The Arrival

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2:02

The Arrival

PG-13,

1996,

1h 55m,

Sci-Fi/

Mystery & Thriller

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The Arrival: Trailer 1

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The Arrival: Official Clip - Foot Chase in Mexico

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The Arrival: Official Clip - Right Behind You

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The Arrival: Official Clip - What Do They Look Like?

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The Arrival: Official Clip - Problems Here on Earth

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The Arrival: Official Clip - Tell Them That I Know

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The Arrival: Official Clip - Alien Secrets

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The Arrival: Official Clip - You Don't Deserve to Live Here

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The Arrival: Official Clip - Portable Black Hole

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The Arrival: Official Clip - Underground Secrets

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The Arrival: Official Clip - Human Disguise

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The Arrival: Official Clip - The Creeping Enemy

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Watchlist

65%

34 Reviews

Tomatometer

44%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

After astronomer Zane Zaminsky discovers a radio transmission that originated from space, he tells his boss, Phil, who ignores him. Zane is promptly fired, and decides to investigate the signal himself. When he discovers a return radio transmission from Mexico, he goes to explore. There he meets climate scientist Ilana Green, who is studying anomalies in gases in the area. Zane soon makes a finding that puts him in great danger.

Critics Consensus

Stylish and inventive, The Arrival offers a surprisingly smart spin on the alien invasion genre.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Feb 9, 2006

What it lacks in sophistication (everything), it partly makes up for in sheer gall.

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Jun 18, 2002

3/4

It's a strong, lean piece of writing that moves quickly. Nothing is wasted, and nothing happens the way you'd expect.

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Stephen Holden

New York Times

Jan 1, 2000

A movie that shoehorns a blunt warning into its silly but entertaining story of a young radio astronomer's one-man battle against sinister extraterrestrials.

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Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

Feb 25, 2022

2.5/4

E.T. would find it false propaganda, but for fans of the genre, it's standard sci-fi with all the needed ingredients.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 9, 2020

6/10

The film starts to fall apart at the introduction of the aliens themselves, which suffer from dated special effects and an immediate aura of disbelief.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Feb 13, 2017

B

The CGI alien special effects are only so-so, but the film is rich in ideas, well-executed and is pleasingly entertaining even if silly.

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Abraham G

Apr 17, 2019

Serious and good, Just not long enough, but there was a sequel.

Hagrid R

Jan 20, 2019

This is Half Life the movie- I am not kidding. Charlie Sheen in The Arrival is dead ringer for Gordon Freeman. Even the plot has similarities. The Arrival is low key, which is refreshing at this time of year, and it's as much horror as pure science fiction. This is the kind of movie that a director like John Carpenter might have made during his late-70s/early-80s heyday. It's creepy and atmospheric, and, after a rather protracted opening forty minutes, well-paced. Spectacled and bearded, Charlie Sheen is surprisingly effective as the paranoid protagonist. He's more of an everyday sort of guy than a superhero, and, as a result, is easy to identify with. Everyone else in the cast is basically a supporting player, including Ron Silver as an oily CETI executive, so the responsibility for the movie lies fully on Sheen's shoulders, and he carries the burden admirably.

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Aug 10, 2018

I tought it was going to be really bad. It was a good surprise.

George G

May 27, 2018

This movie was terrible in every way possible.

Hagrid R

Feb 23, 2018

One of the most under-rated Sci-Fi movies out there. Must see for any SciFi fan.

Draco L

Sep 4, 2017

One of the very few movies that could greatly benefit from a remake.

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David Twohy

Director

Charlie Sheen

Zane Zaminsky

Ron Silver

Phil Gordian

Lindsay Crouse

Ilana Green

Teri Polo

Char

Richard Schiff

Calvin

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The Arrival: Trailer 1

2:02

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Synopsis

After astronomer Zane Zaminsky discovers a radio transmission that originated from space, he tells his boss, Phil, who ignores him. Zane is promptly fired, and decides to investigate the signal himself. When he discovers a return radio transmission from Mexico, he goes to explore. There he meets climate scientist Ilana Green, who is studying anomalies in gases in the area. Zane soon makes a finding that puts him in great danger.

Director: David Twohy
Producer: Thomas G. Smith, David Twohy, Jim Steele, Melissa Cira Taylor
Screenwriter: David Twohy
Production Co: Live Entertainment, Mediaworks, Steelwork Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.1M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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