The Day the Earth Stood Still
An extraterrestrial emissary and his colossal robot deliver an ecological ultimatum that forces a scientist to challenge humanity’s reflexive militarism.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- foreboding
- earnest
- atmospheric
- science fiction marathon
- disaster movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually polished and sincere but undermined by an incoherent, underdeveloped story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Klaatu arrives with an ultimatum tied to humanity's treatment of Earth and the survival of other species.
Klaatu is presented as a human-like supernatural judge, while the film evokes sacrifice, salvation, and biblical catastrophe.
New York City becomes the stage for a giant robot, extraterrestrial technology, panic, and a threat to civilization.
Military and political authorities imprison and interrogate Klaatu instead of engaging with his warning.
Films like The Day the Earth Stood Still, and why
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Shares alien visitation, planetary crisis, moral ultimatum, and large-scale science fiction spectacle.
Arrival
Shares extraterrestrial contact, government response, human panic, and earnest ecological themes.
War of the Worlds
Shares alien arrival, military escalation, evacuation peril, and blockbuster science fiction spectacle.
Independence Day
Shares apocalyptic extraterrestrial threat, worldwide panic, and humanity confronting forces beyond its control.
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Shares a skeptical human protagonist confronting an otherworldly visitor amid institutional fear and spiritual symbolism.
Movie Details
- Director
- Scott Derrickson
- Release Date
- 2008-12-10
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (3894)
Cast
- Keanu Reeves
- Jennifer Connelly
- Jaden Smith
- Jon Hamm
- Kathy Bates
- John Cleese
- Kyle Chandler
- Robert Knepper
- Brandon T. Jackson
- James Hong
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Philo, AMC
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 The Day the Earth Stood Still about?
- An extraterrestrial emissary and his colossal robot deliver an ecological ultimatum that forces a scientist to challenge humanity’s reflexive militarism.
- What is The Day the Earth Stood Still like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Day the Earth Stood Still as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Day the Earth Stood Still violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Day the Earth Stood Still as mild.
- What did critics think of The Day the Earth Stood Still?
- Critics broadly found the film visually polished and sincere but undermined by an incoherent, underdeveloped story.
- Which films are like The Day the Earth Stood Still?
- Films with a similar feel include The Day the Earth Stood Still, Arrival, War of the Worlds, Independence Day, and The Man Who Fell to Earth.
- How long is The Day the Earth Stood Still?
- The Day the Earth Stood Still runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Day the Earth Stood Still?
- In United States, The Day the Earth Stood Still streams on fuboTV, Philo, AMC.
