War of the Worlds

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2:18

War of the Worlds

PG-13

2005

1h 56m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

264 Reviews

42%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Dockworker Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) struggles to build a positive relationship with his two children, Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and Robbie (Justin Chatwin). When his ex-wife, Mary Ann (Miranda Otto), drops them off at Ferrier's house, it seems as though it will be just another tension-filled weekend. However, when electromagnetic pulses of lightning strike the area, the strange event turns out to be the beginning of an alien invasion, and Ferrier must now protect his children as they seek refuge.

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Critics Consensus

Steven Spielberg's adaptation of War of the Worlds delivers on the thrill and paranoia of H.G. Wells' classic novel while impressively updating the action and effects for modern audiences.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

07/05/2022

This superior popcorn flick revels in the unabashed joy of blowing stuff into oblivion.

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Nell Minow

Beliefnet

08/15/2013

B+

The story is affecting, the action scenes are thrilling, the issues are resonant.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

06/08/2007

Spielberg's calculations turn out to be more prominent than any effects they could possibly produce, and the less pretentious 1953 version by producer George Pal emerges as more likable.

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Nicolás Medina

Peliplat

05/10/2025

10/10

If the 1953 film was set in a post-war context and fight against the Soviets, this one is set in the post 9/11 era that shattered the security and stability of the United States. [Full review in Spanish]

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

04/12/2024

4/5

The first (and much the superior) hour is a masterclass in escalating tension, with grandiose and brilliantly executed sequences following in rapid succession.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/05/2022

3.5/4

Highly influential, ever innovative, and full of emotion and slick formal trickery, the film lives up to the precise definition of what "Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds" should be.

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lizzy M.

@lizzymurrs 8h

I remember this being better when I first watched it as a child. Dakota Fanning is such an excellent child actor- she really steals the show

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Vaughn M.

@Chpow1010 5d

This was extremely fun and very clever. I really enjoyed the ending.

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Matthew D

@OceanSage 6d

A thrilling take on alien invasion! Director Steven Spielberg thrusts Tom Cruise into fatherhood during an alien invasion. Spielberg comes up with endless cool shots, pans, and scenarios to scare the life out of the audience. Cruise is quite compelling as an unwilling father. Unfortunately the children are really annoying. Dakota Fanning is a good little actress, but her incessant screams are heinously overdone. The son played by Justin Chatwin is too stubborn to the point of being ridiculous. His whole character is unnecessary as we get Cruise has to be a dad just from Fanning's character. The run time is a little long, the special effects are a bit dated, the practical effects look great, the writing is passable, the action is terrifying, the music is scary, and the movie is entertaining. War of the Worlds is no Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, or Minority Report, but it is still fun.

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Alex G.

@ALEXTITANIC May 26

Lord have mercy the tripods look just like the nightmares of an alien invasion definitely worth watching 6/5

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Judah S.

@Judah3963 May 21

The movie was ACTION PACKED and had lots of edge of your seat moments. It was a little overacted and sometimes it resembled more of a horror movie than it did thriller sci fi but it delivers and is worth the 1:30.

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Downriver R

@Downriver Apr 28

This film is one of the best alien movies to exist. I go back to this movie time and time again. Still today this film holds water an is a super fun watch. I've seen it 100+ and still love it. Tom Cruise of course is excellent for these types of roles. He doesn't do these kind of movies often so it's fun to watch. This movie has a great story with a ton of great visual effects.

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Steven Spielberg

Director

Tom Cruise

Ray Ferrier

Dakota Fanning

Rachel Ferrier

Miranda Otto

Mary Ann

Justin Chatwin

Robbie

Tim Robbins

Harlan Ogilvy

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - No Shield

2:13

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - Ferry Disaster

2:07

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - Probing the Basement

2:13

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - The War Begins

2:11

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - Fight on the Hill

2:07

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - Taking Down a Tripod

2:00

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - Not on the Same Page

2:12

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - Abduction

2:13

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War of the Worlds: Trailer 2

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War of the Worlds: Trailer 1

1:50

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Synopsis

Dockworker Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) struggles to build a positive relationship with his two children, Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and Robbie (Justin Chatwin). When his ex-wife, Mary Ann (Miranda Otto), drops them off at Ferrier's house, it seems as though it will be just another tension-filled weekend. However, when electromagnetic pulses of lightning strike the area, the strange event turns out to be the beginning of an alien invasion, and Ferrier must now protect his children as they seek refuge.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Producer: Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson
Screenwriter: H.G. Wells, Josh Friedman, David Koepp
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Frightening Sequences|Disturbing Images|Sci-Fi Violence)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 29, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $234.3M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)