--- title: "Mars Attacks!: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/mars-attacks/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/mars-attacks" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 13 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." --- # Mars Attacks! (1996): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 13 reviews: 4 positive, 6 mixed, 3 negative. The reviews are split down the middle, tilting slightly in the film’s favour. Most critics agree on where the pleasure lies: Burton’s design. The production design, the retro visual spirit and the effects, deliberately artificial yet convincing, draw praise even from those who do not enjoy the film as a whole. The cast comes next, with the panicked, over-the-top ensemble singled out and Pierce Brosnan named more than once as the comic standout. Danny Elfman’s score gets a mention. The reservations cluster around pacing and laughs. Several reviews find the opening slow and the script slight, and one or two say the jokes do not land. The spread is wide, from four-star notices to firm rejections. The Los Angeles Times finds it less entertaining than it ought to be; Collider says it lacks soul; Eye for Film faults the ending. Two later reviews are of disc releases and spend as much time on the transfer as the film. ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. Jones says the film takes time to find its pace but eventually becomes an entertaining science-fiction spoof. He singles out Pierce Brosnan’s comic performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ztfzvo/mars-attacks/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 28 February 1997. The review finds the film entertaining and inventive, though its slow start and lack of engaging characters keep it from being great. It praises the astonishingly realistic effects and the ensemble cast’s panicked performances, while warning that Burton’s surreal style may leave some viewers cold. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/mars-attacks-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Rating 3.5/5. 14 August 2026. Cole praises the film’s striking 4K presentation, finding that it enhances Burton’s colorful, chaotic sci-fi comedy. He singles out the vivid image detail and immersive Dolby Atmos sound, while noting the disc’s sparse extras. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/mars-attacks-4k-uhd-blu-ray-review-tim-burton/) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The available description suggests a positive take on Burton’s sci-fi satire. It singles out the fun of rooting for the space invaders. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/mars-attacks) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so its verdict cannot be determined. The supplied text contains no specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mars-attacks-1996) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 15 December 1996. The URL identifies a New York Times review of Tim Burton’s 1996 film. The article text is inaccessible, so its verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/15/movies/mars-attacks.html) ## Empire — Mark Salisbury Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The review finds the film uneven but ultimately deliriously entertaining. It praises Burton’s visual inventiveness while faulting the slow opening and slight script. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/mars-attacks-review/) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 1 December 1996. McCarthy finds the film inventive and fascinating but often short on laughs, with limited appeal beyond sci-fi enthusiasts. He particularly praises the exceptional production design and the convincing, deliberately artificial effects. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/mars-attacks-1117436916/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 1996. Turan finds the film less entertaining than it should be, despite its distinctive oddball sensibility. He praises its retro visual spirit but faults the humor and the limited impact of its many recognizable actors. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-12-13-ca-8507-story.html) ## Den of Geek — Carley Tauchert Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2009. The critic finds the film an enjoyable, if imperfect, B-movie homage and appreciates Burton’s effort while acknowledging its mass-market limitations. The over-the-top performances of its star-studded cast are singled out as a particular strength. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/revisiting-tim-burtons-mars-attacks/) ## HeyUGuys — Jon Lyus Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 5 October 2010. Lyus finds the film still funny and recommends revisiting it, though it has not aged as well as some contemporaries. He praises its production design and Danny Elfman’s score, while faulting the Blu-ray for having no special features. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/mars-attacks-blu-ray-review/) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 2 October 2010. The critic finds that Mars Attacks ultimately fails despite having plenty to recommend. He praises Pierce Brosnan’s comic performance but faults the film’s cluttered pacing and lack of soul. [Read the review](https://collider.com/mars-attacks-blu-ray-review-forbidden-planet-blu-ray-review/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 7 March 2009. Kermode finds the film a bold but ultimately disappointing attempt, weakened by poor pacing and a cop-out ending. She praises Burton’s visuals and playful design, as well as the strong cast and several entertaining scenes. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/mars-attacks-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/mars-attacks.md