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They Live

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
126K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,192
206
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jeff Imada and Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)
In October 2018, several filmmakers were added to the Oxford English Dictionary in adjective form. Somehow, John Carpenter wasn't one of them. Today, we'll travel "Through the Lens" to define John Carpenter's style and influence, to define Carpenteresque, and why the term belongs in the dictionary.
Play clip4:54
Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi

They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
126K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,192
206
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • Ray Nelson(short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning")
    • John Carpenter(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Roddy Piper
    • Keith David
    • Meg Foster
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • Ray Nelson(short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning")
    • John Carpenter(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Roddy Piper
    • Keith David
    • Meg Foster
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 504User reviews
    • 224Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos1

    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary

    Photos154

    Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)
    Keith David and Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)
    Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)
    Keith David and Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)
    They Live (1988)
    They Live (1988)
    They Live (1988)
    Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)
    Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)
    Keith David and Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)
    They Live (1988)
    Cibby Danyla in They Live (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Roddy Piper
    Roddy Piper
    • Nadaas Nada
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • Frankas Frank
    Meg Foster
    Meg Foster
    • Hollyas Holly
    George 'Buck' Flower
    George 'Buck' Flower
    • Drifteras Drifter
    Peter Jason
    Peter Jason
    • Gilbertas Gilbert
    Raymond St. Jacques
    Raymond St. Jacques
    • Street Preacheras Street Preacher
    Jason Robards III
    Jason Robards III
    • Family Manas Family Man
    John Lawrence
    • Bearded Manas Bearded Man
    Susan Barnes
    • Brown Haired Womanas Brown Haired Woman
    Sy Richardson
    Sy Richardson
    • Black Revolutionaryas Black Revolutionary
    Wendy Brainard
    • Family Man's Daughteras Family Man's Daughter
    Lucille Meredith
    Lucille Meredith
    • Female Intervieweras Female Interviewer
    Susan Blanchard
    Susan Blanchard
    • Ingenueas Ingenue
    Norman Alden
    Norman Alden
    • Foremanas Foreman
    Dana Bratton
    • Black Junkieas Black Junkie
    John F. Goff
    John F. Goff
    • Well Dressed Customeras Well Dressed Customer
    Thelma Lee
    • Rich Ladyas Rich Lady
    Stratton Leopold
    • Depressed Humanas Depressed Human
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • Ray Nelson(short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning")
      • John Carpenter(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Nada, a down-on-his-luck construction worker, discovers a pair of special sunglasses. Wearing them, he is able to see the world as it really is: people being bombarded by media and government with messages like "Stay Asleep", "No Imagination", "Submit to Authority". Even scarier is that he is able to see that some usually normal-looking people are in fact ugly aliens in charge of the massive campaign to keep humans subdued. —Melissa Portell <mportell@s-cwis.unomaha.edu>
    • alien
    • anti consumerism
    • sunglasses
    • brainwashing
    • teleportation
    • 387 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass...and I'm all out of bubblegum."
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Horror
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Carpenter brought real "homeless folks" into the production for several scenes and smaller characters and gave them food as well as paychecks. "I thought that was a pretty classy thing to do," says Piper.
    • Goofs
      The alien at the magazine stand gets his change twice.
    • Quotes

      Nada: I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum.

    • Crazy credits
      The screenplay writer for "They Live" which is credited to "Frank Armitage", does not exist. John Carpenter used many pseudonyms when giving credit to his works in films. With his vast amount of work that he did himself, (directing, producing, writing and composing the musical scores), he did not want to appear to be braggadocios and vain by having his name appear over and over in the credits of his movies.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Arrivals (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Rock of Ages
      (uncredited)
      Music by Thomas Hastings
      Lyrics by Augustus Montague Toplady
      [Heard as one of the songs played on the church tape]

    User reviews504

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Unfortunately this film has aged very well.
    A fun film with a serious message.

    More relevant now with 'social media' than ever.

    If only more people would put the glasses on.
    helpful•18
    0
    • nytol1-798-466578
    • Sep 9, 2021

    FAQ4

    • What is 'They Live' about?
    • Is "They Live" based on a book?
    • What are the differences between the short story and the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 4, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • John Carpenter's They Live
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Alive Films
      • Larry Franco Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,008,928
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,827,903
      • Nov 6, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,008,928
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    Alien Invader from ‘They Live’ Coming to Neca’s Toony Terrors Line
    Alien Invader from ‘They Live’ Coming to Neca’s Toony Terrors Line
    May 5bloody-disgusting.com
    Mitch Watson
    Mitch Watson
    Apr 26Trailers from Hell

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