The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Day the Earth Stood Still Image
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Metascore
40 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 34 Critics What's this?

User Score
4.6 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 174 Ratings

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  • Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Keanu Reeves
  • Summary: The Day the Earth Stood Still is 20th Century Fox’s contemporary reinvention of its 1951 classic. Klaatu, an alien who arrives on our planet, triggers a global upheaval. As governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor’s appearance, a woman and her young stepson son get caught up in his mission – and come to understand the ramifications of Klaatu calling himself a “friend to the Earth.” (20th Century Fox)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 34
  3. Negative: 7 out of 34
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    70
    This contemporary remake of the science-fiction classic knew what it was doing when it cast Keanu Reeves, the movies' greatest stone face since Buster Keaton.
  2. Empire
    Reviewed by: Helen O'Hara
    60
    A remake that does not disgrace the original, this is sufficiently different to stand alone and just as relevant in its concerns – as well as succeeding (arguably better) as a thriller. And after this performance, are we sure that Keanu Reeves is really human?
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Tasha Robinson
    58
    Like the big shiny sphere at its center, the film is fairly pretty, but there's no real sense that there's anything inside it.
  4. NPR
    Reviewed by: Bob Mondello
    30
    Dunno about the Earth, but time certainly stands still for a goodly portion of Scott Derrickson's expensively produced but utterly boneheaded remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 102
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 102
  3. Negative: 51 out of 102
  1. s3ver14n
    10
    I've rated this film a 10, not because it deserves a 10, but becaue the average of 4.5 is ridiculous. It was always going to struggle. A remake of a well loved movie that doesn't lend itself to the dumb immediate payback of modern action movies - it was screwed from the start. Critised for not being the original movie and for not being modern and full of action, or an exact duplicate, it never stood a chance. Actually there are a lot of subtleties to the movie, and the new twist on the old twist is brilliantly delivered; for most of the movie I thought they'd forgotten the movie's name, and yet it turns out to be more poignant than in the original.
    Well worth watching if you have half a brain, but I suggest watching the orignal first. The makers of this film did, and it shows.    … Expand
  2. JackN.
    8
    To be honest this movie was a little above average. Just because some pompous writers who think their criticism matters above all else, does not make a movie bad. Complaining about how they know what aliens or humankind would do in that situation, what ignorant critics, I laugh at them. Yes, I agree that it may not be as good as the original, but for those who hasn't seen it would probably enjoy this movie. Even though the directors were horrible, it's not that bad of a movie. Critics, stop being so damned overzealous, just because you can write a few fancy words here and there. So people who read these reviews, at least rent the movie and watch it and see how your opinion compares with theirs, because critics' opinions are just that "opinions".… Expand
  3. tonyGreen
    6
    This was quite a bit better than i had expected. Thematically updated for the world's current parlous state. Keanu Reeves is well cast as Klaatu. Maybe not the classic of the 1951 original but still watchable.… Expand
  4. jado818
    4
    Never saw the original. I'm judging this film based off other sci-fi I've read and watched. It was an interesting premise that started off decent enough but withing 20 minutes was quickly losing focus. The film nose dives into a terrible direction and ends in an absurd manner.… Expand

See all 102 User Reviews

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