---
title: "Attack the Block"
year: 2011
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/attack-the-block"
fi1m_id: "attack-the-block"
imdb_id: "tt1478964"
tmdb_id: 59678
wikidata_id: "Q757865"
fi1m_score: 84
critics_score: 82
critics_reviews: 14
published: "2026-09-15"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:42.472271+00:00"
region: "HR"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Attack the Block (2011)

Directed by Joe Cornish · 1h 28m · Action, Comedy, Science Fiction

## Identity

Attack the Block

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/attack-the-block
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** attack-the-block
- **IMDb ID:** tt1478964
- **TMDB ID:** 59678
- **Wikidata ID:** Q757865
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478964/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/59678, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q757865

**Fi1m score: 84** · Critics 82 from 14 reviews

*In a sentence:* The aliens have picked a housing estate whose teenagers are already in no mood to be reasonable

> Joe Cornish makes a funny, frightening estate siege with a young cast worth caring about. The social lessons sometimes arrive too heavily underlined, but the action is clear and John Boyega gives it weight.

## Synopsis

A gang of teenagers on a south London council estate faces an alien invasion over the course of a single night. With shaggy-haired creatures threatening their tower-block home, the gang must defend the place they know and the people who live there. The teenagers begin as muggers, hardly obvious candidates to take charge when the estate comes under attack. Joe Cornish writes and directs this science-fiction action comedy, with John Boyega as Moses, Jodie Whittaker as Sam, Alex Esmail as Pest and Nick Frost as Ron.

## Review

Joe Cornish’s *Attack the Block* is a brisk, funny creature film that takes its teenage gang seriously without asking us to approve of everything they do. It puts an alien invasion on a south London council estate and keeps the trouble close to home. Cornish, who also wrote the script, understands how much a siege depends on our learning to care about the people trapped inside it. His social commentary occasionally gets too explicit, but the thrills and the performances earn a warm recommendation.

The boys begin as muggers, which is a useful obstacle for a film inviting us to spend the night with them. Cornish gives them funny exchanges without pretending that being amusing makes them harmless. Their speech has the impatience and competitive rhythm of friends who know one another well, and the young cast sound comfortable with its demands. There is pleasure in hearing them talk, even before the creatures have given them something larger to worry about.

John Boyega’s Moses gives the group a convincing centre: his performance has enough gravity to keep the others’ energy from becoming tiresome. Around him, Alex Esmail’s Pest, Franz Drameh’s Dennis and Leeon Jones’s Jerome help make the gang feel like a group with a life outside this emergency. We laughed at their exchanges, then found ourselves anxious when the shaggy-haired creatures came after them. The actors make that change of feeling possible without a pause for solemnity.

Thomas Townend’s cinematography makes the tower block readable during the action; the danger has somewhere definite to come from. Marcus Rowland’s production design gives the estate enough everyday character that it remains recognisable as a home during a monster attack. That matters in a siege film, where we need to understand where people can run and what might stop them. The shaggy creatures are an effective intrusion into that familiar setting, strange enough to frighten without making the surroundings look ridiculous.

Jonathan Amos’s editing keeps the pursuit brisk and the action intelligible. At 88 minutes, the film has little room for loitering, but it still gives the humour time to work. Steven Price’s score helps drive the action, though the excitement never depends on music alone. Cornish keeps returning our attention to the boys themselves, so running and fighting do not become anonymous activity.

The weakness is Cornish’s tendency to explain the sympathy he has already earned. When the social message becomes insistent, the script sounds less confident than the actors, who have made the gang worth knowing without needing to excuse them. A few passages also let the tension drop, despite the speed of the action. Neither fault spoils the evening, but both are noticeable in a film this short.

Within the creature-siege tradition, Cornish distinguishes his film by giving the gang and their home enough attention to make the attack matter. He does not need a wider catastrophe to make this one building worth defending. Anyone coming for an invasion on a grand scale should adjust expectations to a single estate. Give the boys a little time before deciding whose side to take.

*Fi1m score 84, published 15 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews are consistently positive about Attack the Block, with praise clustering around Joe Cornish’s brisk direction, the young cast and the convincing south London estate setting. Most critics find that the mixture of alien siege, comedy and social observation works without patronising its teenage protagonists. John Boyega’s Moses draws particular notice, while the gang’s natural dialogue and growing individuality give the action weight. The staging, creature designs and balance of laughs with danger also earn approval.

Reservations are limited, and the spread of opinion is narrow. The Evening Standard finds the social message too forceful at times, despite admiring the dialogue and momentum. /Film considers the story somewhat restricted in scope, while Digital Spy finds that the intensity occasionally drops. These are qualifications within favourable reviews: the main difference is how much critics value the film’s social concerns alongside its compact, energetic genre storytelling.

## Straight answers

**Is Attack the Block worth watching?**

*Attack the Block* is worth watching for anyone who likes a creature siege with jokes, and we scored it 84. Joe Cornish keeps the action clear and John Boyega's Moses gives the teenage gang a convincing centre. The social message is sometimes spelled out too plainly, but the thrills and performances carry the evening.

**How long is Attack the Block, and what is it rated?**

*Attack the Block* runs 1h 28m. It is an action and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Attack the Block in Croatia?**

*Attack the Block* is streaming on Netflix in Croatia. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Attack the Block, and is it suitable for children?**

*Attack the Block* carries a UK 15 certificate, so it is not for children. The film opens with the gang mugging someone, and the shaggy-haired creatures are frightening enough that we found ourselves anxious for the boys once the attack began. Older teenagers who can take a brisk monster siege with some violence and strong language should be fine.

### Reviews we read (23)

- **The New Yorker**, Bruce Diones (90/100, inferred): A superb science-fiction horror film with a thoroughly wicked sense of humor in which young teens defend their grim London council estate from hairy murderous aliens. Cornish’s first film offers tight imaginative camerawork, electric thrills, and a sharp twisty script that plays like social satire. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/attack-the-block)
- **Sight and Sound**, Michael Brooke (85/100, inferred): The critic calls the film an uproarious debut with street smarts matching its movie smarts. It singles out the convincing South London estate milieu and the strong performances from the young cast, especially John Boyega as Moses. [Read](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/6223)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (85/100, inferred): First-time director Joe Cornish excels in this very funny, gutsy action-adventure comedy about an alien invasion on a south London council estate. The film blends excitement, laughs, and sharp social comment on alienation and redemption with a light, optimistic touch and strong performances from the young cast. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/may/12/attack-the-block-review)
- **Little White Lies**, Matt Bochenski (4/4/4): Cornish’s first feature is hailed as a brilliant debut by any standard, a triumphant fusion of British values and Hollywood magic. It singles out the young cast’s development of witty, authentic dialogue and the film’s energetic collision of the everyday and the extraordinary. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/attack-the-block)
- **Radio Times**, Andrew Collins (4/5): Cornish combines 1980s creature capers with contemporary concerns in a socially conscious, energetic horror comedy that is scary and very funny. It singles out the masterful staging of nonstop siege action around the estate without patronising the young protagonists. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-5pjbw9/attack-the-block/)
- **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (4/5): The film is deemed this year’s unmissable British movie and Cornish a major talent. It singles out the respectful, heartfelt progression of the young gang protagonists from caricature to believable characters. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/attack-the-block)
- **Empire**, Chris Hewitt: The critic calls Cornish’s debut a confident, ambitious sci-fi action thriller that transplants Carpenter-style siege tropes to a South London tower block with authentic youth dialogue and strong newcomer performances. It singles out the memorable alien designs, exciting set pieces and overall cinematic flair for particular praise. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/attack-block-review/)
- **Evening Standard**: The critic finds the film energetic and fresh as an alien-invasion movie, likening it to early John Carpenter with a strong young cast that works well as a gang. It singles out the authentic dialogue and momentum for praise while noting it pushes its social message too hard at times. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/attack-the-block-has-a-lot-of-energy-and-momentum-7424819.html)
- **IndieWire**, Eric Kohn: The review notes the film's effective use of genre conventions to explore deeper social themes in a South London setting, appreciating its energetic take on alien invasion amid local youth dynamics. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/sxsw-review-genre-goes-deep-in-attack-the-block-and-the-innkeepers-243331/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Mark Olsen: The feature debut of British comedian Joe Cornish works as both a sci-fi horror flick and a teen adventure film pulsing with rowdy energy. Cornish makes the initially unlikable mugger protagonists worth getting to know while creating something fresh rather than nostalgic. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-jul-29-la-et-attack-block-20110729-story.html)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert: The film is an entertaining thriller in the tradition of 1970s B-action films that turns a gang of teenage thugs into sympathetic individuals defending their housing estate from aliens. Cornish shows strong character sense in his impressive debut and makes effective use of the low-budget monster-movie formula. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/attack-the-block-2011)
- **Slant Magazine**, Jaime N. Christley: The critic highlights how the film distinguishes itself by emphasizing theme, place, and compassion for its inner-city teen characters over typical genre referentiality or grindhouse tropes. It singles out the shrewd direction, broad humor, and refusal to over-celebrate community while delivering bloody, breakneck action. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/attack-the-block/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney: The critic praises the film's blend of rough-edged urban British setting with slick sci-fi thrills and its engaging young cast of junior thugs turned unlikely heroes. It highlights Cornish's skill at balancing shared adventure with genuine danger in a fast-paced, locally flavored invasion story. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/attack-block-film-review-205881/)
- **The New York Times**, Jeannette Catsoulis (NYT Critic’s Pick): Teenage delinquents go from hoods to heroes in this jacked-up horror comedy that pits inner-city residents against outer-space invaders. The fabulously inventive debut feature by Joe Cornish never flags over a single night on a South London council estate. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/29/movies/attack-the-block-review.html)
- **Variety**, Charles Gant: Joe Cornish emerges as an exciting new writer-helmer with this enormously appealing debut feature in which teen street hoodlums defend their tower-block home from shaggy-haired aliens. The zero-to-hero tale mixes wry humor and genre homage with nimble pacing and a propulsive score. [Read](https://variety.com/2011/film/markets-festivals/attack-the-block-1117944793/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A-): The critic calls it a great, fast-paced action-thriller with heart and wit that resets the alien invasion genre. He singles out the strong performances from the young cast, especially John Boyega's breakthrough as Moses, and Cornish's assured direction. [Read](https://collider.com/attack-the-block-review-2/)
- **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (85/100, inferred): This is a powerful feelgood film with lots of thrills and a deliciously dark sense of humour, probably among the most fun films of the year, that succeeds in making the audience side with its young protagonists. It singles out Cornish's lightness of touch and the terrifically naturalistic performances from the young cast for particular praise. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/attack-the-block-film-review-by-jennie-kermode)
- **Paste**, David Roark (85/100, inferred): The critic deems it the year's best alien invasion film for its humor, visuals, and timely story that uses the premise for social commentary on community and redemption. He praises Cornish's direction, the energetic young cast, and the blend of action and meaningful subtext. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/attack-the-block-review)
- **Den of Geek**, Michael Leader (4/5): Cornish's assured debut blends sci-fi horror with a sharp council-estate setting, delivering visual flair and well-observed details amid the alien invasion. The young cast shines in bringing humour and heroism to their characters. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/attack-the-block-review/)
- **/Film**, Germain Lussier (8/10): The film is a small but well-made and fun debut that blends sci-fi, horror, comedy and action while building tension, and is destined to become a cult classic thanks to its characters and passion. It singles out the quirky, relatable characters and their development for praise, while noting the story feels somewhat constricted in scope. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/515327/attack-the-block-review-a-genre-blending-cult-classic-in-the-making/)
- **The Skinny**, Jamie Dunn (4/5): Cornish delivers a mean, lean siege movie that collides urban social realism with extraterrestrial mayhem, using the estate's architecture and the gang's patois to striking effect. It is a blistering debut full of laughs and tension. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/attack-the-block)
- **Digital Spy**, Ben Rawson-Jones (75/100, inferred): Joe Cornish's directorial debut cleverly mixes social realism, comedy and thrills as hoodies battle aliens on a South London estate. The largely youthful cast delivers authentic performances and the film offers frequent laughs and shocks, though it lacks sustained intensity in places. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a318411/attack-the-block/)
- **The Wrap** (75/100, inferred): The critic finds "Attack the Block" a spunky, low-budget British action-comedy that freshens the alien invasion formula with ethnically diverse teenage heroes in a London housing project. The reviewer praises the film's ability to balance humor, entertainment, genuine scares, and character development among the young protagonists. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/attack-block-giant-feral-chia-pets-gone-wild-29551/)

## Details

- **Director:** Joe Cornish
- **Director:** Joe Cornish
- **Writer:** Joe Cornish
- **Cinematography:** Thomas Townend
- **Editor:** Jonathan Amos
- **Music:** Steven Price
- **Production design:** Marcus Rowland
- **Costume design:** Rosa Dias
- **Producer:** James Wilson, Nira Park
- **Cast:** John Boyega as Moses; Jodie Whittaker as Sam; Nick Frost as Ron; Alex Esmail as Pest; Luke Treadaway as Brewis; Selom Awadzi as Tonks; Franz Drameh as Dennis; Simon Howard as Biggz
- **Runtime:** 1h 28m
- **First release (the US):** 12 March 2011
- **Genres:** Action, Comedy, Science Fiction
- **Budget:** $13 million
- **Box office:** $6 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0ntk1o4V3k

## Where to watch in Croatia

- Netflix: streaming

*Checked 2026-09-15.*

Also available in: AR, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, EC, EE, FR, GB, HR, HU, IE, IT, JP, LT, MX, NL, NZ, PA, PE, PL, RO, RS, SI, SK, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Assault on Precinct 13* (1976): A besieged building, uneasy allies and action that keeps its geography clear.
- *The Host* (2006): Another creature attack that makes the people under threat worth knowing.
- *Dog Soldiers* (2002): British squad banter meets creatures that refuse to observe military procedure.
- *The Faculty* (1998): The teenagers notice the invasion before the adults become much use.
- *Bacurau* (2019): A community under attack, with sharper political anger and a stranger atmosphere.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/attack-the-block