Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Silly teens-versus-aliens adventure is sure to delight kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Aliens in the Attic
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 30 parent reviews
Based on 43 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a fun and comedic adventure that is best suited for younger audiences, although it features some mild violence, crude humor, and mild sexual references which could be concerning for very young viewers. The standout scenes, particularly the humorous showdown between the grandmother and the boyfriend, receive high praise, making it an entertaining option for family movie nights despite some criticism regarding its overall quality and consumerism elements.
- funny scenes
- mild violence
- suitable for kids
- humorous adventure
- some inappropriate content
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
The six Pearson cousins are vacationing together in a rented lake house when Jake (Austin Butler) and Tom (Carter Jenkins) make a far-out discovery: There are four freaky Zirconian aliens in the attic, and they have pretty scary plans for humanity. Since the extra-terrestrials use a device that can control adults but not kids, the young Pearsons unite to save their parents -- and the rest of the world -- from the little green aliens.
Is It Any Good?
Since the aliens are funnier than they are frightening, the film's cartoonish nature should thrill even younger adventure-seekers. The two dads, played by comedic vets Kevin Nealon and Andy Richter, don't have much to do, although Nana (Doris Roberts) gets to star in a rather hilarious, Matrix-style fight against Bethany's (Ashley Tisdale) alien-operated boyfriend, Ricky (Robert Hoffman).
Ultimately, this is the classic formula of band-of-heroic-kids versus dangerous antagonists. In this case, one of the aliens (voiced by Josh Peck) is sympathetic to humans, so he helps the kids, too. While younger audiences will hoot and root for the Pearson clan, parents will snicker at the sight of children completely unfamiliar with a rotary phone and grown-ups so out of the loop that they'll think a descending alien force is a meteor shower. Consider this a Gremlins-lite for the X-box generation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's cartoonish violence. Will younger kids be frightened, or do you think they'll understand from the start that the aliens aren't all that evil?
Parents can also discuss the kids' secrecy. Kids: is it generally a wise idea to keep important concerns from your parents?
An important issue is raised when Tom, a "mathlete," says he'd rather hide his intelligence and tank his grades than be labeled a nerd. Why is this a dangerous message? Why does Tom change his mind?
There's a noticeable amount of brand placement in the movie. What message do all those corporate logos send kids?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 31, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : November 3, 2009
- Cast : Ashley Tisdale , Austin Robert Butler , Carter Jenkins
- Director : John Schultz
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Aliens , Family Stories ( Grandparents , Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Monsters ) , STEM ( Science ) , Space , Travel
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : action violence, some suggestive humor and language.
- Last updated : September 3, 2025
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