Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Name: Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Released: December 22, 1978
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Art Hindle, Brooke Adams, Don Siegel, Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum

1978

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Ratings

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Invasion Of The Body Snatchers

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: December 22, 1978 | PG

Starring: Art Hindle, Brooke Adams, Don Siegel, Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, Kevin McCarthy, Lelia Goldoni, Leonard Nimoy, Tom Luddy, Veronica Cartwright

Summary: In San Francisco, a group of people discover the human race is being replaced one by one with clones devoid of emotion.

Director: Philip Kaufman

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Horror

Rating: PG

Runtime: 115 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Eric Hynes

Easily among the greatest remakes ever made, Philip Kaufman updates Don Siegel's McCarthy-era classic to 1978 San Francisco. Kaufman proves singularly adept at keeping multiple genres and tones in play, from noirish mystery to heady paranormal thriller to face-squishing sci-fi horror. There's truly no recovering from the film's final the enemy-is-us parting shot. Read full review

100

Pauline Kael

Undiluted pleasure and excitement. The scriptwriter, W.D. Richter, supplies some funny lines, and the director, Phil Kaufman, provides such confident professionalism that you sit back in the assurance that every spooky nuance you're catching is just what was intended.

Keith Phipps

Set at the intersection of post-Vietnam paranoia and the myopic introspection that became hippiedom's most lasting cultural contribution, the Philip Kaufman-directed Invasion alternates social commentary with impeccably crafted scares. As much an echo of Don Siegel's 1956 original as a remake, it does little to change a formula that worked fine the first time around. Read full review

Debbie Prager

Director Philip Kaufman and producer Robert Solo cleverly entwine such elements as disorienting low-angle shots, an ominously pulsating soundtrack and eerie gloom with the tried-and-true plot and come up with a tight thriller. [29 Dec 1978, p.20]

Gary Arnold

An unusually imaginative and adroit but also self-conscious remake, which transposes the setting from a disarmingly serene small town called Santa Mira to a systematically ominous, threatening San Francisco. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Phil Kaufman's version of the Don Siegel SF classic is good as remakes go, but not as good as the original. Where Siegel was swift, compact, and efficient Kaufman tends to be slow, garrulous, and needlessly baroque. Ideas that Siegel knocked off in a few shots are expanded to fill entire sequences—but they're good ideas, and can stand a little stretching. Good allegories never die; they just expand and contract to fit the times. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The film collapses midway--because of unsure and sloppy direction, splintered story continuity, and the overacting of Adams, Cartwright, and others. The battle between Sutherland and the aliens in the "pod factory" at the end is simply absurd and sophomoric. Read full review

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User Reviews

Panchogul

May 31, 2020

Supera con creces en todos los aspectos a su versión original, lejos, uno de los mejores remakes de todos los tiempos.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

kyle20ellis

Mar 27, 2022

I say this as a big fan of the 1956 film. I have nothing against remakes, some are great, some are good, some are bad, some are downright awful. Fortunately Invasion of the Body Snatchers(1978) is one of the truly great ones, one of those rarities that not just lives up to the original filmI say this as a big fan of the 1956 film. I have nothing against remakes, some are great, some are good, some are bad, some are downright awful. Fortunately Invasion of the Body Snatchers(1978) is one of the truly great ones, one of those rarities that not just lives up to the original film but almost beats it.

The only reason why it doesn't quite is because the 1956 film does more with the change of the townsfolk. That said, it is a very well made film, with the special effects enhancing the mood rather than distracting from it and the scenery and cinematography striking. The make up is also outstanding.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers also has a strong score that just adds to the tension and suspense, a compelling story especially the ending, in fact for me I marginally preferred the ending here, the dialogue is intelligent and well-delivered and the direction is very fine.

There is some great acting too. Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams are strong leads, while Jeff Goldblum steals the scenes he appears in. Overall, a great film and worthy remake. Anybody who has not seen the Invasion with Craig and Kidman, it may be a good idea to keep it that way. 9/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Meth-dude

Oct 3, 2017

Definitely one of the best sci-fi/horror movies of it's time. With great acting, impressive practical effects and a very atmospheric soundtrack, Invasion of the Body Snatchers delivers and gives much more than what you would expect.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

alejandro970

May 22, 2022

The first update of the 50s classic for a few moments manages to duplicate the ingenuity of the original, raising the levels of fear and paranoia and above all, with a pessimistic and chilling ending. To note the participation of Kevin McCarthy, the same as the original version. If youThe first update of the 50s classic for a few moments manages to duplicate the ingenuity of the original, raising the levels of fear and paranoia and above all, with a pessimistic and chilling ending. To note the participation of Kevin McCarthy, the same as the original version. If you notice any suspicious attitude in a neighbor, or the newspaper delivery boy, watch out!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Voodoo123

Nov 26, 2021

+Excellent cast
+Interesting sci fi premise -Camera work and lighting have aged poorly
-Screenplay hasnt aged well either IOTBS uses a fascinating concept of the creeping takeover of the human population in san Francisco with alien human hybrids(and presumably the world!). As a piece of+Excellent cast
+Interesting sci fi premise -Camera work and lighting have aged poorly
-Screenplay hasnt aged well either

IOTBS uses a fascinating concept of the creeping takeover of the human population in san Francisco with alien human hybrids(and presumably the world!). As a piece of movie history it has aged poorly however. There is little artistic merit to be found in the cinematography although it looks clean in uhd format. Sadly the majority of the film is shot at night but the lighting is virtually non existent so there is little benefit to that choice as everyone and everything is simply swamped in darkness. Cast performances are erratic with little logical reasoning in the screenplay to really sell the sometimes bizarre reactions. The visual effects are possibly the strongest area of the film as they are practical effects and seeing them in uhd was quite intriguing especially the homeless guy face on the dog!

Soundtrack performs its function with some odd moments of synth throughout no doubt very edgy back in 1978 but in 2020's feels campy. The hilariously sexist screenplay has also aged terribly but if you dont mind quirky campy sci-fi this may entertain you.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jose15458

Jun 1, 2019

Nothing but sexist belittlement of women characters. Dialogue is unoriginal and annoying.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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