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District 9 (2009)

R  112 min  -  Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller   -  14 August 2009 (USA)
8.1
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Ratings: 8.1/10 from 238,550 users   Metascore: 81/100 
Reviews: 1,127 user | 415 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.

Director:

Neill Blomkamp
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Top 250 #185 | Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 51 nominations See more awards »

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District 9 -- A TV trailer for District 9 District 9 -- A clip from the movie District 9. District 9 -- Featurette: A look at the film
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sharlto Copley ...
Jason Cope ...
Nathalie Boltt ...
Sylvaine Strike Sylvaine Strike ...
Elizabeth Mkandawie Elizabeth Mkandawie ...
John Sumner ...
William Allen Young ...
Greg Melvill-Smith Greg Melvill-Smith ...
Nick Blake ...
Morena Busa Sesatsa Morena Busa Sesatsa ...
Themba Nkosi Themba Nkosi ...
Mzwandile Nqoba Mzwandile Nqoba ...
Barry Strydom Barry Strydom ...
Jed Brophy ...
Louis Minnaar 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

Taglines:

MNU spreads lies. See more »

Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA | New Zealand | Canada | South Africa

Language:

English | Nyanja | Afrikaans | Zulu | Xhosa | Sotho

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Sector 9 See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$37,354,308 (USA) (16 August 2009) (3049 Screens)

Gross:

$115,502,313 (USA) (25 October 2009)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

DTS  | Dolby Digital  | SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The design for the aliens went through quite a few iterations before the final insectoid "prawn" concept was finalized. Originally, the aliens were conceived as hulking creatures with leathery skin and tentacled faces, and were intended to be performed by actors in creature suits. The "prawn" creatures were initially meant to be "masters" of the tentacle-faced creatures (keeping with the idea that the aliens were slaves). Eventually, the lumbering creatures were dispensed with, the "prawn" creature design was settled upon, and it was decided that the aliens would be realized via CGI. See more »

Goofs

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the scene where the MNU workers first walk up to Christopher Johnson's shack in order to evict him, the radio operator identifies the shack as "Yankee Foxtrot Five Three Zero," or YF530. However the number on the shack itself is FY530. See more »

Quotes

James Hope - Police Officer: I mean, you can't say they don't look like that, that's what they look like, right? They look like prawns.
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 »

Connections

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Episode #26.153" (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

"Bhambatha"
Performed by Zola
Written by Zola (as Bonginkosi Dlamini), Kabelo Ikaneng and Thabiso Tsotetsi
Courtesy of Ghetto Ruff Records See more »