IMDb > District 9 (2009)
District 9
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District 9 (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 29 | slideshow) Videos (see all 47)
District 9 (2009) -- A TV trailer for District 9
District 9 (2009) -- A clip from the movie District 9.
District 9 (2009) -- Featurette: A look at the film
District 9 (2009) -- This is District 9 footage from Comic-Con with Sharlto Copley.
District 9 (2009) -- An online training experience for District. To participate, you will need an initialization image [available for download here: http://multinationalunited.com/training/] as well as a webcam and audio speakers.
IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 23% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Neill Blomkamp
Writers:
Neill Blomkamp (screenplay) &
Terri Tatchell (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for District 9 on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 August 2009 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller more
Tagline:
You are not welcome here.
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
(1442 articles)
Are We Witnessing the Birth of the Next 'District 9'?
 (From Rope Of Silicon. 29 November 2009, 7:59 PM, PST)
The Satellites Have Launched. What Are They Orbiting?
 (From FilmExperience. 29 November 2009, 6:22 PM, PST)
User Comments:
District 9 - Not your typical Sci-Fi Action Thriller more (813 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sharlto Copley ... Wikus Van De Merwe
Jason Cope ... Grey Bradnam - UKNR Chief Correspondent

Nathalie Boltt ... Sarah Livingstone - Sociologist
Sylvaine Strike ... Dr Katrina McKenzie
Elizabeth Mkandawie ... Interviewee

John Sumner ... Les Feldman - MIL Engineer

William Allen Young ... Dirk Michaels
Greg Melvill-Smith ... Interviewer

Nick Blake ... Francois Moraneu - CIV Engineer Team
Morena Busa Sesatsa ... Interviewee
Themba Nkosi ... Interviewee
Mzwandile Nqoba ... Interviewee
Barry Strydom ... Interviewee

Jed Brophy ... James Hope - Police Officer
Louis Minnaar ... Piet Smit
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for bloody violence and pervasive language.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
112 min
Country:
USA | New Zealand
Language:
English | Nyanja | Afrikaans
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Certification:
USA:R (certificate #45478) | UK:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Ireland:15A | Australia:MA (2009) | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | South Korea:18 | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) (cut) | India:A | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:15 | Iceland:16 | Mexico:B15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Brazil:14 | South Africa:16LV
Filming Locations:
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa more
Company:
TriStar Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
After the feature film based on the Halo (2001) (VG) video game series which was to be directed by Neill Blomkamp fell through, producer Peter Jackson went to Blomkamp and offered him $30 million to make whatever he wanted. The result was this film. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Early in the film there are shots of "aliens not welcome here" signs around the city. One sign begins "These public premises an the amenities thereof..." - the "d" on "and" is missing. more
Quotes:
Christopher Johnson's Son: How many moons does our planet have?
Christopher Johnson: Seven.
Christopher Johnson's Son: This planet only has one. I can't wait to see our planet again... it's bigger than this one, isn't it?
Christopher Johnson: [turns off holographic atlas of what seems to be the Alien home planet] Enough.
Christopher Johnson's Son: We go home now?
Christopher Johnson: Not home, no. This is where we must go.
[shows his son an MNU brochure outlining "Sanctuary Park Alien Relocation Camp" aka District 10]
Christopher Johnson: See that tent there? That might be ours.
Christopher Johnson's Son: I want to go home!
Christopher Johnson: We can't go home. Not anymore.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: (#8.33)" (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Hijack Stories more

FAQ

How do the humans and aliens understand each other?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Is "District 9" based on a book?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
237 out of 293 people found the following comment useful.
District 9 - Not your typical Sci-Fi Action Thriller, 16 August 2009
9/10
Author: Billy_Costigan from United States

District 9 is a story about aliens who make contact with Earth and the relationships with humans and society. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa's District 9. Control over the aliens has been contracted out to Multi-National United (MNU), a private company uninterested in the aliens' welfare. Their sole interest, alien technology and weapons. Weapon research would mean huge profits for the company. Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley) is placed in charge of the filed operation to evict, remove, and place the aliens in a new holding facility. Conflict and tension threaten the operation as agents move in.

Don't be fooled. This isn't your typical alien sci-fi action movie. What got me was the believability. If there were aliens out there that were able to make contact with Earth, it seems it could have gone something like this. The way the perspective switches from mock documentary style to standard third person certainly contributes to it. "Real" news footage and interviewers tell the story in retrospect, as the events of the movie have already occurred when they are being interviewed. I think it all added to the realism of the experience.

Usually in these type of films, it's mostly mindless action and the story is lost. Not the case here. There's so much more to it. It's also about betrayal, loyalty, trust, relationships, and sacrifice. It can actually be pretty deep and thought provoking with many themes floating around. The film's really about the story which is really a fresh, gritty, original concept, which is good to see nowadays.

While the creatures can be most readily described as monsters, though they are like us. Family and friendship are still important ideals in their world. The film explores a fine line between human emotions and monsters. With all the selfishness, hatred, and greed within us, maybe we are the real monsters or at least that's how it can be perceived.

Neill Blomkamp does a tremendous job with the direction and realism of the film. Sharlto Copley blew me away. I was shocked to see this was his first acting role. The action sequences were well done as well. District 9 is a very unique sci-fi film, one that shouldn't be missed. Mind you, this isn't a film for everyone. It's violent, and many parts can be cringe worthy. Be warned but be ready for one of the best films of the year thus far.

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