The Arrival
A fired astronomer races to expose an extraterrestrial conspiracy before its ecological secret reshapes humanity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- paranoid
- tense
- ominous
- late night science fiction
- 1990s genre marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film stylish, inventive, and unusually intelligent within the alien-invasion genre, though its twists and messaging were uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The extraterrestrial conspiracy is tied to global warming and the greenhouse effect, making environmental collapse central to the mystery.
Zane is fired after reporting the signal and then investigates the organization whose apparent purpose conceals a sinister conspiracy.
The film follows an astronomer pursued and obstructed after discovering extraterrestrial communication, emphasizing surveillance and hidden agendas.
Aliens infiltrate human systems and suppress knowledge of their deadly secret while Zane attempts to expose them.
Films like The Arrival, and why
The X-Files: Fight the Future
Shares alien-contact mystery, institutional conspiracy, investigative tension, and science-fiction thriller pacing.
They Live
Combines extraterrestrial infiltration, paranoid investigation, and a climate-related ecological threat.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Uses a scientist protagonist, covert alien activity, and escalating paranoia within an accessible science-fiction thriller.
The Thing
Shares conspiratorial extraterrestrial mystery, ominous discovery, and a darker alien-invasion atmosphere.
Movie Details
- Director
- David Twohy
- Release Date
- 1996-05-31
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (883)
Cast
- Charlie Sheen
- Lindsay Crouse
- Richard Schiff
- Ron Silver
- Teri Polo
- Phyllis Applegate
- Tony T. Johnson
- Alan Coates
- Leon Rippy
- Buddy Joe Hooker
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Arrival about?
- A fired astronomer races to expose an extraterrestrial conspiracy before its ecological secret reshapes humanity.
- What is The Arrival like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Arrival as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Arrival violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Arrival as mild.
- What did critics think of The Arrival?
- Critics generally found the film stylish, inventive, and unusually intelligent within the alien-invasion genre, though its twists and messaging were uneven.
- Which films are like The Arrival?
- Films with a similar feel include The X-Files: Fight the Future, They Live, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Thing.
- How long is The Arrival?
- The Arrival runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Arrival?
- In United States, The Arrival streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
