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Arrival

Play trailer 1:00 Poster for Arrival PG-13 2016 1h 56m Sci-Fi Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
94% Tomatometer 441 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Linguistics professor Louise Banks leads an elite team of investigators when gigantic spaceships touch down in 12 locations around the world. As nations teeter on the verge of global war, Banks and her crew must race against time to find a way to communicate with the extraterrestrial visitors. Hoping to unravel the mystery, she takes a chance that could threaten her life and quite possibly all mankind.
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Arrival

Arrival

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Critics Consensus

Arrival delivers a must-see experience for fans of thinking person's sci-fi that anchors its heady themes with genuinely affecting emotion and a terrific performance from Amy Adams.

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Critics Reviews

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Alexandra Heller-Nicholas The Blue Lenses 08/25/2018
Arrival transcends the limitations that so often govern the less creative examples of the subgenre, instead using it as a loose conceptual foundation upon which to build a theoretically-informed examination of what precisely ... makes us human. Go to Full Review
Kristen Lopez Culturess 11/20/2017
Arrival couldn't have arrived (pun intended) at a better time. Go to Full Review
K. Austin Collins The Ringer 08/10/2017
I think of Arrival in terms of color: the milky grays of the clouds rolling over the Montana plain; the bright blue of computer screens bouncing off the gray tents on the makeshift army compound. Go to Full Review
Jonathon Wilson Ready Steady Cut May 30
3/5
This is atypical science fiction that, ironically, only knows how to communicate in a language we already understand. Go to Full Review
JD Duran InSession Film 08/08/2024
The film works as a powerful allegory for how we try to decode and interpret the tragedies of our lives. Go to Full Review
Ankit Ojha Cinema Elite 07/09/2024
4.5/5
Without spoiling too much, let’s just say Villeneuve and Heisserer use the Kuleshov effect to turn the non-linear storytelling of “Arrival” from a gimmick to an indispensable part of the film. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jonathan F 02/05/2022 Extremely short-paced, felt like most of the movie was empty without a real driving story. I would have hoped for more action. See more Katie D 03/15/2021 An amazing film! very well-done, thought-provoking, entertaining and unpredictable. my only complaint is about the loud horn blasts that accompany so many science fiction movie scenes - unnecessary, unrealistic and distracting! other than that it was awesome! See more George C @RT90180338 4h A classic, with real depth and space for the viewer to wonder, interpret and reflect. It leaves a long-lasting impression, making you reconsider the experience of time itself. See more Vixo S @vixo_six 1d Arrival remains powerful because it uses science fiction to explore grief, time and the way language shapes human perception. Denis Villeneuve turns a global encounter into an intimate emotional experience, where tension comes less from spectacle than from communication, silence and the fear of the unknown. Amy Adams gives the film its quiet force, portraying a woman whose knowledge becomes both gift and burden. Her performance is restrained, internal and deeply moving, while Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker ground the story through warmth and institutional pressure. The film's deepest idea is that meaning exists because life is finite. To understand time is not only to see loss, but to recognize the value of choosing love even when pain is part of it. Arrival endures because it transforms a cosmic premise into a human meditation on acceptance, memory and courage. See more Jessica G @Jess26444 2d Arrival is a rare science fiction film that prioritizes ideas and emotions over action and spectacle. Rather than focusing on conflict, the movie explores communication, language, and the way humans understand one another.Amy Adams delivers a powerful and deeply emotional performance as linguist Louise Banks, bringing both intelligence and vulnerability to the role. The film slowly builds tension as humanity attempts to communicate with mysterious visitors, keeping viewers engaged through thoughtful storytelling rather than explosive set pieces.Director Denis Villeneuve creates a mesmerizing atmosphere with stunning cinematography and a haunting musical score. Every scene feels purposeful, leading to a conclusion that is both surprising and emotionally impactful.What makes Arrival truly special is its ability to blend complex scientific concepts with a deeply personal story about love, loss, and the choices that define our lives. See more Chris S @Janomi 2d This is one of the most original science fiction films I've seen. Instead of following the familiar alien invasion formula, Arrival builds its story around communication, language, and perception, creating something that feels genuinely fresh. The writing is the film's greatest strength. The technology, the purpose of the aliens' arrival, and the methods used to communicate with them are all thoughtfully developed and unlike anything I've seen in similar films. The screenplay presents big ideas without losing sight of the human story at its center. Amy Adams delivers an excellent performance and carries much of the film's emotional weight. Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, and Michael Stuhlbarg are strong in supporting roles as well. What makes Arrival special is that its creativity never feels gimmicky. It's intelligent, emotionally engaging, and one of the most unique first-contact stories ever brought to the screen. See more Read all reviews
Arrival

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Arrival

Arrival: Official Clip - The Nature of a Question Arrival: Official Clip - The Nature of a Question 2:08 Arrival: Official Clip - Death Process Arrival: Official Clip - Death Process 2:13 Arrival: Official Clip - You Changed My Mind Arrival: Official Clip - You Changed My Mind 2:13 Arrival: Official Clip - Past and Present in the Future Arrival: Official Clip - Past and Present in the Future 2:06 Arrival: Official Clip - The Heptapods Speak Arrival: Official Clip - The Heptapods Speak 2:13 Arrival: Official Clip - You Have the Weapon Arrival: Official Clip - You Have the Weapon 1:41 Arrival: Official Clip - Sabotaged Diplomacy Arrival: Official Clip - Sabotaged Diplomacy 2:13 Arrival: Official Clip - The Many Things We Don't Know Arrival: Official Clip - The Many Things We Don't Know 2:10 Arrival: Official Clip - First Contact Arrival: Official Clip - First Contact 2:13 Arrival: Official Clip - A Proper Introduction Arrival: Official Clip - A Proper Introduction 2:13 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Linguistics professor Louise Banks leads an elite team of investigators when gigantic spaceships touch down in 12 locations around the world. As nations teeter on the verge of global war, Banks and her crew must race against time to find a way to communicate with the extraterrestrial visitors. Hoping to unravel the mystery, she takes a chance that could threaten her life and quite possibly all mankind.
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Producer
Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Aaron Ryder, David Linde
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
21 Laps Entertainment, Lava Bear Films, FilmNation
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 11, 2016, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jan 27, 2017
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 31, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$100.5M
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital