They Live official wallpaper
They Live poster

They Live

  • 7.2 /10

  • 3394

  • 87%

Plot

A lone drifter stumbles upon a unique pair of sunglasses that reveal aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission.

Cast

Roddy Piper as John Nada
Roddy Piper

as John Nada

Keith David as Frank Armitage
Keith David

as Frank Armitage

Meg Foster as Holly Thompsen
Meg Foster

as Holly Thompsen

George Buck Flower as Drifter
George Buck Flower

as Drifter

Peter Jason as Gilbert
Peter Jason

as Gilbert

Raymond St. Jacques as Street Preacher
Raymond St. Jacques

as Street Preacher

Jason Robards III as Family Man
Jason Robards III

as Family Man

John Lawrence as Bearded Man
John Lawrence

as Bearded Man

Susan Barnes as Brown Haired Woman
Susan Barnes

as Brown Haired Woman

Sy Richardson as Black Revolutionary
Sy Richardson

as Black Revolutionary

Movie Facts

Rated

  • R

Status

  • Released

Release Date

  • November 4, 1988

Production Companies

  • Alive Films

  • Larry Franco Productions

Production Countries

  • United States of America

Spoken Language

  • English

Budget

  • $4,000,000.00

Revenue

  • $13,000,000.00

Runtime

  • 1.55 hrs

Links

Gallery

Reviews

I have to admit up front to liking every single, John Carpenter movie. They are works of art in there unique style and quality. This is actually my favorite of all of them. There could be a criticism that this movie is didactic and sends some sort of clumsy political or philosophical message but I'd have to reply that you simply don't get it. Unlike the modern propensity for movies to try to h…

Life's a bitch and she's back on heat! They Live is directed by John Carpenter who also adapts the screenplay form the short story Eight O'Clock in the Morning written by Ray Nelson. It stars Roddy Piper, Keith David and Meg Foster. Music is by Alan Howarth (and Carpenter) and cinematography by Gary B. Kibbe. Unemployed drifter Nada (Piper) wanders into the city looking to find work, but up…

They Live is a great movie that delivers an exceptional story with a dystopian vibe that is both thrilling and terrifying. John Carpenter's screenplay was ahead of its time in terms of its social commentary on American capitalism and the class divide. The film's story explores how a small group of people has taken control of the world by using subliminal messaging and manipulation, making it a…