Enemy Mine
After a human pilot and his alien wartime rival crash on a deadly planet, survival becomes the unlikely foundation for interspecies friendship.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- earnest
- melodramatic
- 1980s science fiction marathon
- space adventure night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film's production design, effects, performances, and central chemistry appealing, but considered its overextended story and simplistic anti-war message limiting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Willis Davidge and Jeriba Shigan begin as wartime enemies but must cooperate on Fyrine IV, making their changing relationship the film's emotional core.
The crash strands a human pilot and a Drac pilot on an inhospitable planet where cooperation is necessary to resist natural threats.
The intergalactic conflict and Davidge's enforced partnership with a sworn enemy frame the story as a direct critique of perpetual warfare.
The Dracs, Fyrine IV, and the film's production design create a distinctive visual identity beyond its space-battle premise.
Films like Enemy Mine, and why
The Abyss
Shared military science fiction setting, human-alien conflict, and anti-war themes centered on uneasy cooperation.
The Martian
Shared stranded-survival premise, hostile extraterrestrial environment, and gradual trust between initially opposed characters.
District 9
Shared science fiction adventure, interspecies empathy, and themes of prejudice overcoming inherited conflict.
The Last Starfighter
Shared space-war backdrop, emotional human-alien bonding, and earnest anti-conflict message.
Movie Details
- Director
- Wolfgang Petersen
- Release Date
- 1985-12-12
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (1138)
Cast
- Dennis Quaid
- Louis Gossett Jr.
- Brion James
- Richard Marcus
- Carolyn McCormick
- Lance Kerwin
- Bumper Robinson
- Jim Mapp
- Scott Kraft
- Lou Michaels
Where to watch in United States
- 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 Enemy Mine about?
- After a human pilot and his alien wartime rival crash on a deadly planet, survival becomes the unlikely foundation for interspecies friendship.
- What is Enemy Mine like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Enemy Mine as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Enemy Mine violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Enemy Mine as moderate.
- What did critics think of Enemy Mine?
- Critics broadly found the film's production design, effects, performances, and central chemistry appealing, but considered its overextended story and simplistic anti-war message limiting.
- Which films are like Enemy Mine?
- Films with a similar feel include The Abyss, The Martian, District 9, and The Last Starfighter.
- How long is Enemy Mine?
- Enemy Mine runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Enemy Mine?
- In United States, Enemy Mine is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
