The Day the Earth Stood Still

Name: The Day the Earth Stood Still
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller
Released: December 12, 2008
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 40
Cast: Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Keanu Reeves

2008

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 244 Ratings

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4.7

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4.7	Your Score
4.7	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 244 Ratings

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The Day The Earth Stood Still

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: December 12, 2008 | PG-13

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 get caught up in his mission – and come toThe 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 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

Director: Scott Derrickson

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 104 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan

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. Read full review

Carrie Rickey

An entertaining rethink of the 1951 classic. Read full review

Tasha Robinson

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. Read full review

Cammila Albertson

Pretty good as science fiction thrillers go, but sadly, there isn't much more to say about it. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

One of the big problems here is that, despite much exposition, the nature of Klaatu's mission on Earth isn't at all clear. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

The film's major action sequences are never exciting, and even the now-requisite destruction of New York feels lazy. Read full review

Richard Schickel

Suffice it to say that these morons have, quite simply, turned The Day the Earth Stood Still on its head and what's falling out of its pockets in that upended state is a stream of junk. Read full review

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User Reviews

s3ver14n

Jun 18, 2011

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 forI'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

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

WilliamD.

Dec 20, 2008

This movie is ONLY rated badly because it dared to take the name of the 1951 gem of the same name. Other than two minor points, that is ALL it has in common with it. IF YOU view the movie WITHOUT reference to the older one, it's actually a pretty good movie.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

RichardR.

Dec 13, 2008

Interesting premise, fairly well executed. If you love these kind of disaster / end of world movies please don't be put off by the reviews, this movie is worth checking out!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

NeilK.

Dec 23, 2008

I thought that it was good in taking a story that has so much potential and throwing it down the drain. The film dies when the largest amount of acting talent in the film is coming from young Jaden Smith. Thought to be honest Keanu Reeves landed theperfect role for him, a emotionless, dull I thought that it was good in taking a story that has so much potential and throwing it down the drain. The film dies when the largest amount of acting talent in the film is coming from young Jaden Smith. Thought to be honest Keanu Reeves landed theperfect role for him, a emotionless, dull character that was terribly revuved from the original. Overall this film was able to keep in the seat beccuase I saw it in IMAX and the sheer brilliance and size of the IMAX expierance was enough to keep me in the seat. The Day the Earth Stood Still should should have remained a classic not a crappy remake.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RockyB.

Dec 12, 2008

A complete disaster in every way, acting, script, new ideas they're all terrible. There's never a moment when you're scared, intigued or even bothered about how it all ends. You feel no empathy for the human race at all, where's the city destruction and human loss? The A complete disaster in every way, acting, script, new ideas they're all terrible. There's never a moment when you're scared, intigued or even bothered about how it all ends. You feel no empathy for the human race at all, where's the city destruction and human loss? The heart srings are never pulled on and by the time anything of significance happens you're already mentally in the car park thinking about what you'll be doing when you get home. It's hard to Judge Reeves on his acting as it's (purposely) wooden but it still seems bad, the child actor, a part which could have made this film as the alien started to feel what humanity was all about is just rubbish.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RobertB

Jun 6, 2009

Thank you Keanu Reeves and thank you 20th century fox for ruining a classic.

1 of 2 users found this helpful

Fantasy

Dec 13, 2008

No one loves science fiction movies more than I do. I saw the original and must have seen it 20 times since then. Michael Rennie was terrific. It was with great anticipation that I was looking forward to the remake. After seeing it this evening there aren't words to describe how awful No one loves science fiction movies more than I do. I saw the original and must have seen it 20 times since then. Michael Rennie was terrific. It was with great anticipation that I was looking forward to the remake. After seeing it this evening there aren't words to describe how awful this turkey was. Keanu Reeves sleepwalks through the film as if he was a zombie. His fellow actors had to be embarrassed by the finished product because this was like Chinese Water torture as it meandered along oh so slow. There was nothing frightening, no suspense, no character development, no nothing. And the ending was so lame that theater goers were actually angry walking out of the movie. Save your hard earned dollars because this is one bad film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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30	#30 Most Discussed Movie of 2008
46	#46 Most Shared Movie of 2008