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Invasion Los Angeles

Original title: They Live
  • 1988
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
157K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,382
94
Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
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.
Play trailer1:59
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Alien InvasionB-ActionB-HorrorConspiracy ThrillerDark ComedyPolitical ThrillerPsychological ThrillerActionHorrorSci-Fi

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.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.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.

  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • Ray Nelson
    • John Carpenter
  • Stars
    • Roddy Piper
    • Keith David
    • Meg Foster
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    157K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,382
    94
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • Ray Nelson
      • John Carpenter
    • Stars
      • Roddy Piper
      • Keith David
      • Meg Foster
    • 569User reviews
    • 220Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:59
    Official Trailer
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary

    Photos154

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    Top cast50

    Edit
    Roddy Piper
    Roddy Piper
    • Nada
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • Frank
    Meg Foster
    Meg Foster
    • Holly
    George 'Buck' Flower
    George 'Buck' Flower
    • Drifter
    Peter Jason
    Peter Jason
    • Gilbert
    Raymond St. Jacques
    Raymond St. Jacques
    • Street Preacher
    Jason Robards III
    Jason Robards III
    • Family Man
    John Lawrence
    John Lawrence
    • Bearded Man
    Susan Barnes
    • Brown Haired Woman
    Sy Richardson
    Sy Richardson
    • Black Revolutionary
    Wendy Brainard
    • Family Man's Daughter
    Lucille Meredith
    Lucille Meredith
    • Female Interviewer
    Susan Blanchard
    Susan Blanchard
    • Ingenue
    Norman Alden
    Norman Alden
    • Foreman
    Dana Bratton
    • Black Junkie
    John F. Goff
    John F. Goff
    • Well Dressed Customer
    Norman D. Wilson
    Norman D. Wilson
    • Vendor
    • (as Norm Wilson)
    Thelma Lee
    • Rich Lady
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • Ray Nelson
      • John Carpenter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews569

    7.2156.9K
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    Featured reviews

    8Miss_MiChiMi

    Highly Underrated

    I have to say something here. This movie is actually very good. It was a mixture of sci-fi and political and sociological imagery. I thought the fact that the turncoat working with the aliens that were brainwashing the public was employed in the media was a brilliant way of showing how the media moguls consider us to be sheeple and use their power to persuade any way they see fit. This movie was actually quite well down, considering it did not have a blockbuster budget.

    I would rather watch this than waste my time on the Matrix, which I think is a complete waste of time. The main plot of the movie was Nada discovering a worldwide conspiracy that used subliminal messages to "herd the sheep". Is this not a metaphor of what we see ever day? The media, commercials, billboards, etc, use subliminal messaging to encourage the actions of the public at large.

    John Carpenter did a wonderful job. Roddy Piper's acting abilities were definitely above average, which is a lot more that I will ever to be able to say about anything Keanu Reeves has ever done. As usual, Keith David turned in a great performance. The reason this a cult classic is because it is a very good movie that requires the watcher to think.
    8thekageryu

    A Misunderstood Classic

    Ok, I will admit I have a soft spot for this movie. It's not Star Wars, or Raiders of the Lost Ark, or the Godfather. It's campy, cheesy, in places with laughably bad acting and dialogue (it come with starring wrestlers as main characters). However it has the infamous Rowdy Roddy Piper in the lead, and it has a surprisingly interesting hi-concept underlying story and plot. Aliens, Mind Control, Society enslaved to hidden powers and messages, everybody sleepwalking though life - this movie had all of these back in the 80's. Some of the concepts in this movie have seen reuse in much more recent projects, and with a little more polishing I think this movie could have made a far bigger splash.

    If you like Dystopian, conspiracy, alien invasion movies then this movie is a great watch. I urge anyone who is a science fiction fan to give this movie a chance if you haven't seen it yet. Though it is helpful when watching if you try to see what it could have been, and look past the obvious shortcomings.
    8Fella_shibby

    Surprisingly this movie is more relevant today n it is entertaining too.

    I first saw this in the late 80s on a vhs n enjoyed the film as an action entertainer. Read about the underlying themes as years passed on but revisited it today. This movie is very relevant for today's time too n it is still very entertaining. The alley fight scene stayed with me since the late 80s. Roddy Piper n Keith David gave memorable performances.
    9nytol1-798-466578

    Unfortunately this film has aged very well.

    A fun film with a serious message.

    More relevant now with 'social media' than ever.

    If only more people would put the glasses on.
    7timhayes-1

    Classic from my youth

    I remember first seeing They Live when I was 10 and I totally fell in love with this film. How could a ten year old not? There's wrestlers, aliens and a plot to take over the world. My friends and I quoted this film for weeks on end with the Bubble gum and kicking @$$ line being a favourite among all. The only real complaint that I have about the film is that the aliens when finally revealed are far too human. They basically look like a skeleton with bug eyes. Not a whole lot of energy seemed to go into their design. While They Live will never be remembered as a film that redefined the way films were made, it still to this day holds a place in my heart as one of the films that just defines your youth. It is fun, action packed and has just enough cool storyline to keep you interested from start to finish.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Carpenter brought real "homeless folks" into the production for several scenes and smaller characters and gave them food as well as paychecks. "I thought that was a pretty classy thing to do," said Roddy Piper.
    • Goofs
      The alien at the magazine stand gets his change twice.
    • Quotes

      Nada: I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum.

    • Crazy credits
      The screenplay writer for "They Live" which is credited to "Frank Armitage", does not exist. John Carpenter used many pseudonyms when giving credit to his works in films. With his vast amount of work that he did himself, (directing, producing, writing and composing the musical scores), he did not want to appear to be braggadocios and vain by having his name appear over and over in the credits of his movies.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Arrivals (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Rock of Ages
      (uncredited)

      Music by Thomas Hastings

      Lyrics by Augustus Montague Toplady

      [Heard as one of the songs played on the church tape]

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    FAQ23

    • How long is They Live?Powered by Alexa
    • What is 'They Live' about?
    • Is "They Live" based on a book?
    • What are the differences between the short story and the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 19, 1989 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sobreviven
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA(Location)
    • Production companies
      • Alive Films
      • Larry Franco Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,447,978
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,827,903
      • Nov 6, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,450,603
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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