Mars Attacks! (1996)
Nice planet. We'll take it!
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 receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler 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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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 13 December 1996 |
| Genre | Comedy, Fantasy, Science Fiction |
| Director | Tim Burton |
| Starring | Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close and Annette Bening |
| Runtime | 106 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6/10 · Metacritic 52/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 55% · IMDb 6.4/10 · TMDB users 6.4/10 |
| Budget | $70 million |
Where to watch Mars Attacks!
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You can rent Mars Attacks! on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and Spectrum On Demand. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
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What kind of watch this is
Tim Burton directs a 106-minute comedy where Martians land in major cities, claim peace, and immediately wipe out the U.S. Congress. Jack Nicholson plays a president who receives good news from a scientist, then watches the government get deleted. It is a film that trusts the absurdity of the premise rather than explaining it. You are watching to see how the world breaks before the Martians finish their meal.
What the critics said
Critics were divided, landing on a 55% Tomatometer approval rating as of January 2026. Metacritic sits at 52/100, a score that signals mixed or average reviews. Rotten Tomatoes notes the film recreates 1950s schlock, perhaps a little too faithfully. Kenneth Turan argued the movie suffers from 1990s cynicism, lacking the fun it should have. Richard Schickel offered a counterpoint, admiring the refusal to offer a single likable character. It is a mean-spirited rarity.
How it did with audiences
It cost $70 million to make, or $100 million if you count the marketing. The U.S. took in $37.77 million, while the rest of the world added $63.6 million, for a total of $101.37 million. That is a thin margin for such a big spectacle. It opened at number two, behind Jerry Maguire. In Europe, it found a warmer welcome. On TMDB, users rate it 6.4 out of 10.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Mars Attacks!.
Read more: Men in Black II
Sources
- Mars Attacks! on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q271690 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Mars Attacks!” 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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