Plot
Two men who keep an eye on aliens in New York City must try to save the world after the aliens threaten to blow it up.
Release Year: 1997
Rating: 7.1/10 (170,265 voted)
Critic's Score: 71/100
Director:
Barry Sonnenfeld
Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino
Storyline Men in Black follows the exploits of agents Kay and Jay, members of a top-secret organization established to monitor and police alien activity on Earth. The two Men in Black find themselves in the middle of the deadly plot by an intergalactic terrorist who has arrived on Earth to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies. In order to prevent worlds from colliding, the MiB must track down the terrorist and prevent the destruction of Earth. It's just another typical day for the Men in Black.
Writers: Lowell Cunningham, Ed Solomon
Cast: Tommy Lee Jones
-
Kevin Brown
/
Agent K
Will Smith
-
James Darrel Edwards III
/
Agent J
Linda Fiorentino
-
Dr. Laurel Weaver
Vincent D'Onofrio
-
Edgar
Rip Torn
-
Chief Agent Zed
Tony Shalhoub
-
Jack Jeebs
Siobhan Fallon
-
Beatrice
Mike Nussbaum
-
Gentle Rosenburg the Arquillian Jeweler
Jon Gries
-
Nick the Van Driver
Sergio Calderón
-
Jose
Carel Struycken
-
Arquillian
Fredric Lehne
-
INS Agent Janus
(as Fredric Lane)
Richard Hamilton
-
D
Kent Faulcon
-
2nd Lt. Jake Jensen
John Alexander
-
Mikey
Taglines:
More secretive than the C.I.A. - More powerful than the F.B.I. - And they're looking for a few good men - They are the Men in Black
Filming Locations: 54 Macdougal Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $90,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $84,133,900
(USA)
(6 July 1997)
(3020 Screens)
Gross: $326,600,000
(Worldwide)
(11 January 1998)
(except USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The MIB headquarters are located in the ventilation tower of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, which connects Manhattan with Brooklyn.
Goofs:
Continuity:
The address on the back of the MiB business card goes from being below the logo to above it.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Nick the Van Driver:
Goddamn bugs!
User Review
Smart, funny spoof that is impossible not to like!
Rating: 8/10
"Men in Black" and "Galaxy Quest" are in my mind the best sci-fi
comedies ever made, because they are both hilarious parodies of two
different cultures. Whereas the latter spoofed obsessed fans who take
sci-fi entertainment WAY too seriously, this one spoofs the paranoid,
tin-foil-hat brand of conspiracy theorists. It has funny characters,
witty lines, and does not at all take itself seriously.
There are a lot of small details that can take multiple viewings to
catch. One thing I found funnier the second time I watched it is the
scene where Will Smith has just been severely lectured by his boss in
the interrogation room when Tommy Lee Jones enters, asks a few
questions, and tells Smith to come with him. Smith: "I can't, there's
still a lot of paperwork to fill out." Jones: "No, the paperwork is all
taken care of." Smith's boss (walking by): "Hey, nice work, Edwards!"
This is one of many quick, funny scenes that you only really get if
you're paying attention.
All the actors do a good job, too. I thought Rip Torn was the funniest
character, and Edgar the bug was hilariously gross. Linda Fiorentino
was one of the coolest female characters ever. She put Ripley to shame.
Every time I watch this, I want to marry her.
Overall, it's a great comedy that is clever and fun all the way
through. 8/10 stars.
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