Mars Attacks!

Mars Attacks! Has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in the US on Kanopy, and in the UK on Sky Go and Now TV Cinema. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. With 5,915 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Jack Nicholson — stay for everyone else around them. Available now on Kanopy — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Mars Attacks! Arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Mars Attacks! From the crowd. A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Jack Nicholson and Glenn Close lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1996. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Mars Attacks! Holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Mars Attacks!. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Jack Nicholson anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.