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War of the Worlds

They're already here.

2005 · 117 min · Adventure
7.5 Popular
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Adventure Thriller Science Fiction

Ray Ferrier is a divorced dockworker and less-than-perfect father. Soon after his ex-wife and her new husband drop off his teenage son and young daughter for a rare weekend visit, a strange and powerful lightning storm touches down.

Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Year
2005
Studio
Paramount Pictures · DreamWorks Pictures · Amblin Entertainment · Cruise/Wagner Productions

Trivia & behind the scenes

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Origins

Tom Cruise gave Steven Spielberg three film options to make together after they worked on Minority Report (2002), and Spielberg immediately chose an adaptation of The War of the Worlds.

Origins

J. J. Abrams was originally asked by Spielberg and Cruise to write the script but declined because he was working on the pilot for his TV series Lost, so Josh Friedman delivered a screenplay that was later rewritten by David Koepp.

Origins

Screenwriter David Koepp deliberately avoided clichés such as the destruction of landmark buildings, and Spielberg rejected the idea of aliens arriving in spaceships, instead having the tripods buried underground long ago since every other alien invasion film used spacecraft.

Origins

Spielberg connected with the script partly because the estranged parents Ray and Mary Ann echoed his own parents' divorce, and because the survivors' plight reflected his personal uncertainty after the September 11 attacks.

Casting

Spielberg wanted Miranda Otto for the role of Mary Ann, and when he learned she was pregnant at the time, he decided to write her real-life pregnancy into the film instead of recasting.

Filming

The film was shot in 73 days across six sound stages on three studio lots, plus locations in Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, and New York, after only three months of pre-production—half the usual time for a film of its scale.

Filming

For the plane crash scene, the production bought a retired Boeing 747 formerly used by All Nippon Airways, spent $2 million transporting it, dismantled it into pieces to build a fake neighborhood around it, and the wreckage was later reused for the Universal Studios back-lot tour.

Filming

The scene of bodies floating down a river was filmed on the Farmington River in Windsor, Connecticut by a second unit, using a stand-in for Dakota Fanning shot from behind, with her actual face inserted later.

Effects

Spielberg refused to show blood or gore during the Heat-Ray vaporization deaths, wanting the film to work like 'a horror movie for kids,' so the effects team combined live-action dust with CGI particles to depict people disintegrating into ash.

Effects

The design of the tripods was built around the number three, giving them three eyes and three limbs with three fingers each, while the aliens themselves were designed based on jellyfish with movements inspired by red-eyed tree frogs.

Effects

Costume designer Joanna Johnston created 60 different versions of Ray Ferrier's leather jacket to show his physical deterioration throughout the story, while Dakota Fanning's character carried a lavender horse purse meant to symbolize her need for comfort and safety.

References

Screenwriter David Koepp said the scene of Robbie running off to fight the aliens was inspired by real footage of teenagers in the Gaza Strip throwing rocks at tanks, reflecting how youths can get caught up in the passion of the moment without considering consequences.

Trivia

Spielberg kept the film's plot and alien designs so secret that even the cast and crew were often confused about what the aliens looked like, with Koepp saying Spielberg would only email select portions of the script relevant to each department.

Reception

The film gave Tom Cruise his biggest opening weekend at the time, a record that stood until Top Gun: Maverick surpassed it in 2022, and it remained his highest-grossing film until Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol in 2011.

Memorable quotes

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This is not a war any more than there's a war between men and maggots... This is an extermination.

Harlan Ogilvy describing the alien invasion

[angrily, to a soldier] LOOK AT THE GODDAMN BIRDS!!!!

Ray Ferrier realizing the danger from bird behavior

I'm dead set on living. [laughs, to himself] "Dead set on living".

Harlan Ogilvy laughing grimly about survival

We're gonna leave this house in 60 seconds.

Ray Ferrier urging his kids to flee the house

[to Robbie] You can hate me, but I love you!

Ray Ferrier telling his son he loves him despite conflict

So what are you gonna do? Hide and wait here till they come and get you? Is that your "plan"?

Harlan Ogilvy questioning Ray's plan to hide

[as the family is chased by a tripod] Is it the terrorists?!

Rachel Ferrier asking about the attackers while fleeing

[just before the tripods appear] The trees are moving...

Rachel Ferrier noticing something strange before the tripods appear

You and me - I don't think we're on the same page.

Harlan Ogilvy telling Ray they disagree

Get in the car, Manny, or you're gonna die!

Ray Ferrier warning a man to get in the car

They're Already Here.

Taglines tagline for the film

This Summer, The Last War On Earth Won't Be Started By Humans.

Taglines tagline for the film

[to Robbie] Okay, hey, enough of the "Ray" shit, alright! It's Dad, Sir, or, if you want, Mr. Ferrier. It sounds a little weird to me, but you decide.

Ray Ferrier correcting his son on how to address him

Let's try a plan that doesn't involve your 10-year-old sister joining the army?

Ray Ferrier reacting to a risky plan

Two for you, two for Robbie, two for me... One for the house.

Ray Ferrier dividing food among family

[crying, and softly hitting him] Robbie! What are you trying to do?! Where are you trying to go?! Who's going to take care of me if you go?!

Rachel Ferrier pleading with Robbie not to leave

Is it them?! Is it them?!

Rachel Ferrier panicking during an attack

[unseen] Are we still alive?

Rachel Ferrier asking if they survived an attack

[looking out at the teleporter's bolt of lightning] Where's the thunder...?

Ray Ferrier observing the lightning strike

Robbie, you wanna head in that direction?! There's nothing living in that direction, Robbie!

Ray Ferrier warning Robbie against going toward danger

How the community felt

😵 Shocked 25%
🥹 Moved 25%
😆 Amused 25%

What people are saying (1)

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L

Lucía Prada ★ 7

3 weeks ago

Get your intergalactic asses out!!

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