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The Arrival (1996)

PG-13  |   |  Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller  |  31 May 1996 (USA)
6.3
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Ratings: 6.3/10 from 24,061 users  
Reviews: 109 user | 55 critic

Zane, an astronomer, discovers intelligent alien life. But the aliens are keeping a deadly secret, and will do anything to stop Zane from learning it.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Calvin
Shane ...
JPL Guard #1
...
Phil Gordian / Mexican Guard
...
Phyllis Applegate ...
Mrs. Roosevelt
Alan Coates ...
Terraformer
...
DOD #1
...
DOD #2
...
Co-worker
Tony T. Johnson ...
Kiki
Catalina Botello ...
N.C.A.R. Woman
Georg Lillitsch ...
Computer Tech
...
Cabbie
Edit

Storyline

Zane (Charlie Sheen), a young, mild-mannered astronomer discovers an extraterrestrial radio signal. After being fired from his organization for reporting this to his superior, he takes a chance on discovering the truth: that his workplace is not quite what it seems to be and a sinister conspiracy is at work. The aliens are keeping a deadly secret, and will stop at nothing to prevent Zane from learning it. Written by vishakbt1

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

For centuries we've bee watching the skies, when we should have been watching our backs. See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sci-fi violence and terror, and for brief language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

31 May 1996 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Shockwave  »

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$184,261 (USA) (26 July 1996)

Gross:

JPY 20,609,500 (Japan) (15 November 1996)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

|

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The length of the first signal is 42 seconds. The number 42 is, in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, "The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything", calculated by an enormous supercomputer over a period of 7.5 million years. See more »

Goofs

When Zane and Ilana are talking about the climate changes in San Marsol Zane has a flashback of the presentation that he had crashed earlier at JBL, however he should not have heard the part about the melting polar ice because he was already removed from the room by two security guards. See more »

Quotes

Ilana Green: You know, I must say, Zane, I really enjoyed our talk tonight. It's uncommon for me to find someone who can actually grasp the things that I'm passionate about.
Zane Ziminski: Yeah, I hear ya.
See more »

Connections

References Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) See more »

Soundtracks

Ramblin' On My Mind
Performed by Robert Lockwood Jr.
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Humor Made This Sci-Fi Work
3 May 2006 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

This aliens vs. earth film succeeded because it added humor to the suspense story and Charlie Sheen did a great job adding to that with an expression-filled face that made he and this film fun to watch.

Story-wise, most of it made no sense as Sheen got out of one impossible scrap after another but good sci-fi special effects and suspense helped make the story interesting and fast-moving. You get caught up in the story and don't care if their are plenty of holes in it. It's also pretty tame, language-wise. Lindsay Crouse provides the female interest and Ron Silver the villain, a familiar role for him.

The film was popular enough to make a sequel, but that horrible. Don't waste your time on that one.


26 of 37 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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This movie is so 90s it hurts FootwearQuality
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Painfully Underatted Movie!!! djtrix26
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