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The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

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Average Rating: 4.2/10
Reviews Counted: 190
Fresh: 40 | Rotten: 150

Heavy on special effects, but without a coherent story at its base, The Day the Earth Stood Still is subpar re-imagining of the 1951 science-fiction classic.

Average Rating: 3.9/10
Critic Reviews: 40
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 36

Heavy on special effects, but without a coherent story at its base, The Day the Earth Stood Still is subpar re-imagining of the 1951 science-fiction classic.

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Movie Info

Keanu Reeves tops this adaptation of the seminal 1951 sci-fi film The Day the Earth Stood Still with this 20th Century Fox production. Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) helms the story of an alien traveler, Klaatu (Reeves), who heads to Earth along with his bodyguard robot, Gort, to deliver a warning of planetary destruction if the people of the world fail to stop laying waste to the environment. Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Kathy Bates co-star in the David Scarpa-penned film. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

PG-13, 1 hr. 50 min.

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Scott Derrickson

Written By: David Scarpa

In Theaters: Dec 12, 2008 Wide

On DVD: Apr 7, 2009

Box Office:$79.1M

20th Century Fox

The Day the Earth Stood Still Trailer & Photos

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Cast

Keanu Reeves
Klaatu
Jennifer Connelly
Helen Benson
Jon Hamm
Dr. Michael Granier
Kathy Bates
Regina Jackson
Jaden Smith
Jacob Benson
John Cleese
Professor Barnhardt
Kyle Chandler
John Driscoll
Robert Knepper
Colonel
James Hong
Mr. Wu
John Rothman
Dr. Myron
Sunita Prasad
Rouhani
Juan Riedinger
William Kwan
Sam Gilroy
Tom
Tanya Champoux
Isabel
Rukiya Bernard
Student
Alisen Down
Laptop Woman
Lloyd Adams
Agent Driver
Mousa Kraish
Yusef
J.C. MacKenzie
Grossman
Kurt Max Runte
Civil Engineer
Daniel Bacon
Winslow
Brandon T. Jackson
Target Tech
David Lewis
Plainclothes Agent

Critic Reviews for The Day the Earth Stood Still

All Critics (193) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (151) | DVD (20)

The special effects in 1951 were hokey fun. Here, in the first half of the movie anyway, they are hokey but they aren't fun.

December 15, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies

| Comment

Ben Mankiewicz

At the Movies

Top Critic

The remake of that fine old fifties alien-invasion picture The Day the Earth Stood Still comes to a standstill about an hour before the Earth does in the wilds of New Jersey.

December 15, 2008 Full Review Source: New York Magazine

| Comment

David Edelstein

New York Magazine

Top Critic

What a ridiculous movie.

December 15, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies

| Comments (2)

Ben Lyons

At the Movies

Top Critic

One can only hope that in the future [Reeves] will devote himself to playing androids, less-self-aware species of undead, stylish pieces of contemporary furniture, and other roles that do not require the exhibition of any recognizably human traits.

December 12, 2008 Full Review Source: New Republic

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Christopher Orr

New Republic

Top Critic

You'll be doing yourself a huge favor if you go into this movie with lowered expectations.

December 12, 2008 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor

| Comment

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Top Critic

Solemn, sober and efficient, The Day the Earth Stood Still gets the job done and moves on.

December 12, 2008 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comments (6)

Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

Top Critic

The world doesn't actually stand still. The corners of Keanu Reeves' mouth, his eyebrows and most of his other facial features, however, remain motionless for almost two hours.

September 28, 2011 Full Review Source: American Profile

| Comment

Neil Pond

American Profile Source: American Profile

As a flashy big-budget distraction, Stood Still is adequate overall -- rarely above, occasionally below -- and often familiar in its spectacle.

December 17, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinematical

| Comment

William Goss

Cinematical

Robert Wise's original is well served by 20th Century Fox's popcorny but respectful update, a sturdy, entertaining sci-fi actioner.

October 9, 2009 Full Review Source: Times-Picayune

| Comment (1)

Mike Scott

Times-Picayune

Now we know what happens when the Earth slows below 55 mph and stands still.

September 18, 2009 Full Review Source: Florida Times-Union

| Comment

Matt Soergel

Florida Times-Union

An entirely unnecessary and unremarkable remake.

August 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Washington Times

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Sonny Bunch

Washington Times Source: Washington Times

Those next to me in the cinema staring blankly at the screen gave a remarkably similar performance to that of Reeves without even being aware of it.

August 1, 2009 Full Review Source: Moviedex

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Anders Wotzke

Moviedex

About 20 minutes in The Day the Earth Stood Still -- well, the movie stood still and never moved.

June 10, 2009 Full Review Source: BET.com

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Clay Cane

BET.com

It's just like us to be arrogant enough to believe, like Marvell's coy mistress, that our cherry is the ripest for busting of the lot.

June 9, 2009 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central

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Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

The movie has the air of missed opportunity about it - but as reimaginings go, it's no global disaster.

May 12, 2009 Full Review Source: SFX Magazine

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Dave Bradley

SFX Magazine

Fails, fails, epic fails all around...

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

More of a mess than the pleasant surprise one might have hoped. [Blu-ray]

April 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews

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Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews Source: Groucho Reviews

The three-disc Blu-ray packs all the extras onto the first disc and adds a digital copy of the movie and a Blu-ray version of the 1951 original on the third disc.

April 22, 2009 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

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Brian Webster

Apollo Guide

The sort of movie that will do a perfectly acceptable job of filling an evening that otherwise might be empty (or, God forbid %u2013 one that cries out for reading a good book).

April 22, 2009 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

| Comment

Brian Webster

Apollo Guide

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Audience Reviews for The Day the Earth Stood Still

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I really have to say I liked this movie enough to not pan it like a lot of people. It wasnt horrible, had some really good special effects and had its nice preachy sci fi meaning. So overall not to bad for a couples hours of popcorn fare.

May 23, 2009

John Manard

Super Reviewer

"Change his mind. Not with reason, but with yourself."A mysterious alien presence arrives on earth, causing chaos, confusion, and many questions. Primarily, why is it here? Is this humanity's hour of judgment, or salvation? I really don't know how I found The Day The Earth Stood Still to be bearable enough to finish.

December 1, 2008

Lewis C.

Super Reviewer

The Day the Earth Stood Still Quotes

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1. Professor Barnhardt: It's only at the precipice that we change.
– Submitted by Sidney L (2 months ago)
1. Helen Benson: National security? Well that just means whatever you want it to mean.
– Submitted by Geoff T (3 months ago)
1. Klaatu: Your planet?
2. Regina Jackson: Yes, this is our planet.
3. Klaatu: No, it is not.
– Submitted by Geoff T (3 months ago)
1. Helen Benson: Have you done your homework?
2. Jacob Benson: School's canceled on account of the aliens.
– Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)
1. Helen Benson: I need to know what's happening.
2. Klaatu: This planet is dying. The human race is killing it.
– Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)