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MOVIE DECISION GUIDE
Arrival
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Denis Villeneuve. With Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker.
7.6/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
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.
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7.6/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTTaking 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.
MAKE THE CALL
Does this belong in your night?
A decision, not a review. Choose the kind of night you want and keep your queue honest.
RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Arrival.
MoviHero lists November 10, 2016 as the release date for Arrival. Denis Villeneuve is the listed director. The listed cast includes Amy Adams as Louise Banks, Jeremy Renner as Ian Donnelly, Forest Whitaker as Colonel Weber, Michael Stuhlbarg as Agent Halpern. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateNovember 10, 2016
GenresDrama · Science Fiction · Mystery
Runtime1h 56m
DirectorDenis Villeneuve
CastAmy Adams as Louise Banks, Jeremy Renner as Ian Donnelly, Forest Whitaker as Colonel Weber, Michael Stuhlbarg as Agent Halpern
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Arrival right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Arrival runs 1h 56m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 4/10: a more patient pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 6/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 7/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Arrival. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.6/10 from 20,121 votes. Updated Nov 4, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
What did you think?
Your movie rating. Your audience score.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing4/10
Emotional Impact7/10
Mind-Bending7/10
Scary1/10
Violence2/10
Rewatchability7/10
Attention Required6/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Arrival
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“"I have a brilliant idea for a movie so what we do is we watch scientists step-by-step learn to communicate with an alien species" "That's…”
Viewer reaction
“Denis Villenueve offers a great film, but one that is exactly what the trailer put forth, this is not a Sci-Fi War film waiting to…”
Viewer reaction
“It was a perfect contact, but troubled at the communication.”
More reactions (2)
Viewer reaction
“Well damn. I couldn't stop thinking about this one and may not for awhile. "Arrival" is one of the best Sci-Fi films I've seen in…”
Viewer reaction
“Arrival has created the most profound and seamless symbolism, notably through cinematography/imagery, that may have ever been achieved to date in film.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“It's a good story.”
A CLOSER LOOK
Stay with the image.
CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherLouise BanksLouise Banks appears in Arrival (2016).Open character guide otherIan DonnellyIan Donnelly appears in Arrival (2016).Open character guide otherColonel WeberColonel Weber appears in Arrival (2016).Open character guide otherAgent HalpernAgent Halpern appears in Arrival (2016).Open character guide otherCaptain MarksCaptain Marks appears in Arrival (2016).Open character guide
PART OF A WATCH JOURNEY
Where Arrival fits.
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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