IMDb > They Live (1988)
They Live
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They Live (1988) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 3)
They Live (1988) -- A drifter discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to wake up to the fact that aliens have taken over the Earth.
They Live (1988) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   18,422 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Ray Nelson (short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning")
John Carpenter (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for They Live on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
4 November 1988 (USA) more
Tagline:
Who are they? And what do they want? more
Plot:
A drifter discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to wake up to the fact that aliens have taken over the Earth. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(86 articles)
Movie Review - 'Precious'
 (From Get The Big Picture. 3 December 2009, 11:04 PM, PST)

Ink review
 (From Twitch. 2 December 2009, 3:46 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Really good movie; Intelligent, deep, funny, entertaining... more (233 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
John Carpenter's They Live (USA) (complete title)
They Live! (USA) (poster title)
more
Runtime:
93 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The line "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum" was ad-libbed by Roddy Piper. According to director John Carpenter, Piper had taken the line from a list of ideas he had for his pro wrestling interviews. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When the money, from Nada's point of view, changes from regular bills to the "THIS IS YOUR GOD" bills, the folds in the paper are different and there is one less bill. more
Quotes:
Gilbert: The world needs a wake up call, gentlemen. We're gonna phone it in. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in WWE Legends of WrestleMania (2009) (VG) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
34 out of 45 people found the following comment useful.
Really good movie; Intelligent, deep, funny, entertaining..., 16 January 2006
8/10
Author: mkw-5 from Finland

... And of course very well made, because it's from Carpenter from his good ole days (actually I haven't seen his recent films, from the nineties or so, so I cannot say how good his "days" are now; They might be good also). The plot is bravely "stupid" (if you look the surface), but also "secretly" intelligent and deep, just the same thing as in very many scifi, horror, and even action movies: You have to look at them with open eyes to get the messages. I think this movie is much more interesting, and much more realistic and intellectual, than let's say some french art movie (Farthenheit 951 or something). This is real art. It's from this world, not from some artificial art movie marshmallow fantasy-world. Of course it's very funny film also. You may see the main actor (he's some pro-wrestler?) as some kind of a walking joke. But actually he is perfect for this role. He is like some mythological hero, just like Schwarzenegger or so. He is a symbol. The movie is filled with really good jokes and one-liners that you'll never forget. For example, when the main character comes to a bank, in his intent to kill some "aliens", he shouts: "I'm here to chew bubblegum and kick ass! And I'm all outta bubblegum..." And another comment from him, after he has had a ten-minute long fight with somebody: "Ain't love great!" This is a great cult movie. I'm sure there are many people who watch this regularly, with or without friends, and remember all (at least the good) lines. Perfect entertainment. Recommended.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for They Live (1988)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Consumption as Diversion texan_houston_guy
the revolution has BEGUN!!! MUST READ!!! egizzel
Possibly the Best AND Worst Movie Line In One Movie? HellJumper15
'Rowdy' Roddy Piper brockcardiner
Best movie starring a wrestler ever smoovasbutter
The most dangerous villains in the movie were the human sellouts triviadude
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