Martian Child

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Martian Child

PG

2007

1h 46m

Kids & Family

Drama

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

35%

Tomatometer

108 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Wanting to experience fatherhood, a man (John Cusack) adopts a youngster (Bobby Coleman) who has an unusual crisis of identity, believing he is from Mars, and trouble arises when the man, who devotes himself to his strange son, begins to believe that the boy is indeed an alien.

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Critics Consensus

Despite some charms, overt emotional manipulation and an inconsistent tone prevents Martian Child from being the heartfelt dramedy it aspires to be.

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Elizabeth Weitzman

New York Daily News

The entire cast is fully committed to this squishily sentimental tale, which is especially impressive given that it's the kind of generic dramedy you'll swear you've seen a thousand times before.

Rated: 2/4

Nov 17, 2007

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Everybody is very earnest, too earnest.

Nov 6, 2007

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Kyle Smith

New York Post

Has enough wit and unpredictability to hold your attention.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 3, 2007

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Martian Child rests upon the strength of its ensemble cast.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 16, 2020

Full Review

Kathi Maio

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

But as my lead rant would suggest, my biggest disappointment is the film's cowardice in not bringing David's gayness into the story...

Mar 3, 2020

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

A five hankie love story from beginning to end, this is Cusack's Oscar gold. The film has a purity in its belief of love and acceptance. A purity that only a Martian Child can show us.

Nov 13, 2019

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Chris P

Sick at home looking for yet another movie to watch. Never heard of this one and i'm surprised by that. Well casted/acting, well written--just a terrific movie. Great elements to it and they all come together. A great feel good movie that I won't forget.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

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Priscila L

I love this movie. Don’t expect an Oscar winner, just watch it for the lovely message about human connection, perseverance over grief and the beauty of a child’s imagination.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/25

Full Review

Matt D

This is a touching, thought-provoking film with sci-fi overtones. But, it had a poor ending, with Cusack's "Martian wish" buried in the final dialogue. SPOILER ALERT: Had his girlfriend asked him at the end, "How did you talk him down?" he could have answered, "I just told him that I wished that..." Cut to a quick flashback in the car, and, viola, sci-fi fans are left with the possibility of, well, you know. He softly repeats, "I wished..." with a quizzical look on his face, and then a final shot of Cusack, girlfriend, and son looking up into the sky...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

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Cees T

Okay. Not quite Forrest Gump or The Cable Guy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/26/23

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Cyrus K

Has some good ideas every now and then, but this movie is so boring that when we reach the finale you think "oh, we are here already? but we have done basically nothing this entire movie."

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/27/22

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Audience Member

LOL, the funniest dramedy ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Menno Meyjes

Director

John Cusack

David

Amanda Peet

Harlee

Oliver Platt

Jeff

Bobby Coleman

Dennis

Joan Cusack

Liz

North

14%

27%

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Synopsis

Wanting to experience fatherhood, a man (John Cusack) adopts a youngster (Bobby Coleman) who has an unusual crisis of identity, believing he is from Mars, and trouble arises when the man, who devotes himself to his strange son, begins to believe that the boy is indeed an alien.

Director: Menno Meyjes
Producer: Ed Elbert, David Kirschner, Corey Sienega
Screenwriter: Seth E. Bass, Jonathan Tolins
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Hannah Rachel Productions Services Ltd.
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Mild Language)
Genre: Kids & Family, Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 29, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.5M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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