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Martian Child

Play trailer Poster for Martian Child PG Released Nov 2, 2007 1h 46m Kids & Family Drama Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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35% Tomatometer 109 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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Martian Child

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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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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: C Feb 18, 2012 Full Review David Fear Time Out Rated: 2/5 Nov 18, 2011 Full Review Hank Sartin Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review Cees T Okay. Not quite Forrest Gump or The Cable Guy. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/26/23 Full Review 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 Full Review Audience Member LOL, the funniest dramedy ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member An intriguing and solidly acted drama worth telling and worth seeing. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Menno Meyjes

Director

John Cusack

David

Amanda Peet

Harlee

Oliver Platt

Jeff

Bobby Coleman

Dennis

Joan Cusack

Liz

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Movie Info

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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