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District 9 (2009)

8.0
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Ratings: 8.0/10 from 353,009 users   Metascore: 81/100
Reviews: 1,178 user | 437 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 #227 | 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

Taglines:

You are not welcome here. See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

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

All the shacks in District 9 were actual shacks that exists in a section of Johannesburg which were to be evacuated and the residents moved to better government housing, paralleling the events in the film. Also paralleling, the residents had not actually been moved out before filming began. The only shack that was created solely for filming was Christopher Johnson's shack. See more »

Goofs

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

Wikus Van De Merwe: [Facing the PMCs] I'm not fucking scared of you!
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

"Hijack Stories"
Performed by Zulu Mobb
Written by Rahman Du Plessis, Thato Mahlatsi and Desmond Mbuyiseni
Courtesy of Uthoht Music by arrangement with pigFACTORY USA LLC.
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
The first science fiction masterpiece in years
13 August 2009 | by (Australia) – See all my reviews

I do not give out ratings of 10 lightly, but here it is - the first film in years that has been deserving of the rating.

Neill Blomkamp brings to screens a fantastic, gritty, realistic piece of science fiction with District 9. Not since Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner", John Carpenter's "The Thing", or James Cameron's "Aliens" have we seen a science fiction film with a vision of this caliber. After viewing District 9, it will be clear to one and all why Peter Jackson put so much faith in Blomkamp and took him under his wing as protégé.

Abandoning the usual settings of Hollywood sci-fi and placing us in the harsh slums of South Africa, we are given an original piece of work which takes risks in the way it tells its story. Not only does it go against the expectations of audiences who have been trained to expect mediocrity from their sci-fi, it goes above and beyond the call of duty to provide us with spectacle as well as something to ponder after we've downed our popcorn.

There is, thankfully, not an overused, overexposed celebrity in sight, and every unknown face in the film gives a solid performance. The aliens themselves, brilliantly realized with top notch CGI even manage to make us feel something, only rivaled by Gollum from "Lord of the Rings".

District 9 has so much to like. It's spectacular, darkly funny, entertaining and thoughtful all at the same time, and it's all done on a meager $30m budget. There is true talent on show here. If only there were more films like this, the world of cinema would be a more interesting place.


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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
would people really do that? reuben-huntingtron
The funniest scenes were.... Rectangleyes
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Why must aliens always look so Butt Ugly????? v_vyas123
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