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Arrival
21 Laps Entertainment 21 Laps Entertainment
FilmNation Entertainment FilmNation Entertainment
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Lava Bear Films

Not part of a collection.

Arrival

Why are they here?

2016 116 min ★ 7.6 (19,857) Released
Drama Mystery Science Fiction

Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.

Original title
Arrival
Language
EN
Country
US
Budget
$47,000,000
Revenue
$203,388,186
Reviews & Ratings 6
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Jun 20, 2024 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

Accomplished linguist "Louise" (Amy Adams) is drafted in by the US military to join an international team of scientists charged with trying to communicate with twelve spacecraft that have landed across the globe. Upon her arrival she encounters "Donnelly" (Jeremy Renner) and the pair work on finding a way to talk with "Abbott" and "Costello". These latter two are aliens who seem just as keen to chat back, but finding common terms of reference is nigh on impossible. As they find innovative ways to make progress, we discover a little of her traumatic past and it seems her association with the visitors is heightening her senses and inspiring her imagination. With the global alliance straining and the domestic military champing at the bit, it falls to the couple to avert disaster. It has something of the original "Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951) about it, this - as it looks more intelligently at the whole subject of extra-terrestrial life without just focusing on expensive visual effects. Indeed, the artistic design of these effects is really quite effective at illustrating just how blank canvas connections require inspiration and patience - and there are clues for us to spot, too. Adams is at the top of her game here, and with Renner delivering well as a foil and Forest Whitaker taking on the role as the less gung-ho military man ("Col. Weber), this is more a thinking persons sci-fi thriller that keeps us guessing as to the motives of just about all until the denouement. It's a little slow off the mark, but does make you hope that if ET does ever arrive, it is more this kind of welcome it may receive rather than tanks, missiles and ye-ha!

S

sirdorius

Nov 5, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

I loved the visuals in this, and Amy does a great job of carrying the cast. I am able to suspend my disbelief for 120 minutes when watching sci fi, so I will avoid the useless "but that's not what the military would do" comments. The movie has a great setup talking about language, culture, our perception of the world and how truly -alien- an alien life form would feel to us. Unfortunately, it uses that setup to deliver a platitude older than written language and then just throws away any conclusion to its sci fi story that we though was the main focus up until that point. Yes, I know cancer is sad and all that from real life, now can we please know what happened to the aliens?? Did they get bored and leave when they saw the ending?

Andre Gonzales

Andre Gonzales

Jun 2, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 6.0

ok movie really boring at times. it was only interesting to the space craft and the aliens. other then that it was pretty dumb. working together and love is something the planet will never understand. well at least our leaders wont any way.

Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Neto

Oct 25, 2022 · via TMDB

★ 8.0

**An excellent film, where the main theme is not what it seems.** In general, I'm not a big fan of movies involving aliens... in part because they seem extremely unlikely to me (I don't really believe there is another planet with intelligent and skilled living beings like humans, or at least not developed enough to see us visit). However, I really enjoyed this film, which takes advantage of the visit of twelve spaceships from other worlds to make us question the way we view the passage of time and its linear nature. Critically acclaimed, the film received mixed reviews from audiences, with a number of detractors and admirers alike. I personally think the film is good enough to deserve our attention and respect. To understand the script, it is necessary to bear in mind that the main theme of the film is not the spaceships and the alien visit, but Time, the passage of time and the way we look at it. As such, the film uses a non-linear narrative that can sometimes be difficult for viewers to understand: through dreams, the protagonist sees her young daughter, and we are led to think that she dreams of things from the past, and that she is now divorced, and her daughter has died of illness (I think it must have been leukemia). It is only later on that we realize that this is not quite the case… I don't want to reveal much more, but to understand the film, it is necessary to consider these points well. The extraterrestrial visit thus becomes an authentic sub-plot from a certain point onwards, and the real motivation of the visit is closely linked to its language and circular writing. I think I've given enough clues. The advantages of this film being as it is are linked to the reflective and meditative form it takes, which can exasperate those who wanted more action or drama. I can understand that these audiences felt defrauded in their expectations. The slow narrative can sometimes drag on too much, and the film's extremely scientific nature can also make it a little difficult to understand. In the end, the quality of the plot goes downhill, things become something more cliché and predictable, but I saw that as less of a problem. I liked the work of Amy Addams, I think that the actress was relatively ignored by the judges of the Oscars that year, and it would have been fair, at the very least, to be nominated for Best Actress. She did work with soul, heart and commitment. Jeremy Renner also gave us an excellent performance, perhaps one of the best of his career so far, along with “Hurt Locker”. Unfortunately, the good performances end here: there are other excellent actors, but they didn't receive good material. The most obvious case is that of Forest Whittaker, who shone in “The Last King of Scotland”, and had a flat character here, without any development. Even so, he managed to do a lot with the little he was given. Despite only securing one Oscar for Sound Editing, the film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Production Design. I don't know Dennis Villeneuve's work very well, I even have the impression that this was the first film of his that I've seen. So I'm not the best person to rate it. What I can say is that I liked the director's work here: he managed to give feeling and depth to a film that, on the other hand, could have been just an excuse for a lot of visual effects and CGI. The effects are there, the CGI is good, and it works really well, but the movie is more than that! The cinematography is also good, with many blurry scenes that are fundamental to the work of creating and manipulating the environment, with the film becoming increasingly tense and mysterious. The editing was also very well executed, although there were some pacing issues. Finally, a word of praise for Johann Johannsson's soundtrack, and in particular for the choice of the melody “On the Nature of Daylight”, by Max Richter.

Penguinatic

Penguinatic

Aug 12, 2021 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

This may be my new favourite film. I was so emotionally involved in this film, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit a few tears were shed towards the end.

2

20thCentury

Jul 14, 2020 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

Arrival has created the most profound and seamless symbolism, notably through cinematography/imagery, that may have ever been achieved to date in film. On the surface, this appears to be a story about humans making contact with an alien species. For those with keen critical thinking skills, the seemingly foreign creatures at the beginning are not who we initially believed them to be by the end. This film amazingly weaves an abundance of profound images/clues in plain sight. Just like one of those optical illusions, which can at first appear a random assortment of dots. Yet, once your focus kicks in and you seize upon a detailed shape, you suddenly see an enormously complex picture that has been there the whole time, seemingly invisible just prior. As I watched this film, I was curious about the shape of the aliens. They do not really conform to the aesthetic of an advanced species. While I internally wrestled with the purpose of this particular shape... it finally made sense. Boom!! Mind Blown!!!! I've heard people try to reconcile the linear/non-linear information as it unfolds in real time. This is certainly rich for grasping a fuller meaning and added depth. However, imho, the epicenter of meaning in this visual masterpiece begins with the shape of the aliens. If you can unwrap that, you'll become like heroic linguist Elizabeth Banks, and decipher the deeper meaning behind this profound story.

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 24
alien alien contact alien language based on short story communication complex determinism extraterrestrial technology female protagonist first contact heartbreak hopeful incredulous language linguist linguistics loss military science fiction scientist spacecraft time time-manipulation wistful
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Cast 57
Amy Adams

Amy Adams

Louise Banks

Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner

Ian Donnelly

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker

Colonel Weber

Michael Stuhlbarg

Michael Stuhlbarg

Agent Halpern

Mark O'Brien

Mark O'Brien

Captain Marks

Tzi Ma

Tzi Ma

General Shang

Abigail Pniowsky

Abigail Pniowsky

8-Year-Old Hannah

Julia Scarlett Dan

Julia Scarlett Dan

12-Year-Old Hannah

Jadyn Malone

Jadyn Malone

6-Year-Old Hannah

Frank Schorpion

Frank Schorpion

Dr. Kettler

Lucas Chartier-Dessert

Lucas Chartier-Dessert

Private Lasky

Christian Jadah

Christian Jadah

Private Combs

Andrew Shaver

Andrew Shaver

Environmental Tech

Pat Kiely

Pat Kiely

Environmental Tech

Sonia Vigneault

Sonia Vigneault

Dr. J. Bydwell

Mark Camacho

Mark Camacho

Richard Riley

Sabrina Reeves

Sabrina Reeves

Press Secretary

Julian Casey

Julian Casey

Australian Scientist

Tony Robinow

Tony Robinow

British Scientist

Larry Day

Larry Day

CIA Officer Dan Ryder

Matthew Willson

Matthew Willson

Preacher

Ruth Chiang

Ruth Chiang

Chinese Scientist

Russell Yuen

Russell Yuen

Chinese Scientist

Anana Rydvald

Anana Rydvald

Swedish Scientist

Bineyam Girma

Bineyam Girma

Sudan Representative

Abdelghafour Elaaziz

Abdelghafour Elaaziz

African Representative

Abdul Ayoola

Abdul Ayoola

Sierra Leone Representative

Daniel Esteban

Daniel Esteban

Venezuelan Representative

Albert Kwan

Albert Kwan

Chinese Man

Brittany Teo

Brittany Teo

Student with Smartphone

Joe Cobden

Joe Cobden

Cryptographer

Lorne Brass

Lorne Brass

Cryptographer

Genevieve Sirois

Genevieve Sirois

Cryptographer

Victor Andres Trelles Turgeon

Victor Andres Trelles Turgeon

Science Team Member

Michael Nangreaves

Michael Nangreaves

Science Team Member

Reda Guerinik

Reda Guerinik

Communications Operator

Sasha Samar

Sasha Samar

Communications Operator

Kathleen Stavert

Kathleen Stavert

Communications Operator

Kattia Thony

Kattia Thony

Nurse

Leisa Reid

Leisa Reid

Nurse

Brent Skagford

Brent Skagford

Lieutenant

Gurdeep Ahluwalia

Gurdeep Ahluwalia

Soldier

Shawn Campbell

Shawn Campbell

TV Anchor

Brian Dunstan

Brian Dunstan

TV Anchor

Dan Duran

Dan Duran

TV Anchor

John Sanford Moore

John Sanford Moore

TV Anchor

Sangita Patel

Sangita Patel

TV Anchor

Camille Ross

Camille Ross

TV Anchor

Max Walker

Max Walker

TV Anchor

Martin Jr Pelletier

Martin Jr Pelletier

Motion Capture Heptapod

Carmela Nozza Guizzo

Carmela Nozza Guizzo

4-Year-Old Hannah (uncredited)

Robert D. Morais

Robert D. Morais

Master Sergeant Douglas (uncredited)

Mustafa Haidari

Mustafa Haidari

Foreign Correspondent (uncredited)

Philippe Hartmann

Philippe Hartmann

Halpern's Deputy Director (uncredited)

Leslie Baker

Leslie Baker

Middle Aged Woman (uncredited)

Dave Campbell

Dave Campbell

Soldier (uncredited)

Frank Fiola

Frank Fiola

Soldier (uncredited)

Crew 61
Nicolas Lepage

Nicolas Lepage

Art Direction

Patrice Vermette

Patrice Vermette

Production Design

Pierre Gill

Pierre Gill

Additional Photography

Bradford Young

Bradford Young

Director of Photography

Yves Bélanger

Yves Bélanger

Second Unit Director of Photography

Salomé Villeneuve

Salomé Villeneuve

Costume Assistant

Fríða Aradóttir

Fríða Aradóttir

Key Hair Stylist

Morag Ross

Morag Ross

Makeup Artist

Michael Jackman

Michael Jackman

Post Production Supervisor

Phil Plait

Phil Plait

Scientific Consultant

Ilyaa Ghafouri

Ilyaa Ghafouri

Sound Design Assistant

Mathieu Coderre

Mathieu Coderre

Stand In

Marc Désourdy

Marc Désourdy

Stunt Coordinator

Krista Bell

Krista Bell

Stunt Double

Max Laferriere

Max Laferriere

Stunt Double

Andrew A. Kosove

Andrew A. Kosove

Thanks

Broderick Johnson

Broderick Johnson

Thanks

Denis Villeneuve

Denis Villeneuve

Director

Marie-Julie Dallaire

Marie-Julie Dallaire

Second Unit Director

Joe Walker

Joe Walker

Editor

Bruce Winant

Bruce Winant

ADR Voice Casting

Dann Fink

Dann Fink

ADR Voice Casting

Francine Maisler

Francine Maisler

Casting

Michael Jackman

Michael Jackman

Co-Producer

Eric Heisserer

Eric Heisserer

Executive Producer

Glen Basner

Glen Basner

Executive Producer

Milan Popelka

Milan Popelka

Executive Producer

Martin Henri

Martin Henri

Line Producer

Aaron Ryder

Aaron Ryder

Producer

Dan Cohen

Dan Cohen

Producer

Dan Levine

Dan Levine

Producer

David Linde

David Linde

Producer

Karen Lunder

Karen Lunder

Producer

Shawn Levy

Shawn Levy

Producer

Hanna Oldenburg

Hanna Oldenburg

Production Assistant

Ben Browning

Ben Browning

Production Executive

Niels Barletta

Niels Barletta

Foley Mixer

Jóhann Jóhannsson

Jóhann Jóhannsson

Music Arranger

Jóhann Jóhannsson

Jóhann Jóhannsson

Music Producer

Colin Stetson

Colin Stetson

Musician

Hildur Guðnadóttir

Hildur Guðnadóttir

Musician

Jóhann Jóhannsson

Jóhann Jóhannsson

Musician

Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe

Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe

Musician

Jóhann Jóhannsson

Jóhann Jóhannsson

Original Music Composer

Olivier Calvert

Olivier Calvert

Sound Designer

Alan Robert Murray

Alan Robert Murray

Sound Effects Editor

Pierre-Jules Audet

Pierre-Jules Audet

Sound Effects Editor

Bernard Gariépy Strobl

Bernard Gariépy Strobl

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Sylvain Bellemare

Sylvain Bellemare

Supervising Sound Editor

Else Torp

Else Torp

Vocals

Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe

Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe

Vocals

Marie-Claude Lafontaine

Marie-Claude Lafontaine

Digital Compositor

Simon Beaupré

Simon Beaupré

Digital Compositor

Heston L'Abbé

Heston L'Abbé

Digital Compositors

Arnaud Brisebois

Arnaud Brisebois

VFX Supervisor

Marie-Claude Lafontaine

Marie-Claude Lafontaine

Visual Effects Coordinator

Josiane Fradette

Josiane Fradette

Visual Effects Producer

Jean-François Ferland

Jean-François Ferland

Visual Effects Supervisor

Eric Heisserer

Eric Heisserer

Screenplay

Jessica Coon

Jessica Coon

Script Consultant

Ted Chiang

Ted Chiang

Short Story

Gallery 306
Videos 22
Similar Movies 674
US Release Dates 6

Sep 2, 2016

Telluride Film Festival

Premiere

Sep 22, 2016

Fantastic Fest

Premiere

Oct 27, 2016

Chicago International Film Festival

Premiere

Oct 28, 2016

Philadelphia International Film Festival

Premiere

Nov 11, 2016

PG-13 Theatrical

Feb 14, 2017

PG-13 Physical

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Community Top Movies

🥇 Evil Dead II

Evil Dead II

1987 · 14 wins

🥈 The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

2008 · 14 wins

🥉 Halloween

Halloween

1978 · 13 wins

#4 Final Destination

Final Destination

2000 · 12 wins

#5 Halloween II

Halloween II

1981 · 11 wins

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