The Arrival (1996)

Zane, an astronomer, discovers intelligent alien life. But the aliens are keeping a deadly secret, and will do anything to stop Zane from learning it.

Director:

David Twohy

Writer:

David Twohy

Stars:

Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Crouse, Richard Schiff

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlie Sheen	...	Zane Zaminsky
Lindsay Crouse	...	Ilana Green
Richard Schiff	...	Calvin
Shane	...	JPL Guard #1
Ron Silver	...	Phil Gordian / Mexican Guard
Teri Polo	...	Char
Phyllis Applegate	...	Mrs. Roosevelt
Alan Coates	...	Terraformer
Leon Rippy	...	DOD #1
Buddy Joe Hooker	...	DOD #2
Javier Morga	...	Co-worker
Tony T. Johnson	...	Kiki
Catalina Botello	...	N.C.A.R. Woman
Georg Lillitsch	...	Computer Tech
David Villalpando	...	Cabbie

Storyline

Zane (Charlie Sheen), a young, mild-mannered astronomer discovers an extraterrestrial radio signal. After being fired from his organization for reporting this to his superior, he takes a chance on discovering the truth: that his workplace is not quite what it seems to be and a sinister conspiracy is at work. The aliens are keeping a deadly secret, and will stop at nothing to prevent Zane from learning it.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | conspiracy | alien invasion | broadcast signal intrusion | oasis in the arctic | 

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Taglines:

For centuries we've been watching the skies, when we should have been watching our backs.

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Genres:

Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sci-fi violence and terror, and for brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Even though this movie failed at the domestic box office (partially because the highly advertised Independence Day (1996) would come out one month later), it fared much better abroad, where Charlie Sheen still enjoyed quite some popularity. A direct-to-video sequel called Arrival II (1998) was released in 1998, directed by Kevin Tenney, starring Patrick Muldoon as the brother of Sheen's character in this movie. David Twohy, director and writer of the first Arrival, was given no credit for the sequel.

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Goofs

While in the terraforming factory in Mexico, an alien is pushed from a height and screams - in a human voice - as he falls. At other times, however, when the aliens are in some form of distress, most notably as they are being frozen in the finale, their distress cries are in their alien language.

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Quotes

Char: Well Zane, why do we always have to anlayze everthing?
Char: Can't you just trust that I love you?
Zane Zaminski: Algorithms I trust.
Zane Zaminski: Boolean logic I trust.
Zane Zaminski: Beautiful women, they just... mystify me.

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Connections

References The Chase (1994)

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Soundtracks

Moy Pronto Te Hiras
Written by Barbara L. Jordan, Pete Peterkin, and Christopher Rhyne
Performed by Pete Peterkin

User Reviews

Well Done Sci-Fi.

Charlie Sheen plays Zane, a radio astronomer who accidentally discovers an alien signal from space, that also has origins on Earth. When he tries to tell his boss(Ron Silver, very good) he downplays and denies the importance of the find. Zane then finds out he has been fired, and the tape he gave to his boss disappears, so now very suspicious, he undertakes his own investigation, which leads him to an alarming truth about aliens who are indeed very much among us...

Well written and directed by David Twohy, this science fiction film is a pleasant surprise, and Charlie Sheen is appealing and believable as the man determined to find the truth, and warn the world; sounds like a certain FBI agent from "The X-Files"...

Details

Official Sites:

Vidio [Indonesia]

Country:

USA Mexico

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

31 May 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Making of the Arrival

Filming Locations:

1189 N Wilson Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,806,763, 2 June 1996

Gross USA:

$14,063,331

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,063,331

Company Credits

Production Co:

Live Entertainment, Steelwork Films, Mediaworks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1