Arrival

2016 Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Why are they here?

Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.

Amy Adams Jeremy Renner Forest Whitaker Michael Stuhlbarg Tzi Ma Mark O'Brien Julia Scarlett Dan Abigail Pniowsky Jadyn Malone Carmela Nozza Guizzo Andrew Shaver Shawn Campbell Larry Day Pat Kiely Frank Schorpion Lucas Chartier-Dessert Lucy Van Oldenbarneveld Sonia Vigneault Mark Camacho Sabrina Reeves Russell Yuen Julian Casey Tony Robinow Anana Rydvald Ruth Chiang Sergiy Marchenko Brittany Teo Chistian Jadah Joe Cobden Show All…

Alternative Titles

Kontakti i Parë, La Llegada, A Chegada, Arrival - Warum sie hier sind, Saabumine, الوافد, Premier contact, I Afixi, Ha'mifgash, メッセージ, Contact, 어라이벌, Dolazak, Прибытие, Story of Your Life, Cuoc Do Bo Bi An, Cuộc Đổ Bộ Bí Ẩn

mystery drama science fiction

116 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by cathy ★★★★★ 5

memory is a strange thing. for example, i remember amy adams's performance as being one of the best of 2016, but the academy seemed to remember differently
Review by Wood ★★★★★ 23

The ghosts of Stanley Kubrick and Michael Crichton have inhabited Denis Villeneuve's body.
Review by Katie ★★★★★ 18

Okay, so now that i've sat down and thought about this, i'm ready to talk.
This movie is 100% a masterpiece. The visuals are perfect, the acting, ESPECIALLY from Amy Adams, is wonderful. The fucking score, Jesus Christ. Everything about this movie is absolutely amazing. The aliens looked terrifying and gorgeous at the same time. I didn't breathe for a good 60 seconds when you first meet them. Still, a movie can fail with an amazing score, breathtaking cinematography, and captivating acting. But it doesn't.
Denis Villeneuve uses the aliens as such a beautiful storytelling device. The way this story is told is heartbreaking and haunting. If you see this movie, you'll know exactly what i'm talking about. It is impossible…
Review by Eli Hayes ★★★★½ 95

more filmmakers should (follow suit and) go full Tarkovsky in wide release form. Villeneuve had already proven himself to be one of the most versatile filmmakers in the medium -- as if we needed any more proof -- and it goes without saying that Bradford Young is a complete colossus with the camera.
why didn't anybody warn me about Max Richter's On the Nature of Daylight bookending the film? I can't even listen to that piece (in absence of a heartbreaking cinematic context) without tearing up; imagine what the introductory and concluding sequences herein did to me.
if you could see beyond the boundaries of your vision and comprehend the entire vastness of your environment -- all that is before you, beside you, behind you -- would you still traverse the same trail, or would you tour time through disparate doors?
Review by isabel ★★★★★ 1

isn't amy getting tired of carrying the entire film industry on her two perfect shoulders
Review by Jared ★★★★★ 27

In light of recent events, I'm reminded of Fermi's paradox. A cynical and unsettling notion which suggests the reason we've never been contacted by extraterrestrial intelligent life is that the no civilization has survived long enough to innovate to that level. Or, in simpler terms, that the fundamental nature of intelligent life is to ultimately destroy itself. As tech and sciences progress further and further, what matters is how we allocate that technology; what leaders we elect to control it and how we as a populace influence it's purpose. It all becomes a question of what we as a species value. On one end of the spectrum; there's science, progress and compassion. On the other, there's seems to be paranoia,…

Recent reviews

Review by max checkor ★★★★★

Amazing way to put a new thoughtful spin on sci-fi.
A deeply complex emotional journey. Stunning visuals and great performances.
Review by MadAssassin ★★★★½

Wow....just wow.
A friend of mine hadn't seen this yet, so naturally I badgered him in to seeing it immediately. Upon watching it I must admit that my estimation of the movie has not only remained impressive but has only improved over time. Denis Villenouve has proved once again why he is one of the best working directors in hollywood right now and exhibits potential to be one of the greats. The cinematography, acting and direction are all excellent with the movie being a visual spectacle of the ilk that I rarely see nowadays. Amy Adams and Jeremy Runner deliver amazing performances with Adams being the show stopper, there are emotional scenes throughout the movie that fringe on her ability…
Review by ibinder ★★★★ 1

this is so good! This movie was slow but in such an entrancing and beautiful way and the payoff at the end is incredible.
Review by shammu ★★★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

I change this to a 5 in the future
Review by VegardStrom ★★★★★

This is a masterpiece.
Review by capt_neb ★★★★½

Lovely, lovely movie. Hot on the heels of "Prisoners", this movie catapulted Denis Villeneuve to the top of my watch list. I can't do this movie justice. Nearly as exquisite as Blade Runner 2049 but warmer, sweeter and more touching. More human.
Review by 17IDixon ★★★

Probably my least favorite of Denis films.
Review by Bella Manzano ★★★★★

There are certain films that can’t be put into words, and I believe one of those films is Arrival. Everything was executed beautifully, every aspect nearly perfect. From start to end, absolute beauty.
Denis Villeneuve is the love of my life.
Review by admiraldonk ★★★½

The aliens should have downloaded the Jeremy Renner app