They Live

Friday, November 1 - Saturday, November 2, 2024

“I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass… and I’m all out of bubblegum,” warns L.A. drifter John Nada (wrestling superstar Rowdy Roddy Piper) after discovering a plot to enslave the American masses. Special glasses show him subliminal messages (“Submit!”) that reptilian aliens (disguised as Gordon Gekko-esque yuppies) are transmitting through TV, magazines, billboards and movies. It’s up to Nada and friend Frank (Keith David) to expose the conspiracy—but not before one of cinema’s longest, greatest fight scenes—in Carpenter’s still-prescient sci-fi satire.

A Universal release.

Screening as part of our midnight series Waverly Midnights: Interesting Times

Previously screened as part of the series Movietown: Los Angeles Plays Itself and Other LA Visions.

 

• Year 1988
• Running Time 93 minutes
• Format DCP
• Distributor Universal
• Director John Carpenter
• Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.