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The Brother from Another Planet

  • 19841984
  • 14A14A
  • 1h 48min
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Joe Morton in The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
ComedySci-Fi

A mute alien with the appearance of a black human is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem.A mute alien with the appearance of a black human is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem.A mute alien with the appearance of a black human is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Sayles
  • Writer
    • John Sayles
  • Stars
    • Joe Morton
    • Daryl Edwards
    • Rosanna Carter
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Sayles
  • Writer
    • John Sayles
  • Stars
    • Joe Morton
    • Daryl Edwards
    • Rosanna Carter
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 42User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination

    Photos82

    Joe Morton in The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
    quad movie poster
    The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
    Joe Morton in The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
    Joe Morton in The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
    Joe Morton in The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
    Joe Morton in The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
    Joe Morton in The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
    The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
    The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
    The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
    The Brother from Another Planet (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joe Morton
    Joe Morton
    • The Brotheras The Brother
    Daryl Edwards
    Daryl Edwards
    • Flyas Fly
    Rosanna Carter
    • West Indian Womanas West Indian Woman
    Ray Ramirez
    • Hispanic Manas Hispanic Man
    Yves Rene
    • Haitian Manas Haitian Man
    Peter Richardson
    • Islamic Manas Islamic Man
    Ginny Yang
    • Korean Shopkeeperas Korean Shopkeeper
    Steve James
    Steve James
    • Odellas Odell
    Leonard Jackson
    Leonard Jackson
    • Smokeyas Smokey
    Bill Cobbs
    Bill Cobbs
    • Walteras Walter
    Maggie Renzi
    Maggie Renzi
    • Noreenas Noreen
    Olga Merediz
    Olga Merediz
    • Noreen's Clientas Noreen's Client
    Tom Wright
    Tom Wright
    • Samas Sam
    Minnie Gentry
    • Mrs. Brownas Mrs. Brown
    Renn Woods
    Renn Woods
    • Berniceas Bernice
    • (as Ren Woods)
    Reggie Rock Bythewood
    Reggie Rock Bythewood
    • Rickeyas Rickey
    Alvin Alexis
    Alvin Alexis
    • Willisas Willis
    Caroline Aaron
    Caroline Aaron
    • Randy Sue Carteras Randy Sue Carter
    • Director
      • John Sayles
    • Writer
      • John Sayles
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    Storyline

    Edit
    The Brother is an alien who has crash-landed on Earth, in New York City. While mute, strongly empathic, and able to fix things, he resembles a Black man with strange feet. His attempt to make a place for himself in Harlem is an allegory for the immigrant experience in the United States. Meanwhile, two bounty hunters from the Brother's home planet arrive and try to capture him. —Reid Gagle
    astronomical object in titlehumanoid alienaliennew york cityslave43 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Welcome to a world of crude beauty... of danger and excitement... of wonders, legend, and imagination... Welcome to Harlem, Brother.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • 14A
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The entrance and exit scenes of the Men in Black's first appearance in the bar were filmed entirely in reverse with the camera upside down, according to director John Sayles' commentary on the restored print. The two men started on the bar stools, then backed out of the room for the entrance; while the exit was filmed with the two outside the bar and backing into it, including David Strathairn replacing the cookies in the cookie bowl.
    • Goofs
      After Little Earl takes off his band-aid, and The Brother heals his knee, the band-aid reappears where his cut was.
    • Quotes

      Bernice: What you want for dinner?

      Odell: You mean, what do I *want*, or what do I want that you can *cook*?

      Bernice: Well, in that case, where are you taking me?

      Odell: Yeah, what do you want to have?

      Bernice: You mean, what do I *want*, or what do I want that you can *afford*?

    • Connections
      Featured in The Schlocky Horror Picture Show: Brother from Another Planet (1984) (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Homeboy
      Sung by Joe Morton

      By Mason Daring and John Sayles

      Sweet Melodies Publishing/ASCAP

    User reviews42

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A beautiful movie
    When Rod Serling created the classic "Twilight Zone" TV show, he presented it as a harmless fantasy/SF show when it was actually a series of morality plays.

    In this film you have John Sayles' take on the same concept. He talks a standard SF cliche -- the stranded ET -- and uses it as the jumping-off place for a story about something altogether different. He doesn't appear at the end, like Serling, and tell you what the moral or message was.

    Rather than talk about all that (art appreciation and interpretation is pretty much a subjective affair), I would like to say a word or two about the performance of Mr. Joe Morton as the eponymous character:

    Zowie!

    The Brother is totally mute. And yet Morton's performance knocks the poop out of any piece of acting you could name. Human and humane, empathetic and sympathetic. This guy will have you laughing and crying right along with him.

    An incredible performance. Well worth the price of the rental, and the popcorn, and the gas that you burned up picking it up and...
    helpful•33
    1
    • Klaatu-18
    • Sep 30, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 27, 1984 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Der Typ vom anderen Stern
    • Filming locations
      • Ellis Island, New York Harbor, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Anarchist's Convention Films
      • UCLA Film and Television Archive
      • A-Train Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $350,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,677,209
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,677,209
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 48min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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