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District 9 (2009)

8.0
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Ratings: 8.0/10 from 343,204 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 14 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:

Support non-human rights. Everyone deserves equality. 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:

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Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Star Sharlto Copley had not acted before and had no intention of pursuing an acting career. He stumbled into the leading role as Neill Blomkamp placed him on-camera during the short film. See more »

Goofs

When Wikus looks at his chest, he observes the black boils which were forming. However, in a later scene, when he is caught temporarily by the soldiers, he has a clean chest (except for the blood from other bodies on him) 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

Featured in The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

"Die Leeuws (The Lions)"
Performed by Jon & Drikson
Written by Gerhardus Bouchere and Hendrik Bezuidenhout
Courtesy of JD Records by arrangement with pigFACTORY USA LLC
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
It is just THAT good.
13 August 2009 | by (Malaysia) – See all my reviews

Saying this movie is good would be an understatement. The movie has it all, a very intriguing deep plot, good acting and great action. If I was to find a flaw in this movie, it would be the shaky cam technique employed at the beginning part of the movie and also at the very end. The shaky parts are supposedly documentary clips telling the story of Wikus, the protagonist. But rather than add to the feel of it, the shakiness is just nauseating. They just over did it. But after a while into the movie, they got out of the documentary mode and things couldn't be any better. And the special effects in his movie will have you believing that these aliens are real.

It's better that you go into this movie not knowing the deeper plot as a big part of the movie's entertainment value for me is the parts when things look hopeless and you really feel the despair and hopelessness of the characters. The only thing you need to know going in is that there are aliens stranded on earth and they are put in slums.

This is one of those movies that teases you that it's nearing its end, but inside, you go "No, I want more. It can't end like this", and the movie hears you and gives you more. And it's primed for a great sequel. The potential that this franchise has is just enormous. The way they can expand the story is just limitless and all of them can add to it's lore. This is a classic franchise in the making.


441 of 651 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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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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