How a 1915 villa became the stage for a high-stakes alien invasion comedy
In short: When the Pearson family heads to a Michigan lakeside home for vacation, they discover four glowing pods on the roof. These Zirkonian invaders plan to conquer Earth, but they face an unexpected obstacle: the children, who must defend their home using makeshift weapons and a secret, non-violent alien ally.
Released in 2009, Aliens in the Attic follows a family vacation interrupted by a crew of small, aggressive aliens. The invaders, led by the commander Skip and his soldiers Tazer and Razor, seek an enlarging machine called the Sizematron buried beneath the house. Their only non-threatening member, an engineer named Sparks, eventually joins forces with the children to thwart the invasion. The film blends live-action with CGI, featuring a cast that includes Ashley Tisdale, Robert Hoffman, and Carter Jenkins.
The production process was as unconventional as the plot. Filming took place in Auckland, New Zealand, inside a 1915 villa that had been relocated from Remuera to rural North Auckland in 1997. The filmmakers invested $700,000 to restore the property for the shoot. Principal photography lasted from January to March 2008, with additional reshoots occurring in April 2009. The film, originally titled They Came from Upstairs, was directed by John Schultz and produced by Regency Enterprises and Dune Entertainment.
Critical reception was mixed, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 34% approval rating. Reviewers often compared the film to a mix of Gremlins and Home Alone, noting its kid-friendly tone and reliance on slapstick humor. Despite a $45 million budget, the film grossed $59.6 million worldwide. Beyond the screen, the story expanded into a video game released in August 2009 for platforms including the Wii and Nintendo DS, where the character Tazer was curiously renamed Spike.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Aliens in the Attic
- Also: Wikidata — Aliens in the Attic · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Aliens in the Attic · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-aliens-in-the-attic.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
