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War of the Worlds (2005)

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Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 250
Fresh: 185 | Rotten: 65

Steven Spielberg's adaptation of War of the Worlds delivers on the thrill and paranoia of H.G. Wells' classic novel while impressively updating the action and effects for modern audiences.

Average Rating: 6.7/10
Critic Reviews: 42
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 14

Steven Spielberg's adaptation of War of the Worlds delivers on the thrill and paranoia of H.G. Wells' classic novel while impressively updating the action and effects for modern audiences.

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Movie Info

An ordinary man has to protect his children against alien invaders in this science fiction thriller, freely adapted from the classic story by H.G. Wells. Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) is a dockworker living in New Jersey, divorced from his first wife Mary Ann (Miranda Otto) and estranged from his two children Rachel and Robbie (Dakota Fanning and Justin Chatwin), of whom he has custody on weekends. On one such visitation, looking after the kids becomes a little more difficult when, after a series of

PG-13, 1 hr. 56 min.

Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Written By: Josh Friedman, David Koepp

In Theaters: Jun 29, 2005 Wide

On DVD: Nov 22, 2005

Box Office:$234.1M

Paramount Pictures

Spielberg's calculations turn out to be more prominent than any effects they could possibly produce, and the less pretentious 1953 version by producer George Pal emerges as more likable.

June 8, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds is huge and scary, moving and funny-another capper to a career that seems like an unending succession of captivations.

May 12, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Magazine

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Ken Tucker

New York Magazine

Top Critic

Overall, the film is too lacking in feeling to provide a recognizably human experience.

July 14, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Observer

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Andrew Sarris

New York Observer

Top Critic

War of the Worlds is taut, gripping and surprisingly dark filmmaking.

July 7, 2005 Full Review Source: Washington Post

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Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

Top Critic

H.G. Wells wouldn't recognize his 1898 alien-invasion novel, The War of the Worlds, in Steven Spielberg's updated film version. But Wells could probably relate to the ensuing fear and panic.

July 7, 2005 Comment

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

There's stuff to make you go 'Wow!' but nothing you'll remember the next day.

July 7, 2005 Comment (1)

Rex Reed

New York Observer

Top Critic

An unstoppable juggernaut of action and anxiety that will have you blundering from the cinema in a state of nervous exhaustion. Don't expect any soft drink promotional tie-ins with this summer blockbuster.

May 27, 2011 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

War of the Worlds is that most rare of screen adaptations - a film that is faithful to its origins and at the same time, its own separate creature. The first half is better than the second, but what a first half.

March 7, 2011 Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net

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Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

Alien invasion thriller too scary for young kids.

December 17, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

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Cynthia Fuchs

Common Sense Media

so impressive in so many ways that it makes the frustration over its miserable final moments that much harder to bear

August 17, 2010 Full Review Source: Cinema Writer

| Comment (1)

Jay Antani

Cinema Writer

...terrific special effects, good acting, a few powerful scenes, and some of the most ridiculous coincidences found in any old-time, B-grade sci-fi flick. (Blu-ray Edition)

May 19, 2010 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...in its own right it works well enough most of the time to pass an entertaining couple of hours.

May 19, 2010 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

An exciting, intense, gruesome, and awfully subversive piece of science fiction escapism...

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

See it, but lower your expectations.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile

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Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

great flick from spielberg

March 2, 2008 Comment

Stefan Birgir Stefansson

sbs.is

This is Spielberg at his unabashedly commercial worst %u2014 bland, unimaginative, and more interested in his bang than his brain.

February 28, 2008 Full Review Source: BrandonFibbs.com

| Comments (3)

Brandon Fibbs

BrandonFibbs.com

Spielberg blows stuff up better than anyone -- he proves himself the maestro of that by-now-degraded game.

July 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

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Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Just when it seemed like Mr. Spielberg might be maturing into a filmmaker with some much-needed cynicism, you realize he's still just out there rounding up the dollars.

July 14, 2007 Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound

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Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Spielberg flips the E.T. script with this sci-fi flick which reverts to the pulp fiction notion of aliens as the enemies of earthlings.

June 27, 2007 Full Review Source: Princeton Town Topics

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Kam Williams

Princeton Town Topics

Reconfirms Spielberg as a master of action, here seamlessly integrating spectacular visual magic into the most mundane and familiar settings.

February 26, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International

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Kevin Lally

Film Journal International

Like disasters in real life, the film hits you in the gut with a vision of catastrophe, and leaves you to sort out what it all means.

November 17, 2006 Comment

Peter T. Chattaway

Christianity Today Source: Christianity Today

Spielberg creates an alien invasion movie that can be labelled the antithesis to the likes of Independence Day or the ilk. The reason? The personal perspective.

October 30, 2006 Full Review Source: Dark Horizons

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Garth Franklin

Dark Horizons

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for War of the Worlds

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Sci-fi movie about an alien invasion. Tom has to protect his estranged kids.

May 26, 2007

Candy Rose

Super Reviewer

Effects wise this is a very very good film, like all modern sci-fi films, it looks awesome and very realistic. The aliens and their mechanical tripods are slick, shiny and uber cool looking :) whilst the fungus like growth they produce across everything looks brilliant and fully believeable, superb effects, kudos.But

August 8, 2007

Phil Hubbard

Super Reviewer

War of the Worlds Quotes

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1. Rachel Ferrier: Are we dead?
– Submitted by Claudia S (32 days ago)
1. Narrator: From the moment the invaders arrived, breathed our air, ate and drank, they were doomed. They were undone, destroyed, after all of man's weapons and devices had failed, by the tiniest creatures that God in his wisdom put upon this earth. By the toll of a billion deaths, man had earned his immunity, his right to survive among this planet's infinite organisms. And that right is ours against all challenges. For neither do men live nor die in vain.
– Submitted by Rocky F (2 months ago)
1. Robbie Ferrier: Is it the terrorists?
2. Ray Ferrier: No... this came from someplace else.
3. Robbie Ferrier: What, you mean like Europe?
4. Ray Ferrier: NO, ROBBIE! NOT LIKE EUROPE!
– Submitted by Alejandro O (5 months ago)
1. Ray Ferrier: [inspecting Rachel's splinter] It's gonna get infected.
2. Rachel Ferrier: No it won't. When it's ready, my body will just push it out.
– Submitted by John B (6 months ago)
1. Rachel Ferrier: I'm allergic to peanut butter.
2. Ray Ferrier: Since when?
3. Rachel Ferrier: Birth.
– Submitted by Andrew P (7 months ago)