost. Pretty much everyone from Las Vegas could be cut out also and nothing changes either. Martin Short's weird romance scene is the most boring thing and weird at the same time and should've been axed. It's incredible how much of an All Star cast this is. Really shows how big Burton was at his peak to be able to command a list of stars like this. But there is just too many and needed to be axed in half. Even Independance Day had less characters than this it feels like and all came together in a group at the end. this never does that and just keeps jumping around for better or worse. The humor....the humor....umm...It's defintely Burton type of humor. I don't know if I'd call it funny and I don't know if I'd call it flat either or stupid. I'm not really sure. It's just campy, bizarre, and sometimes well lots of times I don't even know. It gives it such a bizarre tone that's difficult to pin down. The alien designs are cool, and there is plenty of imagination. The special effects aren't bad but there B movie style and the designs are unique. This has lots of production value also which shows but I'm not sure it works either. Too many characters, and bizarre tone on top of it are the biggest problems with this. Maybe if it was less concerned with gags at times and committed more to the quirkiness instead it would work. But I don't know this one...I can see this being a good idea on paper possibly but just not fully working as it should in reality for unique and not so unique reasons that would've been difficult to see. As it is, if your a die hard Burton fan or of any actors in this than it might be worth to check out. Or if your in the mood for something REALLY weird and quirky. But most aren't missing anything here. Stick with Independance Day which came out the same year instead for most people. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/30/25 Full Review Lautaro M its is a funny creative movie I love it Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review Audience Member Had a big budget, a big cast, and a big director but ultimately just went nowhere. Jokes land flat most of the time. See Men in Black for a funnier and more engaging similar extraterrestrial film. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/14/25 Full Review Frank B I enjoy 'camp' films done well. I enjoyed it enough to buy it and watch it over & over again. It was done with fun & humour & I like that...the cast did a great job especially the Martians...hah Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/10/25 Full Review Estevan G A very silly and fun movie ! A homage to B movies of a time long gone. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/16/25 Full Review Zachary L I enjoyed this movie as a fun time to watch and it has a spot in my heart but by know means is it a 10/10 but still worth your time as a movi Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Mars Attacks!

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Movie Info

Synopsis A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler (Pierce Brosnan) that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.
Director
Tim Burton
Producer
Tim Burton, Larry J. Franco, Laurie Parker
Screenwriter
Woody Gelman, Bob Powell, Norman Saunders
Production Co
Warner Brothers
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 12, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$37.8M
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Surround
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