They Live

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They Live

R

Released Nov 23, 1988

1h 33m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

75 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Nada (Roddy Piper), a wanderer without meaning in his life, discovers a pair of sunglasses capable of showing the world the way it truly is. As he walks the streets of Los Angeles, Nada notices that both the media and the government are comprised of subliminal messages meant to keep the population subdued, and that most of the social elite are skull-faced aliens bent on world domination. With this shocking discovery, Nada fights to free humanity from the mind-controlling aliens.

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Critics Consensus

A politically subversive blend of horror and sci fi, They Live is an underrated genre film from John Carpenter.

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Chris Bennion

Times (UK)

It is a big, silly barrel of fun, with a delirious, tongue-in-cheek script...

Feb 2, 2024

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Phil Hoad

Guardian

The film was was responding to the start of the US rust belt and Reagan-era consumerism, but its themes of working-class subjugation and omnipresent media control have only become more pressing.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 25, 2018

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Carpenter's primary objective was to make a tough action flick, which he does; it fits snugly into his filmography's subset of urban mayhem movies (alongside 'Escape from New York,' 'Assault on Precinct 13,' and parts of 'Big Trouble in Little China').

Feb 17, 2017

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John Ferguson

Radio Times

Piper handles the action scenes better than he deals with dialogue, but he is well supported by Keith David and Meg Foster.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 13, 2024

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

[It] provides moments of catharsis, not to mention a measure of gloating-at-somebody-else’s-trainwreck satisfaction.

Oct 16, 2023

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Both outlandish and prescient, Roddy Piper exudes charm and director Carpenter is fully confident in this crowd-pleasing, sci-fi dystopia.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 22, 2023

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Jason

one of the best movies ever made probably more true than we know

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/29/23

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Cody

A True Classic that rings true today.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/22/22

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Luis R

Pretty awesome for an 80s movie, it definitely relates to todays world

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/25

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Tomaz B

Interesting concept. I really liked the fighting scenes, because they actually feel real, unlike some movies that feel like watching anime characters fight. I think that our world is essentially run by "people" shown in the movie. I wish more people would just put their sunglasses on to see the world as it is.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

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Kevin P

A very entertaining Sci-fi action thriller that's very ahead of its time with its still relevant sharp critique and satire of American late-stage capitalism and consumerism that has disparaged the middle/working class since the birth of Reaganomics that this movie critiques. The sunglasses vision sequences and the "kick ass and chew bubble gum" are iconic for a good reason, and the rest of the movie did not disappoint. The movie can be a bit sloppy and awkward at times, mostly near the end, but its sharp satire, charismatic lead performances, and suspenseful action sequences more than makes up for its unpolished final act.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

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Ads T

Very solid movie from John Carpenter about Earth being controlled by an alien species- is a humorous commentary on consumerism and media manipulation. Wrestler Roddy Piper is obviously convincing in the fights and action sequences although his reactions seem a bit too laidback for a lot of the dialogue. Sometimes he springs to life with a sense of urgency however and the pacing picks up as a result. A fun, dystopian film if that can be said.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/25

Full Review

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John Carpenter

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Nada

Keith David

Frank

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They Live: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Nada (Roddy Piper), a wanderer without meaning in his life, discovers a pair of sunglasses capable of showing the world the way it truly is. As he walks the streets of Los Angeles, Nada notices that both the media and the government are comprised of subliminal messages meant to keep the population subdued, and that most of the social elite are skull-faced aliens bent on world domination. With this shocking discovery, Nada fights to free humanity from the mind-controlling aliens.

Director: John Carpenter
Producer: Larry J. Franco
Screenwriter: John Carpenter
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Alive Films, Larry Franco Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 1988, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 3, 2023
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.3M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Surround

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