They Live_
"You see them on the street. You watch them on TV. You might even vote for one this fall. You think they're people just like you. You're wrong. Dead wrong."
A lone drifter stumbles upon a unique pair of sunglasses that reveal aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
MUBI
3 countries
R
Raro Video Amazon Channel
1 country
R
Rialto Amazon Channel
1 country
Rakuten TV
1 country
F
Filmlegenden Amazon Channel
1 country
S
Shadowz Amazon Channel
1 country
ALL REGIONS
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
They Live earned $13.0M worldwide on a $4.0M budget — a 225% return on investment.
John Carpenter →
Year context
They Live was released 38 years ago in 1988.
CAST (20)
Roddy Piper
John Nada
Keith David
Frank Armitage
Meg Foster
Holly Thompsen
George Buck Flower
Drifter
Peter Jason
Gilbert
Raymond St. Jacques
Street Preacher
Jason Robards III
Family Man
John Lawrence
Bearded Man
Susan Barnes
Brown Haired Woman
Sy Richardson
Black Revolutionary
WB
Wendy Brainard
Family Man's Daughter
LM
Lucille Meredith
Female Interviewer
Susan Blanchard
Ingenue
Norman Alden
Foreman
DB
Dana Bratton
Black Junkie
John F. Goff
Well Dressed Customer
ND
Norman D. Wilson
Vendor
TL
Thelma Lee
Rich Lady
SL
Stratton Leopold
Depressed Human
RS
Rezza Shan
Arab Clerk
CREW
Director
Writer
BOX OFFICE
$4.0M
Budget
$13.0M
Revenue
+225%
ROI
BLOCKBUSTER
Verdict
STUDIOS (2)
Alive Films
Larry Franco Productions
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
93 min (1h 33m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
7.3/10 (3,351 votes)
Popularity
6
Budget
$4,000,000
Box Office
$13,000,000
Profit
+$9,000,000
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is They Live about?
A lone drifter stumbles upon a unique pair of sunglasses that reveal aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission.
How long is They Live?
They Live has a runtime of 93 minutes (1h 33m).
Who directed They Live?
They Live was directed by John Carpenter.
Who stars in They Live?
The cast of They Live includes Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George Buck Flower, Peter Jason.
How much did They Live make at the box office?
They Live earned $13,000,000 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $4,000,000.
What is the rating of They Live?
They Live has a rating of 7.3 out of 10 based on 3,351 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (3)
Science Fiction
Action
Thriller
KEYWORDS (21)
capitalism
dystopia
villainess
alien
social commentary
los angeles, california
alien invasion
sunglasses
glasses
brawl
subliminal message
aliens
conspiracy thriller
hilarious
fist fight
whimsical
farcical
frightened
anti-consumerism
b-horror
interspecies sex