Men in Black (1997)
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91% of critics liked it
(75 reviews) -
73% of users liked it
(957,686 ratings)
For his fifth effort as a feature-film director, one-time cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld brought his cartoonish visual style and darkly humorous sensibilities to this adaptation of, appropriately enough, a tongue-in-cheek sci-fi comic book. Will Smith stars as James Darrel Edwards, a New York City… More For his fifth effort as a feature-film director, one-time cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld brought his cartoonish visual style and darkly humorous sensibilities to this adaptation of, appropriately enough, a tongue-in-cheek sci-fi comic book. Will Smith stars as James Darrel Edwards, a New York City cop with an athletic physique and a flippant, anti-authoritarian attitude toward law enforcement. After chasing down a mysterious perpetrator one night who turns out to be an alien, James is recruited by "K" (Tommy Lee Jones), a veteran of a clandestine government agency secretly policing the comings and goings of aliens on planet Earth. Nicknamed the "men in black" for their nondescript uniform of black suit, shoes, tie, and sunglasses, the agents are assigned to recover a bauble that's been stolen by an intergalactic terrorist (Vincent D'Onofrio). It seems the item is none other than the galaxy itself, and its theft has plunged humanity into the center of what's shaping up to become an interstellar war, unless K and his new wisecracking partner, now renamed "J," can stop the bad guy. On their side but somewhat in the dark is a pretty, unflappable city medical examiner (Linda Fiorentino) who has been zapped one too many times by K's ingenious memory-sapping device. Men in Black was a box office smash, inspiring an animated children's television series and a hit soundtrack album that featured a performance by star (and rapper) Smith. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Barry Sonnenfeld
- Written By
- Ed Solomon
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jul 2, 1997 Wide
- Studio
- Columbia TriStar International
Critic Reviews
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Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
This spaced-out comedy may not be bliss, but it sure is fun.
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Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune
A smart, funny and hip adventure film in a summer of car wrecks and explosions.
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Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Every time the film makes you chuckle, you may also feel it's zapped you with a neuralizer.
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Todd McCarthy, Variety
A wild knuckleball of a movie that keeps dancing in and out of the strike zone.
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David Edelstein, Slate
The smartest, funniest, and best-looking sci-fi comedy since the movies learned to morph.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Tommy Lee Jones
as K
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Will Smith
as J
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Linda Fiorentino
as Laurel
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Vincent D'Onofrio
as Edgar
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Rip Torn
as Zed
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Tony Shalhoub
as Jeebs
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Becky Ann Baker
as Mrs. Redgick
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Patrick Breen
as Mr. Redgick
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Sergio Calderón
as Jose
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Keith Campbell
as Prep
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Willie C. Carpenter
as Police Inspector
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Debbie Lee Carrington
as Alien Father
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David Cross
as Morgue Attendant
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Michael Goldfinger
as NYPD Sergeant
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Richard Hamilton
as D
- Carl Johnson
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Boris Leskin
as Cook
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Peter Linari
as Tow Truck Driver
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Harsh Nayyar
as News Vendor
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Mike Nussbaum
as Gentle Rosenberg
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Ken Thorley
as Orkin Man
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Sean Whalen
as Passport Officer
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Carel Struycken
as Arquillian
- Tim Blaney
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Andy Prosky
as INS Agent
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Michael Willis
as Cop In Morgue
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Siobhan Fallon
as Beatrice
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Charles C. Stevenson Jr.
as MIB Agent Bee
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Jon Gries
as Van Driver
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John Alexander
as Mikey
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Verne Troyer
as Alien Son
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Steve Rankin
as INS Agent
- Mark Setrakian
- Brad Abrell
- Thom Fountain
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Alpheus Merchant
as Security Guard
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Kent Faulcon
as 1st Lt. Jake Jensen
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Richard Arthur
as 2nd First Contact Alien
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Bernard Gilkey
as Baseball Player
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Norma Jean Groh
as Mrs. Edelson
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Michael Kaliski
as First Contact Alien
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Fredric Lane
as INS Agent Janus
- Drew Massey
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Sean Plummer
as First Contact Alien
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Mykal Wayne Williams
as Scared Guy




