9 (2009)

A rag doll that awakens in a postapocalyptic future holds the key to humanity's salvation.

Director:

Shane Acker

Writers:

Pamela Pettler (screenplay by), Shane Acker (story by)

Stars:

Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Crispin Glover

9 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Christopher Plummer	...	#1 (voice)
Martin Landau	...	#2 (voice)
John C. Reilly	...	#5 (voice)
Crispin Glover	...	#6 (voice)
Jennifer Connelly	...	#7 (voice)
Fred Tatasciore	...	#8 / Radio Announcer (voice)
Elijah Wood	...	#9 (voice)
Alan Oppenheimer	...	Scientist (voice)
Tom Kane	...	Dictator (voice)
Helen Wilson	...	News Caster (voice)

Storyline

In a world destroyed in a war between man and machine, a hand-stitched doll with the number 9 written on its back comes to life. The world he has awakened in is frightening, but he quickly learns that he is not alone and that there are others like him, also with a single digit written on their back. The first one he encounters is 2 who tells him something of what happened to the world. 2 is also thrilled with the disk 9 is carrying, one with three unique symbols on the front. 9 soon learns that the disk and some of the other dolls who are prepared to die for the good of humankind may be the last hope for man's salvation.

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Plot Keywords:

post apocalypse | alternate history | character name as title | machine | cgi animation | 

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Taglines:

(9) To Save Us.

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence and scary images

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was released the same year as Terminator Salvation (2009) another movie set in a post-apocalyptic future which robots have taken over the world. In both movies, 9 (Elijah Wood) and Marcus Wright ( Sam Worthington ) wake up in those post apocalyptic worlds and they know nothing about the robots taking over the world and wiping out mankind and they aid the survivors in fighting back against the robots.

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Goofs

Before the Seamstress is attacking, there was a quick shot of 8. His mouth was sewed so he couldn't scream for help. Why didn't the Seamstress sew 1's mouth closed?

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Quotes

[first lines]
Scientist: We had such potential. Such promise. But we squandered our gifts, our intelligence. Our blind pursuit of technology only sped us quicker to our doom. Our world is ending. But life must go on.

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Crazy Credits

Some of the end credits emerge from 9's talisman.

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Connections

Referenced in AniMat's Reviews: Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)

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Soundtracks

Over the Rainbow
Written by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Performed by Judy Garland
Courtesy of Geffen Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

9 is a 6

9 is better than average... but only barely.

The movie is carried by a unique visual style and a great sense of "place." The sack-men (and woman) are refreshingly odd and fun to watch. The post-apocalyptic city is consistently beautiful and dangerous. Desolate without feeling dull.

Unfortunately, the story and characters ARE dull. Not crushingly so... but enough to frustrate. Frequent, obvious plot holes and violations of established world-rules pulled me out of the movie over and over again. Tired clichés abound. I wasn't able to shake the feeling that I'd seen and heard this all before.

And that's a shame because there's a lot of potential here. If only the writer had taken more chances. Why not challenge the audience and defy expectations? Why make a movie that's too scary for kids but too simplistic for adults? Who is expected to enjoy it?

I would watch another Shane Acker movie if one is made (hopefully after he's picked a target audience). But 9 is not a classic.

... that said, it's probably worth watching on the big screen just for the sights and sounds.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Australia]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

9

Filming Locations:

Attitude Studios, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,740,446, 13 September 2009

Gross USA:

$31,749,894

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$48,428,063

Company Credits

Production Co:

Focus Features, Relativity Media, Arc Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1