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They Live

Name: They Live
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror
Released: November 4, 1988
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Keith David, Roddy Piper

1988

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 115 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 115 Ratings

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THEY LIVE

Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 4, 1988 | R

Starring: Keith David, Roddy Piper

Summary: They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. THEY LIVE. A rugged loner (Piper) stumbles upon a terrifying discovery: goulish creatures are masquerading as humans while they lull the public into submission through subliminal advertisingThey influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. THEY LIVE. A rugged loner (Piper) stumbles upon a terrifying discovery: goulish creatures are masquerading as humans while they lull the public into submission through subliminal advertising messages. Only specially made sunglasses make the deadly truth visible. (TheOfficialJohnCarpenter.com)… Expand

Director: John Carpenter

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 93 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Dominick Suzanne-Mayer

The terrors put forth by the film are at once specific to the era of its production and timeless in their direct connection to the American experience. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

Has its share of underthought or overwrought moments. The tone keeps shifting radically. It has some silly lines, plot lapses and goofball action scenes. But you can forgive the movie everything because of the sheer nasty pizazz of its central concept. [4 Nov 1988]

Dave Kehr

The looniest movie of the season and also one of the most engaging. [7 Nov 1988]

Staff (Non Credited)

Carpenter is trying for a satire of advertising and consumerism under late capitalism, and although the film is great fun at first--especially when depicting the world through Nada's glasses--it rarely rises above the intellectual level of a comic book. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

All in all, an entertaining (if ideologically incoherent) response to the valorization of greed in our midst, with lots of Rambo-esque violence thrown in, as well as an unusually protracted slugfest between ex-wrestler Roddy Piper and costar Keith David. Read full review

Mike Clark

Live dies around the time Carpenter allows 10 minutes of gratuitous Piper-David eye-gouging, an apparent bone to wrestling fans. Forget the amusing premise; a full crate of magic glasses couldn't make this a bearable movie. [7 Nov 1988]

Peter Stack

Typical of some of the absurd moments in this film is a long drawn-out fist fight between the hero and Frank, who almost kill each other because Frank is too proud to try on the magic dark glasses. It is completely stupid. [5 Nov 1988]

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User Reviews

jcoles

Dec 1, 2011

The movie was well ahead of its time if one considers contemporary affairs (2011). The premise is both satirically hilarious and compelling on its own terms. The execution is admirable. This is a must see cult-classic.

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

RyanH.

Jan 18, 2010

This movie rocks. there is absolutely no reason not to watch it! it is funny, intense, and generally all around bad-ass.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Intention__Play

Jul 27, 2016

Фильм, который открыл глаза многим на то, что нами управляют масоны, которые не жалеют, чтобы мы что-то осознавала, они нас контролируют, издеваются над нами, как могут, но мы сея верим, что рабство нет, но он есть и посмотрев этот фильм, вы проснитесь от долгого сна и осознаете что-то то,Фильм, который открыл глаза многим на то, что нами управляют масоны, которые не жалеют, чтобы мы что-то осознавала, они нас контролируют, издеваются над нами, как могут, но мы сея верим, что рабство нет, но он есть и посмотрев этот фильм, вы проснитесь от долгого сна и осознаете что-то то, чего вы раньше никогда не знали.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Voodoo123

Nov 9, 2018

+ Great sci-fi concept
+ Excellent cast deliver memorable performances
+ THAT fight scene.... :P - Pacing is slow and awkward at times A grand centerpiece of my old VHS b movie years this is a J Carpenter gem! Timeless sci-fi tale of paranoia and brutal oppression in a multidimensional and+ Great sci-fi concept
+ Excellent cast deliver memorable performances
+ THAT fight scene.... :P
- Pacing is slow and awkward at times

A grand centerpiece of my old VHS b movie years this is a J Carpenter gem! Timeless sci-fi tale of paranoia and brutal oppression in a multidimensional and violent world.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imthenoob

Oct 1, 2019

They Live has definitely withstood the test of time. The meaning behind it all is still very much relevant in this day and age. Piper and David are a great duo together, with Piper's performance really driving this film and helping make it so memorable.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Popcorn55

Jun 8, 2019

One of the better sci-fi films in the "all-is-not-what-it-seems" genre. Very much an early version of "The Matrix" concept, where instead of the red pill the rebels have tactical sunglasses that let people see through the projected illusions surrounding them.

Because of its gritty,One of the better sci-fi films in the "all-is-not-what-it-seems" genre. Very much an early version of "The Matrix" concept, where instead of the red pill the rebels have tactical sunglasses that let people see through the projected illusions surrounding them.

Because of its gritty, man-on-the-street, realistic, present-day ambience, the sudden reveal and the ensuing drama packed quite a punch (at least, in the 80s when this film was released, when there was no precedent for it). It's eerie and effective because of the rarity of special effects, not in spite of them. The lower-budget approach makes this more convincing than the bluish CGI crap we get today in sci-fi films. Definitely see this film!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

WJS

Oct 2, 2015

This movie takes forever to get going and once it does, it really doesn't go anywhere. It proves to me that Roddy Piper should have invested some of the wrestling money he earned into acting lessons and it also shows that John Carpenter is a hit and miss director, and this is one of hisThis movie takes forever to get going and once it does, it really doesn't go anywhere. It proves to me that Roddy Piper should have invested some of the wrestling money he earned into acting lessons and it also shows that John Carpenter is a hit and miss director, and this is one of his misses. Meg Foster has some of the weirdest eyes I've ever seen.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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