Pixels

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1:31

Pixels

PG-13

Released Jul 24, 2015

1h 46m

Comedy

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

18%

Tomatometer

205 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When aliens intercept video feeds of classic arcade games and misinterpret them as a declaration of war, they attack Earth, using the games as models. Knowing that he must employ a similar strategy, President Will Cooper (Kevin James) recruits his childhood pal, former video-game champ and home-theater installer Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler), to lead a team of old-school arcade players and a military specialist (Michelle Monaghan) in an all-out battle to save the planet.

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Critics Consensus

Much like the worst arcade games from the era that inspired it, Pixels has little replay value and is hardly worth a quarter.

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Udita Jhunjhunwala

Livemint

The film catalogues the worst set of performances seen in a while, particularly Dinklage's accent and Gad's pubescent antics.

Aug 15, 2019

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

It's a neat idea for a parody disaster film but it's wholly lost in this melange of underwritten characters and awful dialogue.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 7, 2016

Full Review

Alison Willmore

BuzzFeed News

There are scenes in the surreally lazy, occasionally funny Pixels in which Sandler's face slips into the exact same weary, disgruntled expression he wears in Funny People.

Nov 10, 2015

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a fun, innovative premise that is, for the most part, employed to underwhelming and frequently tedious effect...

Rated: 2/4

Aug 13, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The humor is juvenile and inane, the characters are unbelievable and over-the-top, and the overall temperament is childish.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jun 9, 2022

Full Review

Nikki Baughan

AWFJ.org

Monahan is at least given the chance to get her teeth into the role of the army specialist drafted in to help kick some otherworldy ass.

Oct 4, 2021

Full Review

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Michael D

Nice graphics, and call backs to 1980's culture was enjoyable. Struggled to understand why Kevin James was a good casting call as US President, his tired King of Queens acting as "fat dumb guy" schtick makes no sense. Adam Sandler seems uninterested at times in the role. Either way I'm glad I didn't pay to see this in the theater, but streaming it when there is absolutely nothing else is on is tolerable.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/15/25

Full Review

Justin D

Don’t see what the hate is, fun movie with stellar effects, classic Adam Sandler movie, didn’t know what other people expected

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I like the movie i dont know why its so hated

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/12/25

Full Review

Jackson W

Very bad. I did not like it personally and I can understand liking some of the comedy but it was a bad idea altogether.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/11/25

Full Review

Audience Member

whats not to like about the movie? me & my daughter loved it. we were laughing and giggling the whole time. very light hearted and funny movie that people are trying too hard to rate like a professional. im sat for any movie with adam, kevin AND josh gad??? like they’re hilarious pls. can watch it a thousand times 😂😂😂

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

Full Review

Lucas F.

I think most were way too harsh on this movie. I have always been a fan of Adam Sandler, and when it comes to making fun movies you can enjoy with family, he never misses!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/27/25

Full Review

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Chris Columbus

Director

Adam Sandler

Sam Brenner

Kevin James

President Will Cooper

Michelle Monaghan

Lt. Col. Violet Van Patten

Peter Dinklage

Eddie Plant

Josh Gad

Ludlow Lamonsoff

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Pixels: International Trailer 1

1:31

Pixels: International Trailer 2

2:31

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Synopsis

When aliens intercept video feeds of classic arcade games and misinterpret them as a declaration of war, they attack Earth, using the games as models. Knowing that he must employ a similar strategy, President Will Cooper (Kevin James) recruits his childhood pal, former video-game champ and home-theater installer Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler), to lead a team of old-school arcade players and a military specialist (Michelle Monaghan) in an all-out battle to save the planet.

Director: Chris Columbus
Producer: Allen Covert, Mark Radcliffe, Chris Columbus, Adam Sandler
Screenwriter: Tim Herlihy, Timothy Dowling
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Columbia Pictures, LStar Capital
Rating: PG-13 (Suggestive Comments|Some Language)
Genre: Comedy, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 24, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $78.7M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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