War of the Worlds
2005 · Movie · PG-13 · 117 min · ★ 6.5 · 75% critics
Ray Ferrier is a divorced dockworker whose rare weekend visit with his kids is quickly derailed by a strange lightning storm. As something powerful touches down, an alien invasion begins, forcing the family to flee, hide, and fight to stay together while the world collapses around them.
Based on The War of the Worlds
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Details
- Years
- 2005
- Release date
- 2005-06-28
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 75/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.5/10 (9,197 votes)
- Box office
- $603,873,119
- Budget
- $132,000,000
About
If you want an intense alien invasion built around a family trying to survive together, you’ll likely enjoy this big, frightening ride; Not for you if you dislike heavy nonstop action or wish the character drama felt deeper than the spectacle, and you may prefer Oblivion or Independence Day instead.
Pros: edge-of-your-seat suspense; frightening tripods; memorable action setpieces | Cons: human drama feels underdeveloped; uneven pacing; ending sentimentality
Themes
- daughter
- new jersey
- post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)
- airplane
- based on novel or book
- underground
- dystopia
- alien
- survival
- disaster
- apocalypse
- creature
- +2 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Sound Editing · 2006 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Sound · 2006 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Visual Effects · 2006 · nominated
Cast & crew
Tom Cruise
as Ray
Dakota Fanning
as Rachel
Miranda Otto
as Mary Ann
Justin Chatwin
as Robbie
Tim Robbins
as Harlan Ogilvy
Rick Gonzalez
as Vincent
Yul Vazquez
as Julio
Lenny Venito
as Manny The Mechanic
Lisa Ann Walter
as Bartender
Ann Robinson
as Grandmother
Directed by Steven Spielberg