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Invasion Los Angeles

Original title: They Live
  • 1988
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
145K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,101
419
Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.
Play trailer1:59
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionHorrorSci-Fi

They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.

  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • Ray Nelson
    • John Carpenter
  • Stars
    • Roddy Piper
    • Keith David
    • Meg Foster
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    145K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,101
    419
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • Ray Nelson
      • John Carpenter
    • Stars
      • Roddy Piper
      • Keith David
      • Meg Foster
    • 537User reviews
    • 221Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:59
    Watch Official Trailer
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Watch Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary

    Photos160

    Keith David in Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Roddy Piper in Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Keith David and Roddy Piper in Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Roddy Piper in Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Keith David and Roddy Piper in Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Jeff Imada and Roddy Piper in Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Roddy Piper in Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Roddy Piper in Invasion Los Angeles (1988)
    Keith David and Roddy Piper in Invasion Los Angeles (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Roddy Piper
    Roddy Piper
    • Nada
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • Frank
    Meg Foster
    Meg Foster
    • Holly
    George 'Buck' Flower
    George 'Buck' Flower
    • Drifter
    Peter Jason
    Peter Jason
    • Gilbert
    Raymond St. Jacques
    Raymond St. Jacques
    • Street Preacher
    Jason Robards III
    Jason Robards III
    • Family Man
    John Lawrence
    • Bearded Man
    Susan Barnes
    • Brown Haired Woman
    Sy Richardson
    Sy Richardson
    • Black Revolutionary
    Wendy Brainard
    • Family Man's Daughter
    Lucille Meredith
    Lucille Meredith
    • Female Interviewer
    Susan Blanchard
    Susan Blanchard
    • Ingenue
    Norman Alden
    Norman Alden
    • Foreman
    Dana Bratton
    • Black Junkie
    John F. Goff
    John F. Goff
    • Well Dressed Customer
    Thelma Lee
    • Rich Lady
    Stratton Leopold
    • Depressed Human
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • Ray Nelson
      • John Carpenter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Carpenter brought real "homeless folks" into the production for several scenes and smaller characters and gave them food as well as paychecks. "I thought that was a pretty classy thing to do," said Roddy Piper.
    • Goofs
      The alien at the magazine stand gets his change twice.
    • Quotes

      Nada: I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum.

    • Crazy credits
      The screenplay writer for "They Live" which is credited to "Frank Armitage", does not exist. John Carpenter used many pseudonyms when giving credit to his works in films. With his vast amount of work that he did himself, (directing, producing, writing and composing the musical scores), he did not want to appear to be braggadocios and vain by having his name appear over and over in the credits of his movies.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Arrivals (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Rock of Ages
      (uncredited)
      Music by Thomas Hastings
      Lyrics by Augustus Montague Toplady
      [Heard as one of the songs played on the church tape]

    User reviews537

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Unfortunately this film has aged very well.
    A fun film with a serious message.

    More relevant now with 'social media' than ever.

    If only more people would put the glasses on.
    helpful•143
    10
    • nytol1-798-466578
    • Sep 9, 2021

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
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    FAQ4

    • What is 'They Live' about?
    • Is "They Live" based on a book?
    • What are the differences between the short story and the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 19, 1989 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • They Live
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA(Location)
    • Production companies
      • Alive Films
      • Larry Franco Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,447,978
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,827,903
      • Nov 6, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,449,889
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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