The Day the Earth Stood Still

2008

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Critics Consensus

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.

21%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 194

27%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 303,466
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Movie Info

In this contemporary reinvention of the 1951 science fiction classic, renowned scientist Dr. Helen Benson finds herself face to face with an alien called Klaatu, who travels across the universe to warn of an impending global crisis. When forces beyond Helen's control treat the extraterrestrial as a hostile and deny his request to address the world's leaders, she and her estranged stepson Jacob quickly discover the deadly ramifications of Klaatu's claim that he is "a friend to the Earth." Now Helen must find a way to convince the entity who was sent to destroy us that mankind is worth saving--but it may be too late. The process has begun.

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Cast

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

All Critics (194) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (154)

  • 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.

    Dec 15, 2008

    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.

    Dec 15, 2008 | Full Review…

    David Edelstein

    New York Magazine/Vulture
    Top Critic

  • What a ridiculous movie.

    Dec 15, 2008 | Full Review…

    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.

    Dec 12, 2008 | Full Review…

    Christopher Orr

    The New Republic
    Top Critic

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

    Dec 12, 2008 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

    Peter Rainer

    Christian Science Monitor
    Top Critic

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

    Dec 12, 2008

    Ann Hornaday

    Washington Post
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (194)

Audience Reviews for The Day the Earth Stood Still

  • Sep 18, 2015
    Having never seen the original I can't tell you if it's better or worse, First off I thought the plot was intelligent and different to any other alien invasion movie it was told well but it felt like they didn't know how to end it and felt rushed and will probably leave most feeling abit let down, Keanu Reeves does an ok job but most of the time it feels like he's a robot not an alien so his style of acting wasn't helping the movie, I didn't care for Jaden Smiths character as I think kids in films like this are just annoying as 99 times out of 100 they survive so that also makes us difficult to get into the film as we all know kids ALWAYS survive, The effects were great and done well, There was very little action and I think just adding abit more especially with the giant robots would of gone down better with viewers, It's not a terrible movie it's just a let down as Hollywood seems to think that good effects can save a poor script.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Dec 02, 2011
    As the critics and viewers have said before, this is all visual and no plot. I will give it credit, the visuals are beautiful, and it was the only thing keeping my attention. The plot is pathetic, so many cliche moments, and I haven't seen the original but even I know it didn't keep to it at all. The acting from the whole cast was weak, not horrible, but weak. Keanu Reeves was terrible, he didn't DO anything except use a deep voice. The music was okay, it seemed like half action, half horror music if you listen correctly. I love Jennifer Connelly but after this and The Dilemma im losing hope in her. If you want great visual effects and explosions, thats all this movie is.
    Bradley W Super Reviewer
  • Oct 16, 2011
    An ok sci-fi flick with very few suspense and action.
    Jacob P Super Reviewer
  • Aug 10, 2011
    Jennifer Connolly, Keanu Reeves, Jaden Smith, and Jon Hamm do whatever they can to make The Day The Earth Stood Still entertaining, but they can't do enough to cover up how poorly made this film is. Plain and simple, The Day The Earth Stood Still is a piece of crap, an epic failure on so many accounts. For one, the effects are atrocious. The CGI bits scream fake, especially the big machine thingy that is supposed to protect Klaatu (Reeves) and destroy the world. It's very hard to care about what happens when you're laughing at how cartoonish everything looks. The story makes no sense. So, Klaatu has decided that the human race must be destroyed in order for the planet Earth to continually exist. His reasoning is uninformed at best. SPOILER ALERT!!! All that it takes for him to change his mind is Jennifer Connolly hugging her son out of love. So, humans are capable of love and thus worth saving. If he had been watching humans live for as long as he claims he has, he would have realized that a long time ago and saved himself the trip, and me the wasted two hours I spent sitting through this crap. Also, the Kathy Bates character is a walking cliche. The ignorant, power-tripping government official who doesn't understand her enemy, and her ignorance fucks everyone over. Uh huh. Real originality on her characterization. Okay. I'm complaining too much. Skip this one at all costs. It's a terrible, boring, and underwhelming remake of a dated 1951 original.
    Edward B Super Reviewer
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