A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.
Practical Effects
Puppet Martians with visible strings and zero apologies
Production
Alex Cox's original script mutated into Burton's candy-colored nihilism
Acting
Nicholson's dual role as president AND sleazy Vegas developer
Director
Tim Burton
Jack Nicholson
President Dale / Art Land
Glenn Close
Marsha Dale
Annette Bening
Barbara Land
Pierce Brosnan
Donald Kessler
Danny DeVito
Rude Gambler
Martin Short
Jerry Ross
Sarah Jessica Parker
Nathalie Lake
Michael J. Fox
Jason Stone
Rod Steiger
General Decker
Tom Jones
Tom Jones
Lukas Haas
Richie Norris
Natalie Portman
Taffy Dale
Jim Brown
Byron Williams
Lisa Marie
Martian Girl
Sylvia Sidney
Grandma Norris
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Burton fought the studio to keep the puppets instead of CGI, making this the last major blockbuster with intentional 'bad' effects.
The original Topps trading card series from 1962 was so violent it sparked parental outrage and got discontinued — Burton considered that a feature, not a bug.
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