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Trailer+1 trailer

The Arrival

1996Movie1 h 55 minPG-13

Thriller
58
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.2Letterboxd2.9/5Metacritic566.4Rotten Tomatoes65%44%
58
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.2Letterboxd2.9/5Metacritic566.4Rotten Tomatoes65%44%

Summary

Zane Ziminski is an astrophysicist who receives a message that seems to have extraterrestrial origins. Eerily soon after his discovery, Zane is fired. He then embarks on a search to determine the origins of the transmission that leads him into a Hitchcockian labyrinth of paranoia and intrigue.

Good for

  • Date night
  • Friends night
  • Teens

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, warmth or comfort.

Movies with

Cast

18 of 18

Crew

Directed by
David Twohy
Written by
David Twohy
Produced by
Thomas G. Smith, Jim Steele
Music by
Arthur Kempel

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

May 31, 1996 · 1 h 55 min · PG-13

Released
May 31, 1996
Runtime
1 h 55 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Strong Language
Genres
Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery
Original language
English
Also spoken
French
Made in
Mexico, United States
Budget
$25 million
Box office
$14 million
Available in
49 countries

Tropes

Xanatos Speed Chess, Starfish Language, Absurdly Sharp Blade +9

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Arrival?"

Questions about The Arrival

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Arrival?

PlexPhiloThe RokuThe CWHooplaFawesomeMovieSphere+Tubi TV

In the United States, The Arrival streams on MovieSphere+, and it is free with ads on Plex, Philo, The Roku, The CW, Hoopla, Fawesome, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 25 other countries.

Is The Arrival worth watching?

58
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 58 (IMDb 6.2, Letterboxd 2.9 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 65%, and Metacritic 56).

Is there a sequel to The Arrival?

  1. The Arrival (1996)
  2. The Second Arrival (1998)

Yes: it's movie 1 of 2 in its series, followed by The Second Arrival (1998).

Is The Arrival okay for kids?

PG-13Strong language

Not for young kids: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Was The Arrival a box office flop?

Budget$25 million
Box office$14 million

Yes: it cost about $25 million to make and earned $14 million worldwide, 56% of its budget.

What tropes does The Arrival use?

Xanatos Speed ChessStarfish LanguageAbsurdly Sharp BladeBond Villain StupidityNon-Indicative NameAlien InvasionThe ConspiracyPre-Mortem One-LinerRewarded as a Traitor DeservesChekhov's GunMake It Look Like an AccidentAlliterative Nameand 21 more

TV Tropes lists 33 tropes for it, including Xanatos Speed Chess, Starfish Language, and Absurdly Sharp Blade.