Arrival - Metacritic

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2016
PG-13
1 h 56 m

2016
PG-13
1 h 56 m

Summary When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team is put together to investigate – including language expert Louise Banks (Amy Adams). Mankind teeters on the verge of global war as everyone scrambles for answers – and to find them, Banks will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.

Directed By: Denis Villeneuve

Written By: Eric Heisserer, Ted Chiang

2016
PG-13
1 h 56 m

2016
PG-13
1 h 56 m

Arrival

Metascore Universal Acclaim Based on 52 Critic Reviews

81

User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 1,970 User Ratings

8.2

My Score

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Where to Watch

Summary When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team is put together to investigate – including language expert Louise Banks (Amy Adams). Mankind teeters on the verge of global war as everyone scrambles for answers – and to find them, Banks will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.

Directed By: Denis Villeneuve

Written By: Eric Heisserer, Ted Chiang

Where to Watch

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Universal Acclaim Based on 52 Critic Reviews

90% Positive
47 Reviews

8% Mixed
4 Reviews

2% Negative
1 Review

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Universal Acclaim Based on 52 Critic Reviews

90% Positive
47 Reviews

8% Mixed
4 Reviews

2% Negative
1 Review

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Los Angeles Times

Nov 10, 2016

Arrival is really Adams' film, a showcase for her ability to quietly and effectively meld intelligence, empathy and reserve.

By Kenneth Turan FULL REVIEW

Sep 1, 2016

This is riveting, dizzying stuff from Villeneuve.

By Robbie Collin FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

User Score

Universal Acclaim Based on 1,970 User Ratings

86% Positive
1685 Ratings

8% Mixed
158 Ratings

6% Negative
127 Ratings

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

User Reviews

User Score

Universal Acclaim Based on 1,970 User Ratings

86% Positive
1685 Ratings

8% Mixed
158 Ratings

6% Negative
127 Ratings

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Sep 20, 2023

One of the best movies of the past 10 years. Their take on aliens is so fresh and interesting. Highly recommended.

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Jan 24, 2023

Arrival is a science fiction mystery masterpiece with an original message and theme that will intrigue moviegoers everywhere.

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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Nov 10, 2016

Arrival is science fiction in the classic sense and a film of otherworldly ambition.

By Calvin Wilson FULL REVIEW

Wall Street Journal

Nov 10, 2016

What’s remarkable about Arrival is its contemplative core—and, of course, Ms. Adams’s star performance, which is no less impassioned for being self-effacing.

By Joe Morgenstern FULL REVIEW

Washington Post

Nov 10, 2016

Muted, measured and meditative, Arrival brings taste and restraint to a genre in the midst of a mini golden age: It comes in peace.

By Ann Hornaday FULL REVIEW

Sep 1, 2016

Adams gives a nicely polished, muted performance: She keeps the story grounded when the ideas Villeneuve is striving for threaten to get too lofty. And the picture is intelligently and effectively crafted, one of those enterprises where the cinematography, sound design and score, as well as the special effects, melt into a seamless, organic whole.

By Stephanie Zacharek FULL REVIEW

Nov 9, 2016

"Enemy" and "Sicario" were unspeakable disasters, and Arrival, the director’s latest exercise in pretentious poopery, gives me every reason to believe I have parted company with Denis Villeneuve for good.

By Rex Reed FULL REVIEW

See All 52 Critic Reviews

Nov 10, 2022

This film just struck a chord with me, it felt so profound, minimalistic but very emotional. The score is a masterpiece and deserves as much praise, if not more, than the movie itself.

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Jun 2, 2023

ok movie really boring at times. it was only interesting to see 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.

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Dec 30, 2021

----------------------------------6.0/10-----------------------------------

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Apr 14, 2019

I give this movie some credit for holding my attention for most of the running time. Unfortunately by the end it completely falls apart. Worse still, it makes many of the supporting characters dumb just to pretend the main characters are intelligent. I guess worth a rental but ultimately unsatisfying.

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Nov 27, 2017

This movie was so dull that I’d watch Barney Reruns while eating whatever I can find in the garbage bin rather than sit through all two hours of this severely underwhelming story again.

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See All 317 User Reviews

Details

Production Company Lava Bear Films, FilmNation Entertainment, 21 Laps Entertainment, Xenolinguistics

Release Date Nov 11, 2016

Duration 1 h 56 m

Rating PG-13

Genres

Tagline Why are they here?

Website https://www.facebook.com/WhyAreTheyHere/?fref=ts

View All Details

Awards

Academy Awards, USA

• 1 Win & 8 Nominations

Golden Globes, USA

• 2 Nominations

Gold Derby Awards

• 14 Nominations

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