Species

Name: Species
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror
Released: July 7, 1995
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 49
Cast: Alfred Molina, Ben Kingsley, Don Fischer, Forest Whitaker, Jordan Lund

1995

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 123 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 123 Ratings

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Species

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Movie Details & Credits

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: July 7, 1995 | R

Starring: Alfred Molina, Ben Kingsley, Don Fischer, Forest Whitaker, Jordan Lund, Marg Helgenberger, Michael Madsen, Michelle Williams, Natasha Henstridge, Scott McKenna

Summary: An experiment mixing human and alien DNA results in a beautiful young woman who escapes from a government lab on a quest to mate and reproduce.

Director: Roger Donaldson

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 108 min

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Critic Reviews

Jay Boyar

The best monster movie to come slithering out of the muck since Jurassic Park. Species is an exploitation picture while Jurassic Park was mainstream, but the new one is lots of fun if you're in the mood for B-movie thrills. [07 July 1995, p.19]

Gene Siskel

Species is an Alien ripoff, but that doesn't make it a bad movie--not when it contains a plausible premise, a great-looking female villain, a wonderful supporting cast of good guys, and genuine tension. Only a routine chase sequence in sewer tunnels limits the excitement at the end. In other words, we're talking about a solid, surprisingly intelligent action picture here. Read full review

Rick Groen

Taut, zippy chase for a nubile alien. Smart enough not to take things too seriously, Species is not this planet's proudest export, but even aliens would give it at least one thumb up. [07 July 1995]

Rene Rodriguez

If you go in expecting a serious, no-nonsense chiller in the Alien vein, you'll come away disappointed. Despite its big-name cast and dead-serious tone, Species is a spiritual throwback to 1950s cheesy sci-fi flicks like It Came From Outer Space and It Conquered the World. [07 July 1995, p.4G]

Joe Brown

A shameless Alien rip-off (it even uses a similar typeface in its ads), it makes no sense whatsoever. But don't hold the movie's utter unoriginality and brainlessness against it. A few laughs, a few popcorn-jolting scares—what more do you want on a hot summer night? Read full review

Caryn James

The director, Roger Donaldson, best known for the Kevin Costner thriller No Way Out, keeps the film moving. But there is only so much suspense he can generate from this stock story and familiar-looking special effects. Species may work best for viewers who don't like to be too scared by horror movies; it's reassuringly familiar. Read full review

Joey O'Bryan

What else can I say about a movie in which even a brilliant artist like H.R. Giger repeats himself… except that besides a few random moments, Species just doesn't make the grade and also manages to waste a fine cast along the way. Read full review

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User Reviews

Steven1981

Mar 18, 2020

Species is a 1995 film, the year of great movies such as Assassins, Casino, The Quick and the Dead and a few others but also probably in 1995 some stinkers were made. Species directed by Roger Donaldson is a basic and rather simple story and it's basically some scientists found alien DNA orSpecies is a 1995 film, the year of great movies such as Assassins, Casino, The Quick and the Dead and a few others but also probably in 1995 some stinkers were made. Species directed by Roger Donaldson is a basic and rather simple story and it's basically some scientists found alien DNA or something and created a monster. Not sure if that's correct so don't quote me, however I am sure the alien creature is named Sil and is played by Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek) and she's still a child. They decide to gas her and kill her but she escapes from a glass chamber and helicopters and everyone are out hunting for her. A group of people "Michael Madsen, Marg Helgenberger, Forrest Whitaker and some other dude lol are called in for a search and destroy mission to terminate the alien lifeform before it mates and potentially becomes a threat to earth but first they must hunt her (the alien) down and find her because she's on the loose after escaping. SPECIES stars also Natasha Henstridge (Ghosts of Mars) as the alien creature and is packed with explosions, violence, blood and extremely well done sex scenes and beautifully executed nudity scenes. This film is excellent!!!… Expand

13 of 17 users found this helpful134

Aerialist277

Jun 19, 2021

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1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Pluto744

Jun 22, 2021

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Carnival

Apr 19, 2021

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3 of 3 users found this helpful30

Defame

Apr 30, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sil is an ectogen - a person who was, or is being, gestated in an artificial womb.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

Impugn

Jan 12, 2020

Species is a great Sci-Fi thriller. The acting by Kingsley, Molina, Whitaker, Henstridge, Helgenberger & Madsen is impeccable. The special effects are first rate as well.

13 of 13 users found this helpful130

Tuneison

Aug 13, 2018

I happened to recall hearing about a year ago, when I first watch "Under the Skin", there existed a movie from the 90s that it took the concept from. Fast forward to now and, I hear that the film in question was "Species".
From a purely conceptual level, Species has a great premece. A womanI happened to recall hearing about a year ago, when I first watch "Under the Skin", there existed a movie from the 90s that it took the concept from. Fast forward to now and, I hear that the film in question was "Species".
From a purely conceptual level, Species has a great premece. A woman who goes around seducing and killing people. That's about were the good in the writing ends. Every character is completely flat and definied by what they do in the story. Main character, knows where the alein is, love intreset, exposition and, death fodder. If you've seen species, you know exactly who each character is based on that description. Also the alein who is evil.
The acting is actually pretty decent overall. Nothing crazy great or crazy bad, just some solid performances that keep this movie above rock bottom. For how barren the material the actors are working with, they end up doing a decent job. So, in that sense, the acting is impressive I guess.
The special effects and make up, when they are done practiacally, end up looking pretty great. At least up until the film's climax when everything devolves into mid 90s cgi. I guess they might've looked good for the time but, they've aged poorly. However, the practical effects in the brief dream sequences look very good. It's definietly reminicent of Alein but, go figure since HR Giger designed the alein in this movie, so no shock there.
The camera work and cinematography is the millionth thing in this movie that falls into the category of "Just alright". "Just alright" ends up being the word I'd describe most of this film with. Very little of it is done in a way that is special. However, the reason to watch this movie is because it's really funny bad. So, I honestly reccomend watching this if you are a fan of Under the Skin because you can see how it improved and evolved on this concept.… Expand

2 of 17 users found this helpful215

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93	#93 Best Movie of 1995
33	#33 Most Discussed Movie of 1995
36	#36 Most Shared Movie of 1995