Science Fiction

District 9

- You are not welcome here.

Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth. Not to conquer or give aid, but to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens' welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.

Release Date : 2009-08-05

Language :AfrikaansChichewa; NyanjaSothoXhosaZuluEnglish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : TriStar PicturesBlock / HansonWingNut FilmsDistrict 9

Production Country : New ZealandSouth AfricaUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Wikus van de Merwe

Original Name : Sharlto Copley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Christopher Johnson / Grey Bradnam / Trent

Original Name : Jason Cope

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sarah Livingstone - Sociologist

Original Name : Nathalie Boltt

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr Katrina McKenzie

Original Name : Sylvaine Strike

Gender : Female

Character Name : Interviewee

Original Name : Elizabeth Mkandawie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Les Feldman - MIL Engineer

Original Name : John Sumner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dirk Michaels

Original Name : William Allen Young

Gender : Male

Character Name : Francois Moraneu - CIV Engineer Team

Original Name : Nick Blake

Gender : Male

Character Name : Interviewer

Original Name : Greg Melvill-Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ross Pienaar

Original Name : Robert Hobbs

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tania van de Merwe

Original Name : Vanessa Haywood

Gender : Female

Character Name : Interviewee

Original Name : Morena Busa Sesatsa

Gender : Male

Character Name : Interviewee

Original Name : Themba Nkosi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Interviewee

Original Name : Mzwandile Nqoba

Gender : Male

Character Name : Interviewee

Original Name : Barry Strydom

Gender : Male

Character Name : James Hope - Police Officer

Original Name : Jed Brophy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Piet Smit

Original Name : Louis Minnaar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sandra van de Merwe

Original Name : Marian Hooman

Gender : Female

Character Name : Michael Bloemstein - MNU Alien Civil Affairs

Original Name : Vittorio Leonardi

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Doctor

Original Name : David Clatworthy

Gender : Male

Character Name : MSU Doctor

Original Name : Michael Huff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Koobus Venter

Original Name : David James

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clive Henderson - Entomologist

Original Name : Tim Gordon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paramedic

Original Name : Anthony Bishop

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Executive

Original Name : Anthony Fridjhon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Obesandjo

Original Name : Eugene Khumbanyiwa

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anton Grobler

Original Name : Melt Sieberhagen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mike Van Kerland

Original Name : Andre Odendaal

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Medical Student

Original Name : Louise Saint-Claire

Gender : Female

Character Name : MNU Lead Medical Technician

Original Name : Norman Anstey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Craig Weldon

Original Name : Nick Boraine

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Mercenary

Original Name : Brandon Auret

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Mercenary

Original Name : Jacques Gombault

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Mercenary

Original Name : Justin Strydom

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Mercenary

Original Name : Simo Mogwaza

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Mercenary

Original Name : Matt Stern

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Mercenary

Original Name : David Dukas

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Guard

Original Name : Daniel Hadebe

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Bongo Mbutuma

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Johnny Selema

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fundiswa Mhlanga

Original Name : Mandla Gaduka

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nicolas van de Merwe

Original Name : Johan van Schoor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Phyllis Sinderson - MNU Alien Relations

Original Name : Stella Steenkamp

Gender : Female

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Mampho Brescia

Gender : Female

Character Name : MNU Medic

Original Name : Morne Erasmus

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sangoma

Original Name : Hlengiwe Madlala

Gender : Female

Character Name : Obesandjo's Lieutenant

Original Name : Siyabonga Radebe

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Operating Room Doctor

Original Name : Alan Glauber

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Biolab Technician

Original Name : Nicolas Herbstein

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ü Günters Woman

Original Name : Sibulele Gcilitshana

Gender : Female

Character Name : SABC Anchor Person

Original Name : Mahendra Raghunath

Gender : Male

Character Name : Meat Stall Seller

Original Name : Phillip Mathebula

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Office Worker

Original Name : Claudine Bennent

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Office Worker

Original Name : Michelle Ayden

Gender : Female

Character Name : MNU Office Worker

Original Name : Antony Sarak

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Office Worker

Original Name : Billy Somagaca

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Office Worker

Original Name : Ryan Whittal

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Office Worker

Original Name : John Jacob

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Office Worker

Original Name : Yashik Maharaj

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Office Worker

Original Name : Fernando Saraiva

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Office Worker

Original Name : Sharon Waugh

Gender : Female

Character Name : MNU Mercenary

Original Name : Theunis Nel

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Mercenary

Original Name : Sonni Chidiebere

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Mercenary

Original Name : Danny Datnow

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Guard

Original Name : Wisani Mbokota

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Guard

Original Name : Craig Jackson

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Guard

Original Name : Justin Duplessis

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Guard

Original Name : Rodney Downey

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Guard

Original Name : Den Antonakas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Mashabela Galane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Mfazwe Sekobane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Nicholas Ratlou

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Saint Gregory Nwokedi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Donalson Rabisi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Zephania Sibanda

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Gideon Thodane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Mdu Mthabela

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : David Mikhethi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Jeffries Simelane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Gangster

Original Name : Shafique Allan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Hooker

Original Name : Wendy Mbatha

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Hooker

Original Name : Leigh Mashupye

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Hooker

Original Name : Beauty Setai

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nigerian Hooker

Original Name : Nkiyase Mondlana

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soweto Resident

Original Name : Kuda Rusike

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soweto Resident

Original Name : Morena Setatsa

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soweto Resident

Original Name : Mpho Molao

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soweto Resident

Original Name : Ntombi Nkuua

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soweto Resident

Original Name : Absalom Dikane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soweto Resident

Original Name : Monthandazo Thomo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soweto Resident

Original Name : Norman Thabalala

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soweto Resident

Original Name : Siphiwe Mbuko

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soweto Resident

Original Name : Shiela Nene

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man with Wikus' Coordinates (uncredited)

Original Name : Neill Blomkamp

Gender : Male

Character Name : MNU Mercenary (uncredited)

Original Name : Trevor Coppola

Gender : Male

Character Name : Thomas

Original Name : Kenneth Nkosi

Gender : Male

Reviews

talisencrw

@talisencrw

2021-06-23

This was an outstanding debut by the New Zealander Blomkamp. Consistently enthralling and keeping one at the edge of his seat. THIS is a recent film, like 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World', that should have spawned sequels. Much better than his follow-up, 'Elysium' (I haven't watched any others he's made since; hope he doesn't end up a cinematic one-trick pony like M. Night Shyamalan...).

Kamurai

@Kamurai

2021-06-23

Great watch, will watch again, and highly recommended. This has a wonderfully exciting premise: alien refugees on Terra, how Terrans react and how the aliens react. The premise, as delivered, has some odd holes in though: it's specified that all of the crew have died, mysteriously, and no one knows how to operate the ship, but it's been in the air for some time. The idea of gravity alone should have motivated Johannesburg to evacuate, but their government interaction seems decidedly weak. The advantage of setting the story in South Africa, for an American audience, is that it's a very capitalistic society where they speak chiefly English: it's very similar to being set in Mexico and using Mexican Cartels instead of Nigerian gangs. So if we accept that we haven't been able to extract an incident report, that we're not able to move the ship, and none of the xenos can move the ship, then the premise includes that one xenos knows what to do. One would think that he just talks to someone and he gets all his people off planet, but since he's smart enough to do what he's been doing for 20 years, then he knows not to trust anyone. But this self-serving principle is key to understanding character motivations going forward. The writing in this is so good, along with the effects, and performance delivery. As Vickis deals with his transformation, it prompts so many philosophical questions of what it is to be a person / human / xenos, a citizen, a government agent. It also sort of resembles a gangsta / heist movie at parts, as opposed to a anti-government escapee. If any of the deep stuff worried you, then be at ease that this movie has plenty of explosions, gunfire and sci-fi goodness. It's also filled with some silly cliches that serve the points of the story, but there are several points in this movie that I have to shake my head at. The motivations don't make sense unless you're reminded that everyone, including the protagonists, are (forced) in a self-serving mindset and it's about what they can do for themselves, even when working together with the contrast being, of course, that only when anyone is cooperating that anyone gets anywhere. This is such a great watch, and if you like sci-fi styled stuff, and don't mind the South African setting ("Chappie" is another one), then definitely give this a watch.

AstroNoud

@AstroNoud

2022-01-19

A gritty and original story that is as entertaining as thought-provoking, combining xenophobic satire and political allegory with raucous action. 8/10

Filipe Manuel Neto

@FilipeManuelNeto

2023-10-22

**For a low-budget film, it's a good effort.** I'm not a big fan of films about aliens, so the film won't be my cup of tea at all. However, that didn't stop me from seeing it, and appreciating what's good about it. Without a colossal budget or a powerful studio, director Neill Blomkamp gives us an intelligent and technically impactful film. In fact, it is in the most technical details that I felt impressed by the film: we have extraordinary cinematography, with magnificent light and colors. The effects and CGI used are very good and prove that you don't need an endless bag of money to get a good result. The ship is strange enough and the aliens are credible enough, with a bizarre but elaborate and well-made appearance, and the way they speak is, at the same time, expressive and enigmatic. Much of the film was filmed in a real South African slum, and it is difficult to see that human beings are still living in such an environment. The director bet on little-known actors, and this gives some additional credibility to the list of characters that were created here. Sharlto Copley is perhaps the easiest to recognize, as he has worked on some of the most widely circulated productions. Here, he is able to, at least, give us a worthy performance without major flaws... the only colossal flaw is not the actor's fault, but the script's, which gave his character a name very prone to jokes and puns in my mother tongue (I think French and even Spanish speakers will also understand): Wicus van de Merwe. The film's biggest problem is the weakness of the script. It seems to me that the film attempted a kind of social criticism by placing, instead of human people, strange aliens in that filthy slum. Is the film a sharp criticism of the way we discriminate and segregate those we consider inferior or different from us? If so, I understand, but perhaps I was one of the few to understand. It's the only explanation for the way the film begins: instead of taking sick aliens to a laboratory and spending decades studying them in depth, are we going to put them in a filthy slum? It doesn't make any sense to me.