The Arrival

Name: The Arrival
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: May 31, 1996
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 56
Cast: Alan Coates, Buddy Joe Hooker, Charlie Sheen, Leon Rippy, Lindsay Crouse

1996

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

See All

6.3

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.3	Your Score
6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Arrival

Now Playing: The Arrival

Movie Details & Credits

Orion Pictures | Release Date: May 31, 1996 | PG-13

Starring: Alan Coates, Buddy Joe Hooker, Charlie Sheen, Leon Rippy, Lindsay Crouse, Phyllis Applegate, Richard Schiff, Ron Silver, Shane, Teri Polo

Summary: Zane (Charlie Sheen), an astronomer, discovers intelligent alien life. But the aliens are keeping a deadly secret, and will do anything to stop Zane from learning it.

Director: David Twohy

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 115 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

The Arrival fulfills one of the classic functions of science fiction, which is to take a current trend and extend it to a possible (and preferably alarming) future. The Arrival gives its aliens credit for reasoning that we might almost be tempted to agree with. We're just finishing what you started, one of the aliens tells Zane, referring to the smokestacks, auto exhausts, rain forests and so on. What would have taken you 100 years will only take us 10. He, or it, has a point. Read full review

Mark Caro

As a head-trip movie with a moral, The Arrival engages the mind almost as much as it messes with it. [31 May 1996, p.F]

James Berardinelli

While this particular film doesn't boast any radical or surprising ideas, it combines numerous familiar plot elements into a suspenseful, entertaining whole. Best of all, perhaps, is the realization that some thought went into writer/director David Twohy's script. This is not a dumb movie; in fact, with its heavy reliance upon real science, it's startlingly credible. Read full review

Hal Hinson

For better or for worse the movie belongs to Sheen, who does manage to generate enough intensity to hold writer-director David Twohy's unwieldy story together. [31 May 1996, p.D6]

Marc Savlov

Goofy summer fun that makes Earth vs. the Flying Saucers look like Citizen Kane. Read full review

Greg Evans

A straight-faced updating of the 1950s space monster formula, film stars Charlie Sheen as the rogue scientist who battles E.T.s, uncovers government conspiracies and, most impressive of all, suppresses giggles when confronted with some of the silliest alien effects in memory. [03 June 1996, p.50]

Jackie Potts

In The Arrival, Charlie Sheen makes a startling discovery that, sadly, has nothing to do with the suspicion that he should have ended his flagging movie career ages ago. [31 May 1996, p.6G]

SEE ALL 22 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Voodoo123

Aug 5, 2018

Like many lates 90's sci-fi shows and films 1996's the arrival was clearly greenlit off the success of xfiles. However with a great concept and lower end budget the ok cast deliver memorable performances. The above average soundtrack and Sheens gravitas for the role did a great job ofLike many lates 90's sci-fi shows and films 1996's the arrival was clearly greenlit off the success of xfiles. However with a great concept and lower end budget the ok cast deliver memorable performances. The above average soundtrack and Sheens gravitas for the role did a great job of holding my attention through what was otherwise straight to video fare (production wise). I feel like this movie deserved a higher budget to match the high end concept. If youre a fan of sci-fi this is worth a watch.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Kai82

Nov 27, 2020

An entertaining science fiction movie with elements resembling the X-Files. Zane Zamisky played by Charlie Sheen is an astronomer who works for the SETI project (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). He hit the jackpot when he discovered a signal that could be prove that intelligentAn entertaining science fiction movie with elements resembling the X-Files. Zane Zamisky played by Charlie Sheen is an astronomer who works for the SETI project (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). He hit the jackpot when he discovered a signal that could be prove that intelligent alien lifeforms exist. To his surprise his discoveries are dismissed and he is shortly after fired as results of budget cuts. Because this all makes not much sense to him he starts an investigation. The more he discovered the stranger it gets. The story is clearly inspired by the X-Files and it is not a bad thing. It is always clear what they want and there are no mistakes in the story and directing. The twist improve the atmosphere of the movie. The actors and especially Charlie Sheen deliver a good performance. I think there is not much more to talk about. Overall this while being no masterpiece is an enjoyable and well crafted movie. They know what they want to do and archived it. Bonus knowledge: There are many theories while we found no signs of alien life. The base assumption is that the universe is incredible big and old. So there have to be countless other civilizations even at very small odds. There are many theories like “The Dark Forest” (They hide because there could be other civilizations that are destroying each other civilization they could find), “The Great Filter” (There is some obstacle civilizations rarely survive or cant survive) or that the universe was not suited for life earlier on (Gamma ray burst wiping out all life in proximity).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RobMarr75

Aug 8, 2023

I have always really liked this movie. The plot and the pacing are good. That being said, it's not going to blow you away. It's just not a prestige film. It's just good enough to be a lot of fun.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jsands7

Jan 3, 2018

Just watched The Arrival last night. This is a solid film, especially for the mid 90s. Sheen is pretty gripping as the main character, and the movie keeps moving along at a brisk pace, changing locations to keep things interesting and really building towards the climax as we go deeper andJust watched The Arrival last night. This is a solid film, especially for the mid 90s. Sheen is pretty gripping as the main character, and the movie keeps moving along at a brisk pace, changing locations to keep things interesting and really building towards the climax as we go deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole. My wife is much less of a sci-fi nerd than me and she enjoyed it as well, for what its worth. Intriguing film; I recommend it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

skeletorone

Oct 3, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Arrival is one of these on the nose moral scifi films we get way too often. The story is basically centered around climate change. Aliens came to our planet because it is almost suited for them to live here. They just need to accelerate what "we" already started: global warming. Their reasoning for this is: Mankind doesn't take care of the planet, therefore we don't deserve to live here. So the aliens are basically just cynical fascists. We don't learn anything else from them. We don't really know why they need our planet in the first place. But hey, we defeat them anyway, so it doesn't really matter. The biggest problem of the movie is the fact that the big conspiracy is already fully revealed halfway through the movie, so there is no big reveal, no grand finale. Overall The Arrival is a rather bland movie with laughable effect work and campy characters. It is watchable if you don't have anything else to watch and want to see mid-90s Charlie Sheen again.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 5 REVIEWS

87	#87 Best Movie of 1996
62	#62 Most Discussed Movie of 1996
86	#86 Most Shared Movie of 1996