Mars Attacks!

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Mars Attacks!

PG-13

1996

1h 43m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

57%

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96 Reviews

53%

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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.

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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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Bruce F

@RT76391034 5 days ago

Every scene seems to show somebody's pet reason to feel safe. The scientists declares that of course they are peaceful, they are an advance society with superior technology after all. The boy scouts around a flagpole, what could be safer than that. And, "don't worry ma, I've got my gun". Yes, everyone has their security blanket.

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Freddy V

@RT18427309 5 days ago

Amazing cast! Bizzar, yet entertaining story.

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Alfredo P

@RT03403867 6 days ago

Mars Attacks really is one wild and entertaining film that's all over the place. With a large amount of characters, settings, and mediocre CG aliens, it's a movie that could be anyone's pick in Burton's library. However, it feels like Burton did too much of this movie since it has so many subplots that keep changing one by one, which made me feel lost to what would happen next. But you'll have a bit of fun experiencing the craziness this movie has in store.

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Tami Azat T

@TamiRakanay Oct 8, 2026

Funny, weird and experimental, a combination I really love! Maybe one of the most underrated comedy movies. Sometimes it can be a bit disturbing, but I think you must watch it.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 12, 2026

Mars Attacks = a *3* star Movie

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Itsnotrightyouknow M

@justmyopinionasalways Sep 5, 2026

This for me is one of the forgotten brilliant film. It was a delight to watch and I like to see watch it. I did hear that the script was not looked on by the Hollywood elite as getting involved with, but then it seems jack Nicholson thought it would be a fun film, and then everyone signed up. It's a film that if you have you will from time to time go back and laugh at again.

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Tim Burton

Director

Jack Nicholson

President James Dale

Glenn Close

First Lady Marsha Dale

Annette Bening

Barbara Land

Pierce Brosnan

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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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