Captive State
Focus Features | Release Date: March 15, 2019
5.5
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 86 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
32
Mixed:
33
Negative:
21
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
RONSAIDITMar 18, 2019
well, this is a hard one, not as good as District 9, but keeps you interested, a bit slow at times. the id is ok. story ok film just ok.
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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5
Brent_MarchantMar 17, 2019
A well-intentioned but regrettably poorly constructed alien invasion story riddled with relevant but all too obvious and heavy-handed sociopolitical symbolism. In a film that's part "War of the Worlds," part "District 9" and part "Divergent,"A well-intentioned but regrettably poorly constructed alien invasion story riddled with relevant but all too obvious and heavy-handed sociopolitical symbolism. In a film that's part "War of the Worlds," part "District 9" and part "Divergent," along with other all-too-familiar sci-fi allusions thrown in. we're handed a story that's a little too crammed with ideas, characters, technologies and events to adequately keep track of things given the blistering pace of the story (a quality that, ironically, makes the picture somewhat tedious to watch). This could have been a lot better with some retooling -- and maybe a few more drafts of the screenplay.… Expand
4 of 6 users found this helpful42
All this user's reviews
5
moviecritic68Mar 31, 2019
Pretty much have to go along with the average score here. Seen many worse sci-fi's and I've seen much better. Never got completely bored with it but came close a couple of times. Save your money & watch on DVD or other media
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
All this user's reviews
4
dharmaJun 2, 2019
Captive State is one of the biggest disappointment for me in 2019 so far. The trailer hooked me completely: an image of a stadium singing the Star Spangled banner while an ominous shadow, presumably a spaceship, laying across it. What youCaptive State is one of the biggest disappointment for me in 2019 so far. The trailer hooked me completely: an image of a stadium singing the Star Spangled banner while an ominous shadow, presumably a spaceship, laying across it. What you have instead is a pedestrian flick that is reminiscent of any 'police state' type of film or heck..even TV series as a matter of fact. The era of 'peak TV' as we know it now has created series with the production values of 'middle range movies': be it 'The Handmaid's Tale', 'A Man from High Castle' among the meaty offering available today. Captive State took a similar route but in a completely rushed way: a certain world building is rushed in the first 10 minutes. Characters are unappealing and just being skimmed through. The titular aliens? Well, for a race that was so advanced, they actually behaved like the xenomorphs from the Alien series. They are designed to give you a jump scare. As it is, this is a poor attempt in modernizing a more superior series: 'V', with a seemingly 'menacing / benevolent' alien race taking over the world and instilling a 'Nazi' like state. If it was made as a TV series in a streaming service, it would have been passable. As a movie however, a completely forgettable experience.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
All this user's reviews
5
JoeCoolJun 2, 2019
Interesting, but a little too messy to really be good. Ending is a bit weak. Nice try, just falls a bit short of the good stuff. Good for DVD, not really something you'd be happy to have seen in a theatre.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
PalpetineSheevMar 20, 2020
An extremely interesting idea with a very uneven pay off. It's well made for the most part, but it's also somewhat forgettable and nowhere near as good as it should have been.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
5
artardmosheaFeb 13, 2020
Kind of boring.

Their clever reveal was "ok, so what?" but really I had already checked out.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
RalfbergsFeb 27, 2021
It felt quite bad and boring, which is not good for movie that seems like a mix of thriller, action movie and alien/apocalyptic type of movie. Maybe the plot and twist at the end was nice in itself, but the movie depicted it so badly andIt felt quite bad and boring, which is not good for movie that seems like a mix of thriller, action movie and alien/apocalyptic type of movie. Maybe the plot and twist at the end was nice in itself, but the movie depicted it so badly and boringly that the end part I just skipped through which is rare for me. There are much better ones out there about this topic.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
mohamad91hkJun 21, 2019
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. At the start of the movie, you will expect to see a great movie, then you will just waiting for something interesting, but you will not find it. I was expecting to watch an enjoyable movie, unfortunately, it was boring, slow, no action, the aliens just appear in a few scenes, and unrealistic, also the twist part wasn't surprised, you can expect John motivation since the beginning of the movie, beside the end wasn't satisfied. The only good thing in the movie is giving you some suspense until you get disappointed.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
MarkTakayamaApr 5, 2020
Captive State is an interesting movie. However, It was hard to follow. The ending was kind strange. I didn't understand what happened. Is Hollywood going to make sequence? I don't think so . It is enough.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
DeanomiteJan 18, 2020
Nicely photographed, good premise. Looks way more expensive than $25m. The first act could have used more news clips instead of tweets for exposition. This movie is very concerned with looking smart, more than being smart. I quit due toNicely photographed, good premise. Looks way more expensive than $25m. The first act could have used more news clips instead of tweets for exposition. This movie is very concerned with looking smart, more than being smart. I quit due to boredom at 2/3.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
JLuis_001Jun 4, 2019
It lacks perspective and feels too much like a deja vu for the obvious lack of originality of its argument.
It gets frustrating because I think this could have been more interesting but obviously for the script was enough to settle for aIt lacks perspective and feels too much like a deja vu for the obvious lack of originality of its argument.
It gets frustrating because I think this could have been more interesting but obviously for the script was enough to settle for a simplistic story and nobody else involved didn't seem interested in going further with extra steps of commitment.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
Netheo2Jun 16, 2019
Good movie overall with solid performances from the cast. Could have used a little more information and/or backstory for the first hour of the film but stick with it and you will be rewarded with good ending. If you are looking for tons ofGood movie overall with solid performances from the cast. Could have used a little more information and/or backstory for the first hour of the film but stick with it and you will be rewarded with good ending. If you are looking for tons of action and alien battles this is not your film, it is however a good drama with some sci-fi elements.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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