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District 9 (2009)

8.0
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Ratings: 8.0/10 from 344,316 users   Metascore: 81/100
Reviews: 1,175 user | 435 critic | 36 from Metacritic.com

An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology.

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Title: District 9 (2009)

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Top 250 #221 | Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 52 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Sylvaine Strike ...
Elizabeth Mkandawie ...
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Greg Melvill-Smith ...
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Morena Busa Sesatsa ...
Themba Nkosi ...
Mzwandile Nqoba ...
Barry Strydom ...
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Louis Minnaar ...
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Storyline

In 1982, a massive star ship bearing a bedraggled alien population, nicknamed "The Prawns," appeared over Johannesburg, South Africa. Twenty-eight years later, the initial welcome by the human population has faded. The refugee camp where the aliens were located has deteriorated into a militarized ghetto called District 9, where they are confined and exploited in squalor. In 2010, the munitions corporation, Multi-National United, is contracted to forcibly evict the population with operative Wikus van der Merwe in charge. In this operation, Wikus is exposed to a strange alien chemical and must rely on the help of his only two new 'Prawn' friends. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

alien | prawn | refugee | government | ghetto | See more »

Taglines:

They came here 28 years ago. Coexistence has never been easy. Why won't we let them leave? See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for bloody violence and pervasive language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

| |  »

Release Date:

14 August 2009 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Sector 9  »

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£2,288,378 (UK) (4 September 2009)

Gross:

$115,646,235 (USA) (30 October 2009)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The first TriStar film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture since As Good as It Gets. See more »

Goofs

In the scenes following the escape from the MNU facility, the team hunting Wikkus is shown is from an AgustaWestland Merlin helicopter. In the next scenes the helicopter is an Aerospatiale Gazelle (the cabin shots are clearly from a Gazelle judging from the size of the interior). See more »

Quotes

Christopher Johnson's Son: We go home now?
Christopher Johnson: Yes.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The end credits are back to front, with the actors names on the left and character names on the right. As opposed to most films where its the other way round. See more »


Soundtracks

"Bhampa"
Performed by Pro (as PRO)
Written by Linda Mkhize, Kamohelo Bako (as Kamogelo Bako), Kiernan Forbes and Ntokozo Mazibuko
Courtesy of TS Records
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Excellent no-nonsense sci-fi actioner...
13 August 2009 | by (Penang, Malaysia / Chicago, USA) – See all my reviews

Going into the cinema I had mixed expectations as I only saw a handful (yet interesting) posters and only one trailer. I only heard a handful of reviews yet all of them came from this site. Well, I decided to hedge my bets and walk in anyway. And I'm glad I did.

"District 9" is a wallop of a film that is also one of the year's very best films. It perfectly presents the balance of human emotions and CGI mastery. The acting is top notch and believable, and the characters are so realistically presented; even the protagonist is deeply flawed, and during some scenes I wonder who should I root for.

The story is well told; a refreshing, unique and somewhat original scenario, one that we've never experienced for quite some time. The atmosphere is bleak, dark and realistic, actually making me believe this thing can actually happen here on Earth.

The special effects are excellently rendered, and actually give more than their money's worth (Only US$ 30 million! And the effects were amazing, as great as anything WETA has done before!). The creature effects are so realistic we could not tell the difference. Thanks to none other than WETA for this amazing feat, and I hope they get an Oscar for visual effects. But the practical effects are believable too, as per the engaging and thrilling (and also non-stop) action sequences in the film's second half. And boy, those weapons are awesome! Special mention goes out to the fluid editing. Example, first half of the film works like a docu-drama, and the second half becomes a hybrid of Black Hawk Down, and we don't notice the change of pace. It's that brilliant.

Peter Jackson really knows how to pick a good story and director when he sees one. And I want to shake Neill Blommkamp's hand if I meet him. He is certainly a talented director, and one to look out for in the future. (P.S. If that Halo movie is still going on, Blommkamp has proved that he is the man for the job) In short, it's an excellent science fiction action film, but not without it's intelligence. It may have a few flaws and very few clichés (these happen near the end of the film) but it is still very solid nonetheless. If there is a sequel, I'll be first in line to see it.

Overall value: 8.5/10


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Recent Posts
The movie sucks and didn't deserve to be in the Top 250 Screep_5
Good movie but 130+ f words ! vide1
The CGI, for 30,000,000 dollars was.... terryperring104
would people really do that? reuben-huntingtron
The funniest scenes were.... Rectangleyes
Tractor beam (plot hole?) WillyBee
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