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The Puppet Masters

  • 1994
  • R
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
9.4K
YOUR RATING
The Puppet Masters (1994)
The Earth is invaded by stingray-shaped alien "slugs" that ride on people's backs and control their minds.
Play trailer1:36
1 Video
28 Photos
HorrorSci-FiThriller

The Earth is invaded by stingray-shaped alien "slugs" that ride on people's backs and control their minds.The Earth is invaded by stingray-shaped alien "slugs" that ride on people's backs and control their minds.The Earth is invaded by stingray-shaped alien "slugs" that ride on people's backs and control their minds.

  • Director
    • Stuart Orme
  • Writers
    • Robert A. Heinlein
    • Ted Elliott
    • Terry Rossio
  • Stars
    • Donald Sutherland
    • Eric Thal
    • Julie Warner
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    9.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stuart Orme
    • Writers
      • Robert A. Heinlein
      • Ted Elliott
      • Terry Rossio
    • Stars
      • Donald Sutherland
      • Eric Thal
      • Julie Warner
    • 81User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:36
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos28

    Julie Warner in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Keith David and Eric Thal in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Donald Sutherland in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Stuart Orme and Eric Thal in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Donald Sutherland and Will Patton in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Julie Warner and Eric Thal in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Eric Thal in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Donald Sutherland, Julie Warner, Richard Belzer, and Eric Thal in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Julie Warner and Eric Thal in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Donald Sutherland in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Julie Warner and Stuart Orme in The Puppet Masters (1994)
    Julie Warner, Stuart Orme, and Eric Thal in The Puppet Masters (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Andrew Nivens
    Eric Thal
    Eric Thal
    • Sam Nivens
    Julie Warner
    Julie Warner
    • Mary Sefton
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • Alex Holland
    Will Patton
    Will Patton
    • Dr. Graves
    Richard Belzer
    Richard Belzer
    • Jarvis
    Tom Mason
    Tom Mason
    • President Douglas
    Yaphet Kotto
    Yaphet Kotto
    • Ressler
    Gerry Bamman
    Gerry Bamman
    • Viscott
    Sam Anderson
    Sam Anderson
    • Culbertson
    J. Patrick McCormack
    • Gidding
    Marshall Bell
    Marshall Bell
    • General Morgan
    Nicholas Cascone
    • Greenberg
    Bruce Jarchow
    Bruce Jarchow
    • Barnes
    Benjamin Mouton
    Benjamin Mouton
    • Higgins
    David Pasquesi
    David Pasquesi
    • Vargas
    Andrew Robinson
    Andrew Robinson
    • Hawthorne
    Benj Thall
    Benj Thall
    • Jeff
    • Director
      • Stuart Orme
    • Writers
      • Robert A. Heinlein
      • Ted Elliott
      • Terry Rossio
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For the seduction scene where Mary tries turn Sam back with one of her alien slugs, Julie Warner had to wear an apparatus that looked similar to her back with the creature's movements guided by a team of puppeteers and make up effects crew.
    • Goofs
      When asked for the town's population, the figure is stated as 10,001. The population on the sign shown at the beginning is 10,079.

      The town sign writer is not doing his job.
    • Quotes

      Niven: It's the kid from the spaceship. Get him off the car.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Another Top 10 Scariest Movie Aliens (2015)

    User reviews81

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Better Than Expected
    One science-fiction film that turns out to be less disappointing than expected is this loose adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's novel.

    Donald (give me another part in an alien pod movie) Sutherland interprets the role of Adam "The Old Man" Nivens, head of a secret government protection agency that has its hands full trying to stop an alien invasion by slug-like mental parasites which tap into people's brains, controlling them toward their own ends.

    Eric Thal (of A STRANGER AMONG US) draws a blank where a strong character should be in the role of Sam, son of the Old Man, and fellow agent. Julie Warner (from DOC HOLLYWOOD) fares a little better as Mary, a NASA xenobiologist along for the roller coaster ride.

    The opening scenes do justice to the setting and atmosphere of the book, and the skeleton of the original plot is unpredictable and thrilling, but eventually, the compromises in adaptation give rise to Hollywood-style sci-fi conventions such as alien hives.

    Several realistic, key elements are thrown out, along with almost all of the sharp dialogue which made the book a hit.

    However, the special effects are convincing, and the cinematography and editing are streamlined and tight. Far from being definitive, this version of the tale is nonetheless sufficiently satisfying and worth a look.
    helpful•47
    7
    • elihu-2
    • May 13, 2000

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    FAQ1

    • Is this movie based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 21, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Robert A. Heinlein's The Puppet Masters
    • Filming locations
      • Des Moines, Iowa, USA
    • Production company
      • Hollywood Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,647,042
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,069,057
      • Oct 23, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,647,042
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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