Mars Attacks!
A flamboyant alien invasion spoof turns presidential diplomacy, military panic, and human vanity into a cartoon apocalypse.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- irreverent
- sardonic
- campy
- cult movie night
- sci fi marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed it as a visually inventive but uneven spoof whose faithful imitation of schlocky 1950s science fiction sometimes overwhelmed its humor.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Martians, flying saucers, ambassadors, and invasion plot deliberately evoke 1950s science-fiction films and their pulpy conventions.
The film frames the destruction of humanity, governmental panic, and alien violence through deadpan jokes and grotesque absurdity.
Its flying saucers, glowing Martians, laser effects, and oversized destruction favor flamboyant comic-book spectacle over realism.
The president, military, scientists, diplomats, media figures, and Congress struggle to respond coherently to the invasion.
Films like Mars Attacks!, and why
Independence Day
shared alien invasion premise, retro science-fiction parody, and broad ensemble comedy
Ed Wood
shared affection for deliberately schlocky 1950s science-fiction, camp, and outsider humor
The World's End
shared flying-saucer imagery, deadpan absurdity, and comic destruction of conventional genre expectations
The Day the Earth Stood Still
shared retrofuturist invasion scenario, dark comedy, and stylized extraterrestrial menace
Movie Details
- Director
- Tim Burton
- Release Date
- 1996-12-13
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (6070)
Cast
- Jack Nicholson
- Glenn Close
- Annette Bening
- Pierce Brosnan
- Danny DeVito
- Martin Short
- Sarah Jessica Parker
- Michael J. Fox
- Rod Steiger
- Tom Jones
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mars Attacks! about?
- A flamboyant alien invasion spoof turns presidential diplomacy, military panic, and human vanity into a cartoon apocalypse.
- What is Mars Attacks! like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mars Attacks! as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mars Attacks! violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Mars Attacks! as moderate.
- What did critics think of Mars Attacks!?
- Critics broadly viewed it as a visually inventive but uneven spoof whose faithful imitation of schlocky 1950s science fiction sometimes overwhelmed its humor.
- Which films are like Mars Attacks!?
- Films with a similar feel include Independence Day, Ed Wood, The World's End, and The Day the Earth Stood Still.
- How long is Mars Attacks!?
- Mars Attacks! runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mars Attacks!?
- In United States, Mars Attacks! is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
