Paul

"Who's up for a close encounter?"

2011 1h 44m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

🍅

70%

FRESH

😬

METACRITIC

⭐

6.9

IMDB

★6.8TMDB · 6,500🍅70%Rotten Tomatoes●57Metacritic★6.9IMDB · 278,809

AdventureComedyScience Fiction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

For the past 60 years, a space-traveling smart-ass named Paul has been locked up in a top-secret military base, advising world leaders about his kind. But when he worries he’s outlived his usefulness and the dissection table is drawing uncomfortably close, Paul escapes on the first RV that passes by his compound in Area 51. Fortunately, it contains the two earthlings who are most likely to rescue and harbor an alien on the run.

“Who's up for a close encounter?”

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Cast

Simon Pegg
Graeme Willy
Nick Frost
Clive Gollings
Seth Rogen
Paul (voice)
Jason Bateman
Agent Zoil
Kristen Wiig
Ruth Buggs
Bill Hader
Haggard
Blythe Danner
Tara Walton
Joe Lo Truglio
O'Reilly

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Greg Mottola
Writers: Nick Frost, Simon Pegg
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 15 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Greg Mottola, shot by Lawrence Sher. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Original score by David Arnold. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Chris Dickens shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and Seth Rogen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Who's up for a close encounter?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1092026 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Greg Mottola directs. Lawrence Sher behind the camera. David Arnold scores. Chris Dickens cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 15 years ago.
2International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
3Directed by Greg Mottola, shot by Lawrence Sher. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by David Arnold. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Chris Dickens shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and Seth Rogen carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Who's up for a close encounter?".
8IMDB entry: tt1092026 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 9 themes, including "san diego, california", "alien", "burlesque", "area 51".