Mars Attacks! (1996)

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers (WGA):

Len Brown (trading card series) &
Woody Gelman (trading card series) ...

Release Date:

13 December 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Nice planet. We'll take it!

Plot:

The Earth is invaded by Martians with irresistible weapons and a cruel sense of humor.

Plot Keywords:

Las Vegas | Washington Monument | Computer | Taj Mahal | Murder By Music

Awards:

2 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Jack Nicholson	...	President James Dale / Art Land
Glenn Close	...	First Lady Marsha Dale
Annette Bening	...	Barbara Land
Pierce Brosnan	...	Professor Donald Kessler
Danny DeVito	...	Rude Gambler
Martin Short	...	Press Secretary Jerry Ross
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Nathalie Lake
Michael J. Fox	...	Jason Stone
Rod Steiger	...	General Decker
Tom Jones	...	Himself
Jim Brown	...	Byron Williams
Lukas Haas	...	Richie Norris
Natalie Portman	...	Taffy Dale
Pam Grier	...	Louise Williams
Lisa Marie	...	Martian Girl

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi fantasy violence and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Philippines:PG-13 | Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Israel:PG | Italy:T | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The scene where characters are wandering through a collection of old neon signs was filmed at the "Neon Boneyard", located on property maintained by the Neon Museum, a non-profit organization in Las Vegas. Many of the signs in the collection were donated by the Young Electric Sign Company (which constructed many of the casino signs and were originally salvaged for parts), and are slated for restoration and incorporation into outdoor exhibits. The "Boneyard" has been used in a number of film and TV projects, and is open for tours by appointment only.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Donald Kesler's head wakes up inside the alien space-craft, we can hear a steady heartbeat. However, when the camera pans out, and we are able to see the heart to the left of the screen, the heart is beating much faster than the speed the audio is beating.

Quotes:

President Dale: Why can't we work out our differences? Why can't we work things out? Little people, why can't we all just get along?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Space Jam (1996)

Soundtrack:

Champagne Fanfare

Hide the Van Buren china!!!

I'll make this quick. Jim "Give Me The Ball" Brown speed-bagging bubble-headed martians as he journeys home to Pam "Foxy Brown" Grier. Tom Jones finger-snapping and rocking out to "It's Not Unusual" with a bald eagle on his arm. Las Vegas getting a demolition only Steve Wynn could dream of. And just about the most serous A-list cast not taking themselves seriously and having a ball. Your family and friends will have you committed for loving this but who cares! Just crank up the Slim Whitman and watch their heads explode. It's "Independence Day" meets "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" with Tim Burton again at the helm. The best picture of 1996!