District 9

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2:15

District 9

R

2009

1h 51m

Sci-Fi

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

311 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth -- not to conquer or give aid, but -- to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens' welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent (Sharlto Copley) contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.

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Critics Consensus

Technically brilliant and emotionally wrenching, District 9 has action, imagination, and all the elements of a thoroughly entertaining science-fiction classic.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 12, 2017

B

I don't know guys, at the end of the day it's aliens and hard for me to take this seriously.

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Jeannette Catsoulis

NPR

Jun 17, 2015

The wonder is that despite its obvious roots, District 9 feels staggeringly original.

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Jonathan Romney

Independent on Sunday

Jun 17, 2015

Blomkamp is good at mustering speedy action and posting grisly sight gags in the background, carnage always hovering comically at the edge of your vision. But I'm not sure that District 9 entirely gets the earthling racism out of its own system.

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Fico Cangiano

CineXpress Podcast

Mar 28, 2025

4/5

Easily, one of the most original and exciting science fiction films of the last 20 years. [Full review in Spanish]

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 4, 2023

4/4

Blomkamp doesn’t miss a step. His film is cynical, funny, smart, exciting, and satirical—all without losing his audience’s involvement in the scenario.

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John Brhel

Vague Visages

Jun 5, 2023

District 9 might not be a classic like Alien or ‘The Terminator’ (not many films are), but it’s still an effective sci-fi film with depth and style.

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Matt

May 23, 2026

Movie was just as good as I remembered from back in the day and solid theater experience.

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justin

May 22, 2026

This movie is a total masterpiece. I loved it when it first released and I haven’t watched it since probably 2010 but seeing it again I couldn’t believe how good it actually still is to this day. The visual effects literally put modern day Disney effects to shame. The story is absolutely fascinating while being funny, realistic, grounded, and sci fi at the same time. There still is no movie like this. The structure remains completely unique, going from documentary style footage to cinematic with an insanely smooth flow. Full of new actors at the time, they channeled award worthy performances due to a passionate set. I loved this movie as a kid, but as an adult with refined taste and having explored so much, I actually put this up there now in my top favorites. I didn’t realize how much of a perfect movie it was until rewatching and now I realize this was lightning in a bottle. Watch it again, or for the first time. My gf totally loved it and she is not an easy one especially with sci-fi but she kept laughing and looking over at me the whole time smiling. (I was psyched!)

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Rico

May 22, 2026

Great camera work that tied in the CGI

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Brandon B

@syncopatedbeet 2 days ago

One of the best and most captivating science fiction films. Also one of the most disturbingly accurate social commentaries on how we treat anything that we deem “foreign”

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Zee T

@RT80486970 6 days ago

ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES Wayyyy BEFORE IT'S TIME!

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 16, 2026

District 9 = a *4* star Movie!

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Neill Blomkamp

Director

Sharlto Copley

Wikus Van De Merwe

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Synopsis

Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth -- not to conquer or give aid, but -- to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens' welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent (Sharlto Copley) contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.

Director: Neill Blomkamp
Producer: Peter Jackson, Carolynne Cunningham
Screenwriter: Terri Tatchell
Distributor: Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: WingNut Films
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Bloody Violence)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 14, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $115.6M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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