War of the Worlds

Play trailer

2:18

War of the Worlds

PG-13

2005

1h 56m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

07/05/2022

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

Go to Full Review

Nell Minow

Beliefnet

08/15/2013

B+

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

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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]

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Snake P

@RT15598169 Aug 6

I honestly don't understand the hate with a 42% audience score. This Cruise/Spielberg pairing nailed the entertainment factor. War of the Worlds is an absolute blast and one of those rare sci-fi movies I can watch over and over again without getting bored.

See more

MB B

@Moneypenny Jul 30

One of Spielberg's and Cruise's best films. How can it have a 42% Popcorn meter rating?

See more

Toxicnukem T

@Toxicnukem Jul 18

Literally tied with shaun of the dead as my favorite movie for the last 20 years

See more

Shelby Q

@ShelbyLynn Jul 17

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. But there are a couple of critiques; 1. The movie was not long enough for the story. I know 2 hours seems like a long time. But for this HD Wells novel 2 hours is not enough. 2 . The murder in the basement seems really unnecessary. When Fanny's character runs out and gets herself by aliens right afterwards, that always threw me off. 3. Her (Fanning) incessant, repetitive screaming is almost unbearable. Other than that, it's a well-thought-out movie. It followed the book but the movie really needed to be longer to capture all of Wells imagination and missed-out-on, fantastical scene opportunities we could have had with the CGI technology of the movies of 2005's era.

See more

Dax F

@frostydax Jul 13

Legitimately a good movie. As time goes on, more and more people realize and agree, it's a Sci-Fi classic.

See more

Ted C

@RT01476485 Jul 9

The Tomato score is NOT real. This movie is a terrific terrific thriller. Watch close and you will see. Father relationship with broken family--- yet love and survival rule. Pay attention to the subtle movie 🎬 scene on TV on Spielbergs very first movie he saw with his parents ( The Greatest Show on Earth) ---- sneaky excellent Tom Cruise performance. Stay true!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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

Now Playing

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - Ferry Disaster

2:07

Now Playing

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - Probing the Basement

2:13

Now Playing

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - The War Begins

2:11

Now Playing

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

2:07

Now Playing

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

2:00

Now Playing

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

2:12

Now Playing

War of the Worlds: Official Clip - Abduction

2:13

Now Playing

View more videos

Timeline

13%

45%

Timeline

Watchlist

Sahara

37%

54%

Sahara

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Sahara

Deep Impact

45%

43%

Deep Impact

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Deep Impact

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

19%

57%

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

The Chronicles of Riddick

29%

65%

The Chronicles of Riddick

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022

New on Netflix in May 2022

War of the Worlds Might Be Steven Spielberg’s Most Terrifying Film

War of the Worlds: Trailer 2

2:18

Now Playing

War of the Worlds: Trailer 1

1:50

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

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)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings