Intriguing, inventive and energetic, Blomkamp's feature debut is a thoroughly tasty prawn cocktail.
10 Comments
09/04/09
District 9 (2009)
90
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:237
Fresh:214
Rotten:23
Average Rating:7.8/10
Consensus: Technically brilliant and emotionally wrenching, District 9 has action, imagination, and all the elements of a thoroughly entertaining science-fiction classic.
Theatrical Release:Aug 14, 2009 Wide
Box Office: $115,646,235
Synopsis: Genre master Peter Jackson produces this science-fiction film, the directorial debut of Neill Blomkamp. In District 9, South Africa has become a haven for refugees--from outer space. [More]
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James, Mandla Gaduka
Director: Neill Blomkamp
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Reviews for District 9
As a sci-fi blockbuster, it will dazzle your eyeballs and have you cheering from your seat. As a social commentary, it makes for uneasy viewing, and wears its pro-humanity message proudly on its sleeve.
09/04/09
District 9 is that modern rarity: an adventure thriller that’s even better than its advertising campaign.
09/04/09
In the midst of it all you almost take for granted the carefully rendered details of the setting, the tightness of the editing and the inventiveness of the special effects.
08/14/09
Top CriticYou've seen alien invasion flicks before, and you've seen more than your share of summer blockbusters. But you've never seen anything quite like District 9.
08/14/09
All the elements are familiar but Blomkamp’s swaggering, guerrilla-style approach transforms them into a zestful slice of cartoonish mayhem.
09/04/09
Every now and then, a film comes along that both defies and compels description.
08/14/09
Technically superb, District 9 is a feast of seamless digital work fused to live action, as it is also a smart fusion of documentary format with narrative fiction.
08/10/09
It's a grimy, consistently surprising and fundamentally human-centric science-fiction yarn, reminiscent of the dystopian, semi-realistic 1970s tradition.
08/13/09
Top CriticWe've seen most of the film's elements before ... but all these ideas have never been assembled in exactly this manner before, let alone with Blomkamp's wit and style.
09/20/09
You don’t feel bamboozled, fooled, or patronized by District 9, as you did by most of the summer blockbusters. You feel winded, shaken, and shamed.
09/07/09
District 9 is a brave, intelligent and exciting film. Some of its story beats fall into the "unlikely" category, but the central idea, the design, and the acting are so strong that you'll likely go with it and have a damn good time doing so.
08/12/09
District 9 is a South African sci-fi B-movie that punches well above its weight even as it falls back on inspiration from major-league precedents.
09/04/09
This could have been one of the best sci-fi films of all time if it wasn't for an extremely unlikeable lead. But the last 40 minutes are so awesome that I can still recommend it.
08/16/09
What an achievement in filmmaking.
08/17/09
This is a great movie.
08/17/09
District 9 delivers on all fronts %u2013 it's an imaginative sci-fi tale, a gritty actioner, a dazzling effects film, a compelling dramatic story, a biting satire, and a flat out exciting piece of pop entertainment.
08/15/09
In a good summer, there's usually a movie that will come out of nowhere and completely wow us. This is a good summer, and that movie is District 9.
08/14/09
By avoiding the typical end of the world apocalypse that most alien invasion movies mandate...District 9 becomes that most elusive of science fiction films - a serious and thoughtful dissertation on who we really are.
08/14/09
District 9 is hands down the best film of the summer and has made me love movies all over again. It's engaging, explosive, and pure nonstop awesomeness - it's what big summer movies are supposed to be.
08/04/09
Latest News for District 9
December 07, 2009:
Help Us Choose the Community Golden Tomato Award
If you're a regular RT reader, then you're probably familiar with our end-of-year Golden Tomato Awards. The long and short of it is that we compile a list of the films released... More...
October 23, 2009:
Blomkamp Gets to Work on District 9 Follow-Up 
Few details are known about the project, but director Neill Blomkamp has signed a deal that will give him creative control over his untitled follow-up to "District 9." More...
September 03, 2009:
Neill Blomkamp talks District 9 - RT Interview
District 9 heralds the arrival of 29-year-old South African-born director Neill Blomkamp as a major new voice in science-fiction. Infused with gritty, hand-held authenticity,... More...
August 28, 2009:
Neill Blomkamp Teases District 9 Sequel, Prequel
Now that "District 9" is officially a hit, it's time for Neill Blomkamp to hit the publicity trail -- and answer the inevitable questions about a sequel and/or prequel. CHUD has... More...
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