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Martian Child

Play trailer Poster for Martian Child PG 2007 1h 46m Kids & Family Drama Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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35% Tomatometer 107 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Wanting to experience fatherhood, a man (John Cusack) adopts a youngster (Bobby Coleman) who has an unusual crisis of identity, believing he is from Mars, and trouble arises when the man, who devotes himself to his strange son, begins to believe that the boy is indeed an alien.
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Martian Child

Martian Child

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Critics Consensus

Despite some charms, overt emotional manipulation and an inconsistent tone prevents Martian Child from being the heartfelt dramedy it aspires to be.

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Critics Reviews

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Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News Nov 17, 2007
2/4
The entire cast is fully committed to this squishily sentimental tale, which is especially impressive given that it's the kind of generic dramedy you'll swear you've seen a thousand times before. Go to Full Review Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper Nov 6, 2007
Everybody is very earnest, too earnest. Go to Full Review Kyle Smith New York Post Nov 3, 2007
2.5/4
Has enough wit and unpredictability to hold your attention. Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 16, 2020
3.0/4.0
Martian Child rests upon the strength of its ensemble cast. Go to Full Review Kathi Maio The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Mar 3, 2020
But as my lead rant would suggest, my biggest disappointment is the film's cowardice in not bringing David's gayness into the story... Go to Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Nov 13, 2019
A five hankie love story from beginning to end, this is Cusack's Oscar gold. The film has a purity in its belief of love and acceptance. A purity that only a Martian Child can show us. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Oct 1, 2026 Martian Child = a 3.5 star movie... See more K P. @katiaCar Jan 2, 2026 Great!!! Would definitely recommend this movie on a rainy day See more Chris P @RT06285801 Sep 28, 2025 Sick at home looking for yet another movie to watch. Never heard of this one and i'm surprised by that. Well casted/acting, well written--just a terrific movie. Great elements to it and they all come together. A great feel good movie that I won't forget. See more Priscila L @Pdawg Jan 23, 2025 I love this movie. Don’t expect an Oscar winner, just watch it for the lovely message about human connection, perseverance over grief and the beauty of a child’s imagination. See more Cees T @RT15093300 Dec 26, 2023 Okay. Not quite Forrest Gump or The Cable Guy. See more Cyrus K @Keyflame626 Dec 27, 2022 Has some good ideas every now and then, but this movie is so boring that when we reach the finale you think "oh, we are here already? but we have done basically nothing this entire movie." See more Read all reviews
Martian Child

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Cast & Crew

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Menno Meyjes

Director

John Cusack

David

Amanda Peet

Harlee

Oliver Platt

Jeff

Bobby Coleman

Dennis

Joan Cusack

Liz

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Martian Child

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Movie Info

Synopsis Wanting to experience fatherhood, a man (John Cusack) adopts a youngster (Bobby Coleman) who has an unusual crisis of identity, believing he is from Mars, and trouble arises when the man, who devotes himself to his strange son, begins to believe that the boy is indeed an alien.
Director
Menno Meyjes
Producer
Ed Elbert, David Kirschner, Corey Sienega
Screenwriter
Seth E. Bass, Jonathan Tolins
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Production Co
New Line Cinema, Hannah Rachel Productions Services Ltd.
Rating
PG (Thematic Elements|Mild Language)
Genre
Kids & Family, Drama, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 2, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 29, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.5M
Runtime
1h 46m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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