Cocoon (1985)

When a group of trespassing seniors swim in a pool containing alien cocoons, they find themselves energized with youthful vigor.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Tom Benedek (screenplay), David Saperstein (story)

Stars:

Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn

Won 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don Ameche	...	Art Selwyn
Wilford Brimley	...	Ben Luckett
Hume Cronyn	...	Joe Finley
Brian Dennehy	...	Walter
Jack Gilford	...	Bernie Lefkowitz
Steve Guttenberg	...	Jack Bonner
Maureen Stapleton	...	Mary Luckett
Jessica Tandy	...	Alma Finley
Gwen Verdon	...	Bess McCarthy
Herta Ware	...	Rose 'Rosie' Lefkowitz
Tahnee Welch	...	Kitty
Barret Oliver	...	David
Linda Harrison	...	Susan
Tyrone Power Jr.	...	Pillsbury
Clint Howard	...	Rico

Storyline

A group of aliens return to earth to retrieve cocoons containing the people they'd left behind from an earlier trip. These cocoons had been resting at the bottom of the ocean. Once retrieved, they stored these recovered cocoons in the swimming pool of a house they'd rented in a small Florida town. Their mission is hampered by a number of elderly people from a nearby retirement community who had been secretly using the pool, and who discover unusual powers from within these cocoons.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | swimming pool | bare chested male | peephole | shapeshifter | 

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Taglines:

Beyond the innocence of youth, and the wisdom of age, lies the wonder of... Cocoon

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy playing the old married couple Joseph and Alma Finley had, in real life, also been married to each other for many years.

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Goofs

David's hairstyle changes when he goes with his Grandpa to the eye doctor.

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Quotes

Art Selwyn: [after witnessing the indoor swimming pool being purchased] Club house is closed, Gentlemen.
Joseph Finley: Maybe they could give us permission to use the pool. We could pay them something.
Art Selwyn: It wouldn't be fun if we had permission.

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Alternate Versions

UK cinema and video versions were cut by 2 secs by the BBFC to remove one brief use of the word 'fucking' for a PG certificate. The Blu-ray is uncut, upgraded to a 12 rating.

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Connections

Referenced in Suburban Girl (2007)

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Soundtracks

Gravity
Performed by Michael Sembello
Produced by Richard Rudolph (as Richard Rudolph) and Michael Sembello
Courtesy of A&M Records

User Reviews

Much more than just another alien film

This is one of my all-time favorite movies, for a variety of reasons: A) It treats the theme of aging with such tenderness and doesn't reduce the older characters to props, B) It evokes questions about the supernatural/the possibility of life "out there," and C) The location (Florida) looks so pleasant and inviting. I have loved this film since I was a child in the 80s, and it is still one that I watch over and over (and I still cry at the same spots every time). I have to also say that--in my opinion at least--the characteristic feature of every great movie is a great score/theme melody. Cocoon definitely has it, yet without feeling "epic" and overpowering; the same plucked melody chimes in quietly at all the right moments in the film, lending a profound and quiet connection with each character (even the extra-terrestrial ones). There are moments in this film where, if you don't shed a tear, there must be something wrong with you. Highly recommended film :-)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 June 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cocoon

Filming Locations:

Clearwater, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,936,427, 23 June 1985

Gross USA:

$76,113,124

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$85,313,124

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Zanuck/Brown Productions, SLM Production Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1