Arrival (2016)
Why are they here?
Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 10 November 2016 |
| Genre | Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery |
| Director | Denis Villeneuve |
| Starring | Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker |
| Runtime | 116 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 8.4/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 94% · Metacritic 81/100 · TMDB users 7.6/10 |
| Budget | $50 million |
| Box office | $203 million worldwide |
Where to watch Arrival
Arrival is streaming on Paramount+ ($13.99 a month) in the US. It is also on Peacock ($16.99 a month). If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Paramount+ is $13.99 at list price.
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What kind of watch this is
Denis Villeneuve directs a 116-minute drama where Amy Adams, a linguist, is pulled into a military operation to decode alien visitors. The film treats language as a physical force, bending time and perception. It refuses to rush. The mystery of their intent hangs heavy, anchored by a performance that carries the weight of a life lived in fragments. Villeneuve builds tension through silence rather than action. It is a puzzle that changes the rules while you solve it.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes sits at 94% and Metacritic at 81, a pairing that suggests the film is universally admired by those who like to feel things. Critics found it emotionally grounded despite its heavy themes. Robbie Collin of The Telegraph noted it unfolds in "unwavering tenor of chest-tightening excitement." Forrest Wickman of Slate, however, called the dialogue clunky. He compared it to Interstellar, a comparison that might sting more than it helps.
How it did with audiences
The production budget was $50 million. Domestic box office hit $101 million, while the worldwide total reached $203 million. That is a healthy margin, though the notes suggest the numbers might have been higher. On TMDB, users give it a 7.6 score.
Awards
Arrival collected 4 wins from 9 nominations. It took home the Critics' Choice Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie and the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form. Sylvain Bellemare picked up the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing. The rest of the slate stayed in the nomination column, which is how these things usually go.
What came next for the cast
Amy Adams moved from Catch Me If You Can and Man of Steel to Justice League, Zack Snyder's Justice League, and Vice. Jeremy Renner moved from The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron to Avengers: Endgame, Wind River, and Hawkeye. Forest Whitaker moved from Taken 3 and Southpaw to Black Panther, Andor, and How It Ends. Michael Stuhlbarg moved from Men in Black 3 and Hugo to The Shape of Water, Call Me by Your Name, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The credits list what followed, not what caused it.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Arrival.
Sources
- Arrival on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q20382729 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Arrival (film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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