Mars Attacks!

Name: Mars Attacks!
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Released: 1996-12-13
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito

1996 | 106 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Weeknight Watch

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

It's still drawing plenty of interest, but middling reviews (55% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a lukewarm 6.4 out of 10 from audiences held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for anyone who wants a laugh, sci-fi fans and fantasy fans. If you loved Men in Black, start here.
The mood: Provocative satire that goes after everyone.
The pace: Breezy, at 1 hr 46 min.
What might put you off: Nothing much: an easy pick for most people.

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 receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler 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.

How it earned its rating

CriticsBelow par
55% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesBelow par
6.4 out of 10
AwardsNot counted
Awards data unavailable, so this isn't counted
Box office & staying powerSolid
$101 million worldwide on a $70 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 514K people sought it out in the past year