Mars Attacks!

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Mars Attacks!

PG-13,

1996,

1h 43m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

57%

96 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

250,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

96 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler (Pierce Brosnan) that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.

Critics Consensus

Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! faithfully recreates the wooden characters and schlocky story of cheesy '50s sci-fi and Ed Wood movies -- perhaps a little too faithfully for audiences.

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

Aug 14, 2026

Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks! is an unabashed throwback to Atomic Age sci-fi, as well as a comic rejoinder to the same year’s Independence Day.

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Marc Lee

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Jul 16, 2026

Too often we are served silliness rather than wit.

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Bernard Zuel

Sydney Morning Herald

Apr 29, 2026

You watch this understanding that the ready irony and lampooning of American mores here is exactly what the makers of Independence Day forgot.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Aug 27, 2026

4/5

…now that the novelty of the CGI invaders has long worn off, the gaudy colours and playful satire of Mars Attacks comes up fresh as paint…deliberately testing how seriously, or how unseriously, we’re prepared to take Tim Burtons’ vision…

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Aug 26, 2026

2/4

This one-note, one-joke dud ranks as a major disappointment from director Tim Burton.

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Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

Aug 12, 2026

3.5/5

Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! is a loving homage to cheesy sci-fi B-movies of the '50s that remains a rather entertaining romp even after 30 years thanks to its ability to relish in its ridiculousness.

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Ron W

Apr 11, 2019

A B movie but really funny!

Draco S

Jan 16, 2019

You negative people are crazy, this movie is a gem.

Abraham G

Jan 12, 2019

Tim Burton's visions are generally unique with weird delight, but his attempt at "Independence Day" in spoofing the alien invasion narrative is probably at his most twisted to actually enable the ability to stir up a headache. Besides the 50s homage to how the subgenre got formed, chaos ensued in idiotic destruction and carelessly disposing characterization that squandered the impressive ensemble once interactive contact began. (B-)

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Kylo R

Jan 1, 2019

The god of the so bad it's good genre

Abraham S

Nov 26, 2018

Un clasico. Excelente . Nac... nac.. nac... Attack

George G

Nov 22, 2018

This star studded dark comedy is a good film although it often drags and sometimes becomes too heavily burdened by the star power. The premise is simple: Earth is invaded by Martians but unlike what HG Wells envisioned, these sinister aliens have a different agenda. Looking at other reviews it is not easily to classify this film as good or bad- some love it others cannot stand it and then some consider it a guilty pleasure. See and decide yourself.

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Tim Burton

Director

Jack Nicholson

President James Dale

Glenn Close

First Lady Marsha Dale

Annette Bening

Barbara Land

Pierce Brosnan

Professor Donald Kessler

Danny DeVito

Rude Gambler

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Synopsis

A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler (Pierce Brosnan) that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.

Director: Tim Burton
Producer: Tim Burton, Larry J. Franco, Laurie Parker
Screenwriter: Woody Gelman, Bob Powell, Norman Saunders
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 12, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.8M
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Surround

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