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War of the Worlds

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2005 ·

Short answer

Is War of the Worlds worth watching?

Yes. War of the Worlds (2005) earns a 70% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

70%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

75% Editorial Rating
69% Audience snapshot · excluded
73 Metascore
★★★☆☆ Letterboxd 3.3
6.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 57m
Age rating
PG-13 (US) · 12A (UK) · UA (India) · M (Australia) · 14A (Canada)
Cast
Tom Cruise , Dakota Fanning , Miranda Otto , Justin Chatwin , Tim Robbins , Rick Gonzalez , Yul Vazquez , Lenny Venito , Lisa Ann Walter , Ann Robinson
Streaming
HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock
Language
English

Also known as ग्रहों का महायुद्ध La Guerra de los Mundos La Guerre des mondes Krieg der Welten Guerra dos Mundos 宇宙戦争 우주전쟁 世界之战

Where to watch

  • HBO Max
  • Paramount+
  • Peacock

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home, Spectrum On Demand

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch War of the Worlds by country

Country Streaming on
India Disney+ Hotstar
Indonesia Netflix, Catchplay, Vidio
Japan Apple TV+, Hulu, U-NEXT
Malaysia Netflix
Nigeria Netflix
Philippines Netflix, Apple TV+
South Africa Netflix, Apple TV+
South Korea Netflix, Apple TV+, TVING
Thailand Netflix
Turkey TV+
United Kingdom Netflix, Apple TV+, Paramount+
United States HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (75/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (69%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (73/100).
  • Celluloid Score 70% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Fans of Adventure

Not ideal for

  • Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Is War of the Worlds worth watching?

Yes — War of the Worlds earns a 70% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits fans of Adventure, but viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films may want to skip it.

Celluloid verdict

Spielberg’s invasion nightmare — Cruise as a terrified dad in one of the most intense blockbuster openings of the 2000s.

, Founder & Editor

Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

What is War of the Worlds about?

Ray Ferrier is a divorced dockworker and less-than-perfect father. Soon after his ex-wife and her new husband drop off his teenage son and young daughter for a rare weekend visit, a strange and powerful lightning storm touches down.

Watch the Trailer

War of the Worlds stills

Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

War of the Worlds production still 1
War of the Worlds production still 2
War of the Worlds production still 3
War of the Worlds production still 4
War of the Worlds production still 5
War of the Worlds production still 6

Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

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War of the Worlds: frequently asked questions

Is War of the Worlds worth watching?

Yes. War of the Worlds (2005) has a Celluloid Score of 70%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

Where can I watch War of the Worlds?

In the United States, War of the Worlds streams on HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Disney+ Hotstar in India; Netflix, Catchplay, Vidio in Indonesia; Apple TV+, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; Netflix in Malaysia. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

How long is War of the Worlds?

War of the Worlds runs 1 hour 57 minutes (117 minutes).

What is War of the Worlds rated?

War of the Worlds is rated PG-13 in the United States, 12A in the UK, UA in India, M in Australia and 14A in Canada. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

Who stars in War of the Worlds?

War of the Worlds is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins.

What is the Metascore for War of the Worlds?

Metacritic's Metascore for War of the Worlds is 73 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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