Arrival
Movie, 2016, The 2010s, Set in Twelve ships land
Arrival is #8 of 11 in release order and #8 of 11 in chronological order in the Denis Villeneuve.
The story
Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.
Arrival recap
Arrival (2016) follows Louise Banks, a linguist brought in by the army when twelve alien ships appear around the world, to learn their language. Denis Villeneuve directs from Eric Heisserer's adaptation of Ted Chiang's 1998 novella "Story of Your Life". Amy Adams plays Louise, Jeremy Renner plays the physicist Ian Donnelly, Forest Whitaker plays Colonel Weber, and Michael Stuhlbarg plays the CIA agent Halpern. The film opens with what seem to be memories of Louise's daughter Hannah dying young. At the Montana site, Louise and Ian enter the ship and meet two seven-limbed heptapods they nickname Abbott and Costello, who write in circular inky symbols. As Louise learns the language, she keeps seeing flashes of Hannah. When she asks why the aliens came, the answer can be read as "offer weapon". China and other countries break off contact and prepare to attack, and rogue soldiers plant a bomb on the Montana ship. Arrival is Villeneuve's eighth feature, between Sicario and Blade Runner 2049, and won the Oscar for sound editing.
Arrival ending explained
Arrival ends with Louise understanding that the visions of Hannah are of the future: the heptapod language lets its speakers perceive time all at once, and that is the gift they came to give, because they will need humanity's help in 3,000 years. Using a future memory, she calls China's General Shang (Tzi Ma) and repeats his late wife's dying words, and he stands down. The ships leave. Louise accepts Ian's love knowing their daughter will die and that he will leave her.
Post-credits scenes
No. Arrival has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch Arrival
Arrival is streaming on Paramount+, Peacock, and Kanopy in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.9/10, Rotten Tomatoes 94%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Sicario, before Blade Runner 2049.
- Chronological order: after Sicario, before Blade Runner 2049.
Cast
- Amy Adams as Louise Banks
- Jeremy Renner as Ian Donnelly
- Forest Whitaker as Colonel Weber
- Michael Stuhlbarg as Agent Halpern
- Mark O'Brien as Captain Marks
- Tzi Ma as General Shang
- Abigail Pniowsky as 8-Year-Old Hannah
- Julia Scarlett Dan as 12-Year-Old Hannah
- Jadyn Malone as 6-Year-Old Hannah
- Frank Schorpion as Dr. Kettler
- Lucas Chartier-Dessert as Private Lasky
- Christian Jadah as Private Combs
Directed by Denis Villeneuve.