They Live

Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 4, 1988

7.6	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 158 Ratings

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User Reviews

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akshatmahajanJul 27, 2021

From last few days, I have been watching John Carpenter's movie. I read alot of good things about this movie and watched it. I liked the idea of the movie and it was different for that time. For your info, this movie is now considered cultFrom last few days, I have been watching John Carpenter's movie. I read alot of good things about this movie and watched it. I liked the idea of the movie and it was different for that time. For your info, this movie is now considered cult classic like Carpenter's other movies.

For me, the movie was nicely made and was dark and tense like Carpenter's other movies. There are some good tense scenes such as the climax scene. The suspense is also nicely built up and there are some surprises also.

If we talk about performances, everyone did their job nicely. Direction by John Carpenter was just like his other movies such as Halloween and The Thing. There were a few issues with the pacing but it will not effect the overall experience.

Overall, the movie is good and different for it's time. I want this movie to be remade just like Halloween so that we can enjoy the modern touch.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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Compi24Mar 16, 2013

It's only sparingly interesting and sluggishly paced, but overall "They Live" still proves to be a slightly entertaining sociopolitical sci-fi flick.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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LexSmithyMay 31, 2016

A classic Carpenter movie. 'They Live' is an iconic romp through b-movie science fiction and 80s buddy-action, laced with seething satire.

Roddy Piper plays Nada, the nameless drifter whose entire world is turned upside down when he putsA classic Carpenter movie. 'They Live' is an iconic romp through b-movie science fiction and 80s buddy-action, laced with seething satire.

Roddy Piper plays Nada, the nameless drifter whose entire world is turned upside down when he puts on a pair of sunglasses. The film makes a powerful reflection on modern society, consumer culture and inhumanity of the cultural elite and their disregard of the social divides, Carpenter does well to present the frustration felt towards this intolerance, and puts a satisfying spark of dark sadistic comedy into the mix.

The reason why I only gave a 6 was because the film does fall a bit short structurally, the beginning and end were nowhere near as enjoyable as the middle act. But the middle act is enough alone to watch the film for. Look out for the famous fight scene between Roddy Piper and Keith David, which is easily the best part of the film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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HellHoleHorrorMar 28, 2022

It looks fine. The sunglasses world is particularly startling. Good music but slightly disappointing sound overall. The underpinning story of underclass values destroying middle and lower class life was fascinating although I think that theIt looks fine. The sunglasses world is particularly startling. Good music but slightly disappointing sound overall. The underpinning story of underclass values destroying middle and lower class life was fascinating although I think that the target audience possibly missed that. Biggest issues for me were the main guy being a terrible actor and the alleyway fight scene looking like god-awful wrestle mania. Not very scary but certainly very interesting and relevant.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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gracjanskiSep 18, 2021

The core of the movie is not that bad, maybe even the best thing in it. But many scenes are too long and are looking cheap, especially the action scenes. So in the end it looks like a B-Movie

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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eva3si0nJan 9, 2022

They Live is one of many dystopian films of the 80s. But only John Carpenter took it off. And as a viewer, you expect an Escape from New York film. But They Live is a completely dull film, the script in it has many holes, the logic of theThey Live is one of many dystopian films of the 80s. But only John Carpenter took it off. And as a viewer, you expect an Escape from New York film. But They Live is a completely dull film, the script in it has many holes, the logic of the existence of the world is delusional, and the rules by which he lives wrote the child. Well, of course, the game Roddy Piper disappoints, he is clearly not an actor. The ending of the film seems to emphasize the idiotic logic of the world of the film. You can watch, especially John Carpenter fans.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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BulgarianCriticJun 26, 2022

This was a pretty hilarious 80s Sci-fi B-movie .The acting was incredibly bad (but in a funny way) and for some reason they looped only 1 song in the entire movie (lmao). For it's time the idea is fine (capitalism bad , illuminati bad, etc)This was a pretty hilarious 80s Sci-fi B-movie .The acting was incredibly bad (but in a funny way) and for some reason they looped only 1 song in the entire movie (lmao). For it's time the idea is fine (capitalism bad , illuminati bad, etc) but nowadays you won't get anything that well made in regards to these subjects.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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