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They Live (1988)

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88

Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 29 | Rotten: 4

A politically subversive blend of horror and sci fi, They Live is an underrated genre film from John Carpenter.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 2

A politically subversive blend of horror and sci fi, They Live is an underrated genre film from John Carpenter.

audience

76

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 33,669

My Rating

Movie Info

John Carpenter wrote and directed this science fiction thriller about a group of aliens who try to take over the world by disguising themselves as Young Republicans. Wrestler Roddy Piper stars as John Nada, a drifted who makes his way into an immense encampment for the homeless. There he stumbles upon a conspiracy concerning aliens who have hypnotized the populace through subliminal messages transmitted through television, magazines, posters, and movies. When Nada looks through special Ray-Bans

Oct 10, 2000

MCA/Universal Pictures

Cast

All Critics (33) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (29) | Rotten (4) | DVD (12)

A fantastically subversive film, a nifty little confection pitting us vs them, the haves vs the have-nots.

June 4, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

All in all, an entertaining (if ideologically incoherent) response to the valorization of greed in our midst.

June 4, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
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Credibility isn't the problem with John Carpenter's They Live... but execution is.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comments (4)
New York Times
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The plot for They Live is full of black holes, the acting is wretched, the effects are second-rate.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comments (5)
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

They Live is thought-provoking while maintaining its B-movie credentials.

April 15, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

An erratically amusing throwback to the science-fiction paranoia films of the 1950s.

June 4, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Carpenter's ability to fuse the bawdy humor and action with an intelligent script make for a genre film that is both thoughtful and entertaining

August 19, 2006 Full Review Source: Cinematic Reflections | Comment

great cult flick

July 22, 2006 Comment

The black-and-white visuals disturb for only so long, and while themes of indoctrination and conspiracy prove initially intriguing, the film quickly descends into fistfights and gunfire.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comments (3)

An excellent Carpenter film, if you can get past the fight scene.

September 7, 2005 Comments (2)
7M Pictures

The loopiest, and coolest, entry in the director's canon.

May 4, 2005 Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | Comment
Lessons of Darkness

Kicks ass and chews bubblegum -- metaphorically speaking.

September 16, 2004 Comment
New Times

Piper is easily the star of the show, making They Live Carpenter's best film -- I don't care what you say.

September 25, 2003 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

As is often the case with Carpenter, the concept is better than the execution.

September 18, 2003 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | Comment
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for They Live

There is a politically charged masterpiece hiding in John Carpenter's ultimate B movie. The images from behind the glasses are classic and there is so many quotable lines. Definitely could have benefited from a different leading man, Canadian wrestler Roddy Piper really doesn't fit in (except for in the 10 minute long

November 2, 2011
Graham Jones

Super Reviewer

Nada: I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum. "Who are they? And what do they want?"They Live is one of John Carpenter's coolest movies, but not one of his best. The only thing that really brings this movie down is the horrible acting, mainly Roddy Piper. He is horrible, but he

October 13, 2011
blkbomb
Melvin White

Super Reviewer

    1. John Nada: Call the cops? You know what you need? A Brazillian plastic surgeon-
    – Submitted by Nash A (25 days ago)
    1. John Nada: I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubblegum.
    – Submitted by Rocky F (7 months ago)
    1. Frank: How long have they been there?
    2. John Nada: Who knows?
    3. Frank: Where do they come from?
    4. John Nada: They ain't from Cleveland.
    5. Frank: I don't need that sh*t! What are we going to do?
    6. John Nada: Wait.
    7. Frank: Wait? Wait for what?
    8. John Nada: Well when you get your master plan, you let me know, huh!!
    9. Frank: If we can see, we've got to find the people who made these.
    – Submitted by Creep F (8 months ago)
    1. John Nada: Wooo. It's like a drug. Wearing these glasses gets you high, but you come down hard.
    – Submitted by Creep F (8 months ago)
    1. Male News Anchor: The feeling is definitely there. It's a new morning in America, fresh, vital. The old cynicism is gone. We have faith in our leaders. We're optimistic as to what becomes of it all. It really boils down to our ability to accept. We don't need pessimism. There are no limits.
    – Submitted by Creep F (8 months ago)

Movies Like They Live

Latest News for They Live

April 11, 2011:
Matt Reeves Hired for They Lives (Non-) Remake
Universal has tapped Matt Reeves to write and direct an adaptation of Ray Nelson's "8 O'Clock in the...

December 4, 2008:
They Live All Over Again
Who will be all out of bubblegum this time? Universal has announced plans to remake John Carpenter's...

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