Alien Nation (1988)
Alien Nation (1988)
TOMATOMETER
——
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Alien Nation takes the interesting premise of extraterrestrials living among us and doesn't do enough with it, emphasizing a police procedural plotline over the more intriguing sci-fi elements.
Alien Nation Photos
Movie Info
Watch it now
Cast
as Det. Samuel 'George' Francisco
as Det. Sgt. Matthew Sykes
as William Harcourt
as Kipling
as Rudyard Kipling
as Cassandra
as Fedorchuk
as Quint
as Joshua Strader
as Det. Bill Tuggle
as Wiltey
as Alien Dealer
as Alterez
as Trent Porter
as Winter
as Moffet
as Duncan Crois
as Coroner's Attendant
as Coroners Driver
as Computer Operator
as Minkler
as O'Neal
as Mayor
as Ortiz
as Bentner
as Detective
as Kristin Sykes
as Mrs. Francisco
as Raincoat
as Mrs. Porter
as Natuzzi
as Victor Goldrup
as Newcomer in Bar
as Police Secretary
as Newcomer #1 on TV
as Boat Captain
as Female Cop
Critic Reviews for Alien Nation
All Critics (26) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (12) | DVD (8)
With the sci-fi and horror aspects toned down, Alien Nation becomes little more than a cop show with a twist-and one that will satisfy only the most gullible of action fans.
Uma idéia potencialmente instigante que acaba sendo desperdiçada por um roteiro tomado pelos clichês.
Fascinating and somewhat timely themed sci-fi flick, a minor classic.
Smart sci-fi premise should have made a better movie
Caan is good, but this is just a very standard buddy cop movie disguised as a sci-fi thriller. Plays better on TV, though.
Patinkin in one of his best, most memorable performances
Audience Reviews for Alien Nation
I enjoyed the hell out of this. Check out this premise: In the futuristic world of 1992, Aliens have landed and we've granted them citizenship in our society. When James Cann's partner is killed, he's teamed up with one of these Aliens to help solve the crime. That alien is played by Mandy Patinkin. From there it's a fairly standard buddy cop film, but with some really funny gags. Well worth checking it out.
Super Reviewer
A great film. A fantastic mixture of science fiction, suspense, comedy and action. A genre-bending classic that you cant help but love. A wonderfully entertaining winner that's just a great buddy-cop movie with lots to offer. A great new twist on a familiar background. A smart, funny and action-packed thrill-ride with solid performances and great special effects. James Caan and Mandy Patinkin are excellent together with their unique and effective chemistry. One of the coolest sci-fi tales of the 80's decade with Terminator and Aliens.
Super Reviewer
A race of alien beings known as newcomers crashland on Earth and become the newest immigrants in Los Angeles. When some of them are found executed a bigoted detective and his rookie newcomer sidekick investigate. Alien Nation is a buddy cop/sci-fi hybrid that contains a lot of the usual 80s action flick cliches; the burned out, alcoholic cop, gratuitous car chases and stranger in a strange land analogies are all very familiar. The sci-fi spin does give it all a little freshness however, and although the racial metaphor is a little clumsy, Caan and Patinkin's deadpan delivery show some decent chemistry together with some amusing odd couple comedy. Unfortunately the script is purely by the numbers including a couple of major plot elements that are just sci-fi mumbo jumbo. Terence Stamp also might as well have phoned in his performance as the villain leading up to a particularly weak conclusion which drags an otherwise entertaining film back down to mediocrity.
Super Reviewer
Alien Nation Quotes
There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.
Discussion Forum
Discuss Alien Nation on our Movie forum!