War of the Worlds
Ray Ferrier is a divorced dockworker and less-than-perfect father. Soon after his ex-wife and her new husband drop off his teenage son and young daughter for a rare weekend visit, a strange and powerful lightning storm touches down.
What critics thought
Spielberg's alien invasion film lands its first half with visceral force, but critics consistently flagged the ending as the weak link — too tidy for the chaos that precedes it. The spectacle earns wide respect, while the deeper human story divided reviewers between those who found the personal focus strengthening and those who felt the film coasted on effects and formula once the initial terror wore off.
“Spielberg finds fresh juice in a tale already adapted for film, TV, stage, radio and record”
Total Film
“War of the Worlds definitely wins its battle, but not the war.”
Michael Wilmington·Chicago Tribune
“such scenes seem to come from a kind of reality different from that of the tripods.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
Accolades
Genres
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
Steven SpielbergDirector
Tom CruiseRay
Dakota FanningRachel
Miranda OttoMary Ann
Justin ChatwinRobbie
Tim RobbinsHarlan Ogilvy
Rick GonzalezVincent
Yul VazquezJulio
Lenny VenitoManny the Mechanic
Lisa Ann WalterBartender
Ann RobinsonGrandmother
Gene BarryGrandfather
David Alan BascheTim
John WilliamsComposer
H. G. WellsWriter
David KoeppWriter
Josh FriedmanWriter
Janusz KamińskiCinematographyFrom the studio
War of the Worlds
Ray Ferrier is a divorced dockworker and less-than-perfect father. Soon after his ex-wife and her new husband drop off his teenage son and young daughter for a rare weekend visit, a strange and powerful lightning storm touches down.
What critics thought
Spielberg's alien invasion film lands its first half with visceral force, but critics consistently flagged the ending as the weak link — too tidy for the chaos that precedes it. The spectacle earns wide respect, while the deeper human story divided reviewers between those who found the personal focus strengthening and those who felt the film coasted on effects and formula once the initial terror wore off.
“Spielberg finds fresh juice in a tale already adapted for film, TV, stage, radio and record”
Total Film
“War of the Worlds definitely wins its battle, but not the war.”
Michael Wilmington·Chicago Tribune
“such scenes seem to come from a kind of reality different from that of the tripods.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
Accolades
Genres
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
Steven SpielbergDirectorTom CruiseRayDakota FanningRachelMiranda OttoMary AnnJustin ChatwinRobbieTim RobbinsHarlan OgilvyRick GonzalezVincentYul VazquezJulioLenny VenitoManny the MechanicLisa Ann WalterBartenderAnn RobinsonGrandmotherGene BarryGrandfatherDavid Alan BascheTimJohn WilliamsComposerH. G. WellsWriterDavid KoeppWriterJosh FriedmanWriterJanusz KamińskiCinematography