View source for War of the Worlds (2005 film)

{{short description|2005 American film by Steven Spielberg}}
{{About|the theatrical film|the direct-to-video films released the same year|H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds (The Asylum film){{!}}''H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds'' (The Asylum film)|and|H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (Pendragon Pictures film){{!}}''H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds'' (Pendragon Pictures film)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image          = War of the Worlds 2005 poster.jpg
| alt            = An alien hand holds Earth, which is engulfed in flame. A red weed surrounds the hand. Above the image is the film's title, WAR OF THE WORLDS, and the main actor, TOM CRUISE. Below is the release date, June 29, and the cast and crew credits.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Steven Spielberg]]
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Josh Friedman]]
* [[David Koepp]]
}}
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[The War of the Worlds]]''|[[H.G. Wells]]}}
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Kathleen Kennedy (producer)|Kathleen Kennedy]]
* [[Colin Wilson (film producer)|Colin Wilson]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Tom Cruise]]
* [[Dakota Fanning]]
* [[Miranda Otto]]
* [[Tim Robbins]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Janusz Kamiński]]
| editing        = [[Michael Kahn (film editor)|Michael Kahn]]
| music          = [[John Williams]]
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Paramount Pictures]]<ref name="NUM"/>
* [[DreamWorks Pictures]]<ref name="NUM"/>
* [[Amblin Entertainment]]<ref name="NUM"/>
* [[Cruise/Wagner Productions]]<ref name="NUM">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/War-of-the-Worlds#tab=summary |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC |access-date=18 July 2023}}</ref>
}}
| distributor    = <!--Do not add DreamWorks here, they do not distribute theatrically; this is further explained in the footnote given ahead-->[[Paramount Pictures]]{{efn|Distribution of ''War of the Worlds'' for all media was split between [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[DreamWorks Pictures]]. While Paramount handled worldwide theatrical and international home video distribution rights, DreamWorks handled worldwide television and domestic home video distribution rights to the film.}}
| released       = {{Film date|2005|6|23|[[Ziegfeld Theatre (1969)|Ziegfeld Theatre]]|2005|6|29|United States}}
| runtime        = 117 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $132 million<ref name="BOM"/>
| gross          = $603.9 million<ref name="BOM"/>
}}

'''''War of the Worlds''''' is a 2005 American [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] [[action-thriller film]]{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/war-of-the-worlds-v312948|title=War of the Worlds (2005) - Steven Spielberg|publisher=[[AllMovie]]|access-date=November 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Orr |first=Christopher |date=2005-11-29 |title=The Movie Review: 'War of the Worlds' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2005/11/the-movie-review-war-of-the-worlds/69451/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI Catalog - War of the Worlds |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67276-WAR-OFTHEWORLDS?sid=027f53b1-5eb3-46b3-9809-bb24e40a05e3 |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=[[American Film Institute]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=War of the Worlds Might Be Steven Spielberg's Most Terrifying Film |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/war-of-the-worlds-might-be-steven-spielbergs-most-terrifying-film/ |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=2023-11-03 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch Paramount Movies on DVD/Blu-ray, 4K UHD & Online Streaming |url=https://www.paramountmovies.com/movies/war-of-the-worlds-2005https://www.paramountmovies.com/movies/war-of-the-worlds-2005 |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Paramount Movies |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025113450/https://www.paramountmovies.com/movies/war-of-the-worlds-2005 |archive-date=2022-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-29 |title=War of The Worlds (2005) |url=https://movieweb.com/movie/war-of-the-worlds/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=War of the Worlds {{!}} film by Spielberg [2005] |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/War-of-the-Worlds-film-by-Spielberg |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Britannica |language=en}}</ref>}} directed by [[Steven Spielberg]] and written by [[Josh Friedman]] and [[David Koepp]], based on [[H. G. Wells]]' 1898 novel, ''[[The War of the Worlds]]''. [[Tom Cruise]] stars in the main role alongside [[Dakota Fanning]], [[Miranda Otto]], and [[Tim Robbins]], with narration by [[Morgan Freeman]]. It follows an American dock worker who must look after his children, from whom he lives separately, as he struggles to protect them and reunite them with their mother when [[Martian (The War of the Worlds)|extraterrestrials]] [[Alien invasion|invade]] [[Earth]] and devastate cities with giant [[Fighting machine (The War of the Worlds)|war machines]].

Produced by [[Paramount Pictures]], [[DreamWorks Pictures]], [[Amblin Entertainment]], and [[Cruise/Wagner Productions]], the film was shot in 73 days, using five different [[sound stage]]s as well as locations in [[California]], [[Connecticut]], [[New Jersey]], [[New York (state)|New York]], and [[Virginia]]. It was surrounded by a secrecy campaign so few details would be leaked before its release. Tie-in promotions were made with several companies, including [[Hitachi]].

''War of the Worlds'' was released theatrically by Paramount Pictures on June 29, 2005, and received generally positive reviews. It was praised for effectively capturing the thrilling and suspenseful elements of Wells' novel while modernizing the action and effects to resonate with contemporary audiences. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $603 million worldwide, making it the [[2005 in film#Highest-grossing films|fourth most successful film of 2005]]. It earned [[Academy Awards]] nominations for [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]], [[Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing|Best Sound Mixing]] and [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]].

==Plot==
<!-- Per [[WP:FILMPLOT]], film plot summaries should be between 400 and 700 words.--> 
A narrator opens the film stating that [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrials]] with immense intelligence have grown envious of humanity's dominion of Earth and are plotting against them.

Divorced [[longshoreman]] Ray Ferrier works as a crane operator at a dock in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]] and is estranged from his children, 10-year-old daughter Rachel and his teenage son Robbie. Ray's pregnant former wife, Mary Ann, drops the two off at his house in [[Bayonne, New Jersey]] on her way to visit her parents in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]. Later, a strange [[thunderstorm]] occurs, during which lightning strikes multiple times into the middle of a nearby intersection, causing an [[Electromagnetic pulse|EMP]] that instantly disables almost all electronic devices. On his way to investigate the impacts, Ray suggests his mechanic friend Manny repair a customer's minivan by replacing a [[solenoid]]. He joins the crowd at the scene of the impacts, where a massive [[Fighting machine (The War of the Worlds)|"tripod" war machine]] emerges from the ground following an [[earthquake]] and attacks the crowd using [[Martian (The War of the Worlds)|energy weapons]] to disintegrate most of the witnesses into ash.

Ray collects his children and commandeers the van Manny has repaired; he attempts to convince Manny to join them but is forced to leave him behind when a tripod attacks, resulting in Manny's death. Ray drives his children to Mary Ann's empty suburban [[New Jersey]] home to take refuge. Later, a [[Boeing 747]] crashes into the neighborhood. Ray meets a wandering TV news team scavenging the wreckage for food, wherein a correspondent reveals that many tripods have attacked major cities around the world and that they have [[Force field (fiction)|force shields]] that protect them from humanity's defenses. She adds that the tripods' pilots traveled to Earth within the lightning storms to enter their machines, presumed to have been buried underground long ago.

Ray transports his children to [[Boston]] to be with their mother, but a desperate mob swarms their vehicle, forcing them to abandon it. They eventually get on a [[ferry]] crossing over the [[Hudson River]] before tripods attack the refugees. Along the way, they then witness a US military counter-offensive against the tripods. To Ray's dismay, Robbie joins the futile fight out of hatred for the invaders, leaving Ray and Rachel to flee. The military forces are obliterated, with Robbie presumed dead along with them. Shortly afterward, the pair are offered shelter in a nearby house by a deranged former [[Paramedic|ambulance driver]], Harlan Ogilvy.

The three remain undetected for several hours, even as a tripod's probe and a group of aliens explore the basement. They soon discover that the aliens have started cultivating a [[Martian (The War of the Worlds)|red-colored vegetation]] across the landscape that is quickly spreading. Later, Harlan suffers a [[Mental disorder|mental breakdown]] after witnessing the tripods harvesting human [[blood]] and [[Tissue (biology)|tissue]] to fertilize the alien vegetation. Fearing that his mad shouting will alert the aliens, Ray reluctantly kills him. A second tripod probe then catches the Ferriers sleeping, causing Rachel to flee outside only to be abducted by the tripod. Chasing after the tripod, Ray grabs a belt of grenades from an overgrown [[Humvee]], then intentionally allows himself to be abducted. With the help of other abductees, Ray destroys the tripod from within with the grenades.

Ray and Rachel eventually reach Boston, where they find the alien vegetation withering and the tripods inexplicably collapsing. When an active tripod appears, Ray notices birds landing on it, indicating that its force shields have been disabled. He alerts the soldiers escorting the fleeing crowd, who shoot it down with [[FGM-148 Javelin|Javelin missiles]]. As the soldiers advance on the downed tripod, a hatch opens, and a pale, sickly alien struggles halfway out before dying. Ray and Rachel finally approach Mary Ann's parents' house, where they are reunited with Mary Ann and Robbie, who inexplicably survived.

In closing, the narrator explains that the aliens died because they were vulnerable to the countless [[microbes]] inhabiting the Earth that humanity has adapted to for millennia.

==Cast==
{{multiple image
| footer    = [[Tom Cruise]] and [[Dakota Fanning]] portray the two main characters of the film.
| total_width     = 250
| direction = horizontal
| image1    = Tom Cruise by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
| alt1      =
| image2    = Dakota Fanning WOTW London retouch.jpg
| alt2      =
}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Tom Cruise]] as Ray Ferrier
*[[Dakota Fanning]] as Rachel Ferrier
*[[Miranda Otto]] as Mary Ann Ferrier
*[[Tim Robbins]] as Harlan Ogilvy
*[[Justin Chatwin]] as Robbie Ferrier
*[[Rick Gonzalez]] as Vincent
*[[Yul Vazquez]] as Julio
*[[Lenny Venito]] as Manny the Mechanic
*[[Lisa Ann Walter]] as Sheryl
*[[Ann Robinson]] as Grandmother (she played the lead role of Sylvia van Buren in [[The War of the Worlds (1953 film)|the 1953 film]])
*[[Gene Barry]] as Grandfather (he played the lead role of [[Doctor Clayton Forrester (The War of the Worlds)|Dr. Clayton Forrester]] in the 1953 film)
*[[David Alan Basche]] as Tim
*[[Roz Abrams]] as Herself
*[[Camillia Sanes]] as News Producer
*[[Amy Ryan]] as Neighbor With Toddler
*[[David Harbour]] as Dock Worker (deleted scene)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/steven-spielberg-forgot-david-harbour-in-war-of-the-worlds-1234787797/|title=Steven Spielberg Forgot He Worked with David Harbour on ''War of the Worlds''|first=Samantha|last=Bergeson|date=December 2, 2022|website=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=December 28, 2023}}</ref>
*[[Danny Hoch]] as Policeman
*[[Morgan Freeman]] as The Narrator (voice)
*[[Dee Bradley Baker]] as Alien Vocals (uncredited)
*[[Johnny Yong Bosch]] as Citizens (uncredited)
*[[Columbus Short]] as Soldier
*[[Daniel Franzese]] as National Guardsman
*[[Channing Tatum]] as The Boy In The Church 
*[[Ty Simpkins]] as 3 Year Old Boy
{{div col end}}

==Production==

===Development===
After collaborating in 2002's ''[[Minority Report (film)|Minority Report]]'', [[Steven Spielberg]] and [[Tom Cruise]] were interested in working together again. Spielberg stated about Cruise, "He's such an intelligent, creative partner, and brings such great ideas to the set that we just spark each other. I love working with Tom Cruise."<ref name="d3">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds Production Notes (2005) |url=http://www.waroftheworlds.com/productionnotes/index.html |work=Paramount Pictures |access-date=September 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727213403/http://www.waroftheworlds.com/productionnotes/index.html |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Cruise met with Spielberg during the filming of Spielberg's ''[[Catch Me If You Can]]'' (2002) and gave three options of films to create together, one of them being an adaptation of ''[[The War of the Worlds]]''.<ref name="d3"/> Spielberg chose ''The War of the Worlds'' and stated, "We looked at each other and the lights went on. As soon as I heard it, I said 'Oh my God! ''War of the Worlds'' – absolutely.'  That was it."<ref name="d3"/>

The film is Spielberg's third on the subject of alien visitation, along with ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'' (1977) and ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' (1982). Producer and longtime collaborator [[Kathleen Kennedy (producer)|Kathleen Kennedy]] notes that with ''War of the Worlds'', Spielberg had the opportunity to explore the antithesis of the characters brought to life in ''E.T.'' and ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''. "When we first started developing ''E.T.'', it was a much edgier, darker story and it actually evolved into something that was more benign. I think that the edgier, darker story has always been somewhere inside him. Now, he's telling that story."<ref name="d3"/> Spielberg stated that he just thought it would be fun to make a "really scary film with really scary aliens", something which he had never done before.<ref name="d3"/><ref name="d5">{{cite web |title=Spielberg's family values |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-06-23-spielberg_x.htm |author=Anthony Breznican |date=June 23, 2005 |work=USA Today |access-date=September 12, 2009 |archive-date=May 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518075722/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-06-23-spielberg_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Spielberg was intent on telling a contemporary story, with Kennedy stating the story was created as a [[fantasy]], but depicted in a [[Hyperreality|hyper-realistic]] way.<ref name="d3"/>

{|class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 85%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:28em; max-width: 40%;" cellspacing="5"
|style="text-align: left;"|"For the first time in my life I'm making an alien picture where there is no love and no attempt at communication."
|-
|style="text-align: left;"| – Steven Spielberg<ref name=d2/>
|}
[[J. J. Abrams]] was asked by Spielberg and Cruise to write the script but had to turn down the film as he was working on the pilot for his television series ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/12/29/lost-mi-3-connection/|title='Lost': The 'M:I 3' Connection|author=Jensen, Jeff|date=December 29, 2009|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 12, 2014|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222111230/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20313460_20333410,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Josh Friedman]] delivered a screenplay, which was then rewritten by [[David Koepp]].<ref name="d6">{{cite web |title='War' meets its maker|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/war-meets-its-maker-1117901831/ |author1=Fleming, Michael |author2=McNary, Davy |work=Variety |date= March 16, 2004 |access-date=December 7, 2009}}</ref><ref name="d10">{{cite web |title=War Of The Worlds: Script by David Koepp & Josh Friedman (2005) |url=http://www.war-ofthe-worlds.co.uk/war_worlds_shooting.htm |publisher=[[The War of the Worlds]] |access-date=September 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414135957/http://www.war-ofthe-worlds.co.uk/war_worlds_shooting.htm |archive-date=April 14, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> After re-reading the novel, Koepp decided to do the script following a single narrator, "a very limited point of view, from someone on the very periphery of events rather than someone involved in events", and created a list of elements he would not use due to being "[[cliché]]", such as the destruction of landmark buildings. Some aspects of the book were heavily adapted and condensed: Tim Robbins' character was an amalgam of two characters in the book, with the name borrowed from a third. While changing the setting from 19th century to present day, Koepp also tried to "take the modern world back to the 1800s", with the characters being devoid of electricity and modern techniques of communication.<ref name=d1>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=378|title=David Koepp on War of the Worlds|last=Freer|first=Ian|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|access-date=January 17, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165808/http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=378|archive-date=October 17, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Spielberg accepted the script after finding it had several similarities to his [[Steven Spielberg#Personal life|personal life]], including the divorce of his parents (Ray and Mary Ann's divorce), and because the plight of the fictional survivors reflects his own uncertainty after the devastation of the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="d5"/> For Spielberg, the characters' stories of survival needed to be the main focus, as they featured the [[American way|American mindset]] of never giving up.<ref name="d5"/> Spielberg described ''War of the Worlds'' as "a polar opposite" to ''Close Encounters'', with that movie featuring a man leaving family to travel with aliens, while ''War of the Worlds'' focused on keeping the family together.<ref name="d5"/> At the same time, the aliens and their motivations would not be much explored, as "we just experience the results of these nefarious plans to replace us with themselves".<ref name=design/>

Although accepting the script, Spielberg asked for several changes. Spielberg had been against the idea of the aliens arriving in [[Fighting machine (The War of the Worlds)|spaceship]]s, since every alien invasion movie used such a vehicle.<ref name="d10"/> The original [[Martian (The War of the Worlds)|Martian]] cylinders were discarded and Spielberg replaced the origins of the tripods, stating they were buried underground in the Earth long ago.<ref name=d2/><ref name="d10"/>

Spielberg had [[Miranda Otto]] in mind for the part of Mary Ann, but at the time he called her she was pregnant and thought the opportunity would be missed. Spielberg then decided to incorporate Otto's pregnancy into the film, changing the part for her.

===Filming===
[[File:WarOfTheWorlds-Set.jpg|275px|right|thumb|Destroyed [[Boeing 747]] used on the ''War of the Worlds'' set (ex-[[All Nippon Airways]]). Currently, visitors can view the destroyed airliner set during the [[Universal Studios Hollywood]]'s [[Studio Tour]].]]

Filming took place in [[Virginia]], [[Connecticut]], [[New Jersey]], [[California]], and [[New York (state)|New York]]. The film shooting lasted an estimated 73 days.<ref name="f1">{{cite magazine |title=Close Encounters of the Worst Kind |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.06/war.html |date=June 2005 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=September 13, 2009 |archive-date=October 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028151826/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.06/war.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Spielberg originally intended to shoot ''War of the Worlds'' after ''[[Munich (2005 film)|Munich]]'' (2005), but Tom Cruise liked David Koepp's script so much that he suggested Spielberg postpone the former while he would do the same with ''[[Mission: Impossible III]]'' (2006). Most of ''Munich''{{'s}} crew was brought in to work on ''War of the Worlds'' as well.<ref name=d2>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=239|title=Steven Spielberg Goes To War|work=Empire|access-date=January 17, 2010|archive-date=October 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006000539/http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=239|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, the production crews quickly were set up on both coasts to prepare for the start date, scouting locations up and down the [[East Coast of the United States|Eastern Seaboard]] and preparing stages and sets which would be used when the company returned to Los Angeles after the winter holiday. [[Pre-production]] took place in only three months, essentially half the amount of time normally allotted for a film of similar size and scope. Spielberg notes, however, "This wasn't a cram course for ''War of the Worlds''. This was my longest schedule in about 12 years. We took our time."<ref name="d3"/> Spielberg collaborated with crews at the beginning of pre-production with the use of [[previsualization]], considering the tight schedule.<ref name="f1"/>

The scene depicting the first appearance of the Tripods was filmed at the intersection of Ferry Street, Merchant Street, and Wilson Avenue, in [[Newark, New Jersey]].<ref name="f5">{{cite web |title=More on War of the Worlds Filing in New Jersey |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/news/article_1954.php |author=James Wray |date=October 9, 2004 |publisher=Monsters and Critics |access-date=September 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002051419/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/news/article_1954.php |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Later, Spielberg filmed several scenes in [[Virginia]].<ref name="f6">{{cite web |title=Spielberg to film in Shenandoah Valley |url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2004-11-29-war-of-worlds_x.htm |date=November 29, 2004 |work=USA Today |access-date=September 13, 2009 |archive-date=July 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713230307/http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2004-11-29-war-of-worlds_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ferry scene was filmed in the New York town of [[Athens (town), New York|Athens]], and Mary Ann's parents' house was located in [[Brooklyn]] (but was featured in the film as Boston).<ref name="d3"/> For the neighborhood plane crash scene, the production crew bought a retired [[Boeing 747]] formerly operated by [[All Nippon Airways]] as JA8147, with transportation costs of $2 million,<ref name="f9">{{cite web |title=Universal Studios Picture – War of the Worlds Set |url=http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/calahollywood/ig/Universal-Studios/ush-war-us.htm |date=May 27, 2007 |author=Malloy, Betsy |publisher=About.com |access-date=December 20, 2009 |archive-date=April 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413170947/http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/calahollywood/ig/Universal-Studios/ush-war-us.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> dismantled it into several pieces, and built houses around them.<ref name="d3"/> The destroyed plane was kept for the [[Universal Destinations & Experiences|Universal Studios]] back-lot tour.<ref name="f9"/> Ferrier's house was filmed in [[Bayonne, New Jersey]] (with a [[soundstage]] doubling the interior); meanwhile, the valley war sequence was filmed in [[Lexington, Virginia|Lexington]], Virginia and Mystery Mesa in California. The scene where the tripod is shot down and crashes through a factory was filmed in [[Naugatuck, Connecticut]] at an abandoned chemical plant. The scene of the bodies floating down the river was filmed on the [[Farmington River]] in [[Windsor, Connecticut]] by a second unit directed by [[Vic Armstrong]] using a stand in for Dakota Fanning shot from behind with the portion showing the faces of the credited actors cut in later. Some filming was shot on the Korean War Veterans Parkway in [[Staten Island]], New York.<ref name="d3"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.www.thetrident.org/media/storage/paper467/news/2004/10/20/News/war-Of.The.Worlds.Scouts.Out.Lexington-776593.shtml|title="War of the Worlds" scouts out Lexington|first=Rachel|last=Turner|date=October 20, 2004|publisher=The Trident|access-date=January 17, 2010}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The film used six sound stages, spread over three studio lots.<ref name="d3"/>

[[Principal photography]] began on November 8, 2004 and wrapped on March 7, 2005.

===Design and visual effects===
[[Industrial Light & Magic]] was the main special effects company for the movie.<ref name="e1"/> While Spielberg had used computers to help visualize sequences in [[pre-production]] before, Spielberg said, "This is the first film I really tackled using the computer to animate all the storyboards."<ref name="d3"/> He decided to employ the technique extensively after a visit to his friend [[George Lucas]].<ref name="d3"/><ref name="e1">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://www.frankrose.com/_i_war_of_the_worlds__i__43613.htm |date=June 2005 |publisher=Frank Rose |access-date=December 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121130039/http://www.frankrose.com/_i_war_of_the_worlds__i__43613.htm |archive-date=November 21, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In order to keep the realism, the usage of [[computer-generated imagery]] shots and [[Chroma key|bluescreen]] was limited, with most of the digital effects being blended with miniature and live-action footage.<ref name=d4/>

The design of the Tripods was described by Spielberg as "graceful," with artist Doug Chiang replicating aquatic life forms.<ref name=d4/> At the same time, the director wanted a design that would be iconic while still providing a tribute to the original Tripods, as well as intimidating so the audience would not be more interested in the aliens inside than in the vehicle itself.<ref name=design>{{cite video|title=Designing the Enemy: Tripods and Aliens|location=War of the Worlds DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment|year=2005}}</ref> The visual effects crew tried to blend organic and mechanical elements in the Tripods depiction, and made extensive studies for the movements of the vehicle to be believable, considering the "contradiction" of having a large tank-like head being carried by thin and flexible legs.<ref name=awn/> Animator [[Randal M. Dutra]] considered the movements themselves to have a "terrestrial buoyance", in that they were walking on land but had an aquatic flow, and Spielberg described the Tripods as moving like "scary ballet dancers". Most of the alien elements revolved around the number three{{px2}}{{mdash}}{{hsp}}the Tripod had three eyes, and both the vehicle and the aliens had three main limbs with three fingers each.<ref name=design/>

Visual effects supervisor [[Pablo Helman]] considered depicting the scale of the Tripod as challenging, considering "Steven wanted to make sure that these creatures were 150 feet tall",<ref name=d4>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=379|title=Pablo Helman On War of the Worlds|last=Freer|first=Ian|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|access-date=January 17, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165825/http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=379|archive-date=October 17, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> as it was the height described by Wells in the novel.<ref name=design/> The aliens themselves had designs based on jellyfish, with movements inspired by [[Agalychnis callidryas|red-eyed tree frogs]],<ref name=awn>{{cite web|url=http://www.awn.com/articles/production/iwar-worldsi-post-911-digital-attack-0|title=War of the Worlds: A Post 9/11 Digital Attack|first=Bill|last=Desowitz|date=July 7, 2005|work=VFXWorld|access-date=December 7, 2009|archive-date=August 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826033436/http://www.awn.com/articles/production/iwar-worldsi-post-911-digital-attack-0|url-status=live}}</ref> and an [[amphibian]] quality particularly on the wet skin. A styrofoam alien was used as a stand-in to guide the actors in the basement scene.<ref name=design/> Spielberg did not want any blood or gore during the [[Martian (The War of the Worlds)#2005 film|Heat-Ray]] deaths; in the words of Helman, "this was going to be a horror movie for kids". So the effects crew came up with the vaporization of the bodies, and considering it could not be fully digital due to both the complexity of the effect and the schedule, live-action dust was used alongside the CGI ray assimilation and particles.<ref name=d4/> Digital birds followed the Tripods in most scenes to symbolize the presence of death, which Chiang compared to vultures and added that "you don't know if these birds are going to the danger or away from it, if you should follow them or run away."<ref name=design/>

During the scene where Ferrier's stolen minivan is attacked by a mob, Janusz Kaminski and Spielberg wanted a lot of interactive lights, so they added different kinds of lights, including [[Coleman lamp]]s, [[oil lamp|oil lantern]]s, [[flashlight]]s and [[Maglight]]s.<ref name="d3"/> The IL&M crew admitted that the destruction of the [[Bayonne Bridge]] was the toughest scene to be made with heavy usage mix of CGI effects and live action elements,<ref name="e4">{{cite web |title=Industrial Light & Magic |publisher=Autodesk |url=http://www.autodesk.com/xnab2006/pdf/ILM.pdf |author=Claudia Kienzle |access-date=September 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727212101/http://www.autodesk.com/xnab2006/pdf/ILM.pdf |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and a four-week deadline so the shot could be used in a [[Super Bowl commercials|Super Bowl trailer]].<ref name=d4/> The scene originally had only a gas station exploding, but then Spielberg suggested blowing up the bridge as well.<ref name=d4/> The scene involved Tripods shooting a Heat-Ray toward the minivan; the minivan's escape involved a lot of CGI layers to work out. Over 500 CGI effects were used in the film.<ref name="e6">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) – Odds & Ends |url=http://www.themoviemark.com/moviereviews/waroftheworlds.asp |author=Johnny Betts |publisher=The Movie Mark |access-date=September 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511155644/http://www.themoviemark.com/moviereviews/waroftheworlds.asp |archive-date=May 11, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

[[Costume designer]] Joanna Johnston created 60 different versions of Ferrier's leather jacket, to illustrate the degrees to which he is weathered from the beginning of the journey to the end. "He begins with the jacket, a [[hoodie]], and two t-shirts," explains Johnston. One piece of [[Dakota Fanning]]'s costume that takes on a special importance is her lavender horse purse: "I wanted her to have something that made her feel safe, some little thing that she could sleep with and put over her face," Johnston notes. "That was the lavender horse purse. We tied it up on a [[ribbon]] and Dakota hung it on her body, so it was with her at all times." Johnston dressed Robbie for an unconscious emulation of his father, "They're more alike than they realize, with great tension on the surface," Johnston says.<ref name="d3"/>

===Music===
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000702519|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref>
|rev2 = [http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/war_worlds.html Filmtracks]
|rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}
|rev3 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20121016194832/http://www.scorenotes.com/reviewArchive/war.html ScoreNotes]
|rev3score = C+
|rev4 = [http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=3799 SoundtrackNet]
|rev4score = {{rating|3.5|5}}
}}
Longtime Spielberg collaborator [[John Williams]] composed the score. It was the first time he had to compose with an incomplete Spielberg film, as only the first six reels, totalling 60 minutes, were ready for him to use as reference.<ref name=score/> He considered the score "a very serious piece," which had to combine "necessary frightening atmosphere" with "propulsively rhythmic drive for the action scenes"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117933729.html?nav=news&categoryid=2008|title=Master class|work=Variety|first=Jon|last=Burlingame|date=November 29, 2005|access-date=December 7, 2009|archive-date=September 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922074820/http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117933729.html?nav=news&categoryid=2008|url-status=live}}</ref>⁠{{mdash}}{{tsp}}the music would be symbolically "pulling forward" vehicles in chase scenes, such as Ferrier driving out of Bayonne, or the Tripod attacking the Hudson ferry. Williams added small nods to classic monster movie scores by having orchestras doing a "grand gesture" in scenes overlooking Tripods. To increase the scariness of the Tripod attacks, Williams added a female chorus with a [[crescendo]] resembling a shriek, representing "victims that go out without saying an 'ouch'⁠{{mdash}}{{tsp}}they're gone before they can say that". He added a nearly inaudible male choir{{px2}}{{mdash}}{{tsp}}which he compared to "[[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan monks]], the lowest known pitch our bodies can make", for the aliens exploring the basement. The only deviation from orchestras were electronic sounds for the opening and closing narrations.<ref name=score>{{cite video|title=Scoring War of the Worlds|location=War of the Worlds DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment|year=2005}}</ref>

A soundtrack album was released by [[Decca Records]] featuring the film's music and Morgan Freeman's opening and closing narrations.<ref name="s1">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |url=http://www.soundtrackinfo.com/title/waroftheworlds.asp |date=June 28, 2005 |publisher=Soundtrack Info |access-date=September 16, 2009 |archive-date=June 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624071448/http://www.soundtrackinfo.com/title/waroftheworlds.asp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="s2">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |url=http://www.jwfan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=812 |date=June 6, 2007 |work=Ricard L. Befan |publisher=[[John Williams|John Williams Fan Network]] |access-date=September 16, 2009 |archive-date=April 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418040422/http://www.jwfan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=812 |url-status=live }}</ref> The songs "[[Little Deuce Coupe (song)|Little Deuce Coupe]]" and "[[Hushabye Mountain]]" are also featured in the movie, the former sung by Tom Cruise, and the latter by Dakota Fanning.<ref name="chitty">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds Review (2005) |url=http://www.thespinningimage.co.uk/cultfilms/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=1280 |author=Jason Cook |publisher=The Spinning Image |access-date=September 17, 2009 |archive-date=June 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613164241/http://www.thespinningimage.co.uk/cultfilms/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=1280 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.premiere.com/Review/Movies/War-of-the-Worlds|title=War of the Worlds|work=[[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]]|date=June 29, 2005|access-date=December 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207151959/http://www.premiere.com/Review/Movies/War-of-the-Worlds|archive-date=December 7, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> An expanded "limited edition" soundtrack was released in 2020 through [[Intrada Records]], with the full film score, a remaster of the 2005 album, and alternate cues as bonus material.

{{Track listing
| total_length = 61:01
| headline  = ''War of the Worlds: Music from the Motion Picture''
| title1  = Prologue
| length1 = 2:52
| title2  = The Ferry Scene
| length2 = 5:49
| title3  = Reaching the Country
| length3 = 3:24
| title4  = The Intersection Scene
| length4 = 4:13
| title5  = Ray and Rachel
| length5 = 2:41
| title6  = Escape from the City
| length6 = 3:49
| title7  = Probing the Basement
| length7 = 4:12
| title8  = Refugee Status
| length8 = 3:50
| title9  = The Attack on the Car
| length9 = 2:44
| title10 = The Separation of the Family
| length10= 2:36
| title11 = The Confrontation with Ogilvy
| length11= 4:34
| title12 = The Return to Boston
| length12= 4:29
| title13 = Escape from the Basket
| length13= 9:21
| title14 = The Reunion
| length14= 3:16
| title15 = Epilogue
| length15= 3:11
}}

===Themes===
The film was described as an [[anti-war film]], as civilians run and only try to save themselves and their family instead of fighting back against the alien Tripods.<ref name="t1">{{cite web |title=Spielberg's anti-war 'War of the Worlds' |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/07/10/EDGBBDKPB61.DTL |last=Saunders |first=Debra |author-link=Debra Saunders |date=July 10, 2005 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> [[Debra Saunders|Debra J. Saunders]] of ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' described the film as "If aliens invade, don't fight back. Run." Saunders compared the film to ''[[Independence Day (1996 film)|Independence Day]]'', where the civilians do run, but they support the military efforts.<ref name="t1"/> Many reviewers felt that the film tried to recreate the [[Mood (psychology)|atmosphere]] of the [[September 11 attacks]], with bystanders struggling to survive and the usage of missing-persons displays.<ref name="t3">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |url=http://www.decentfilms.com/sections/reviews/waroftheworlds2005.html |author=Steven D. Greydanus |publisher=Decent Films |access-date=September 16, 2009 |archive-date=September 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901220822/http://www.decentfilms.com/sections/reviews/waroftheworlds2005.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Spielberg declared to ''[[Reader's Digest]]'' that beside the work being a fantasy, the threat represented was real: "They are a wake-up call to face our fears as we confront a force intent on destroying our way of life."<ref name="t2">{{cite web |title=Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise: The Fascinating Truth Behind "War of the Worlds" |url=http://www.rd.com/the-truth-behind-spielbergs-war-of-the-worlds/article14939.html?trkid=rdcom_ntscp_artcl14&wtid=rdcom_artcl14&wtgroup=rdcom_ntscp |date=June 2005 |publisher=[[Reader's Digest]] |access-date=September 16, 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Screenwriter David Koepp stated that he tried not to put explicit references to September 11 or the [[Iraq War]], but said that the inspiration for the scene where Robbie joins the Marines was teenagers fighting in the [[Gaza Strip]]⁠{{tsp}}{{mdash}}"I was thinking of teenagers in Gaza throwing bottles and rocks at tanks, and I think that when you're that age you don't fully consider the ramifications of what you're doing and you're very much caught up in the moment and passion, whether that's a good idea or not."<ref name="d1"/>  Retained from the novel is the aliens being defeated, not by men's weapons, but the planet's smallest creatures, [[bacteria]], which Koepp described as "nature, in a way, knowing a whole lot more than we do".<ref name=design/>

Lawrence Brown wrote: "Spielberg's decision to present the invaders' fighting machines as having been there all along, buried deep under the Earth, raises questions which did not exist in the original [[H. G. Wells|Wells]] book. In Spielberg's version, these invaders had been here before, long ago, in prehistoric times. They had set up their machines deep underground, and departed. Why? Why not take over the Earth right there and then? Spielberg does not provide an answer, and the characters are too busy surviving to wonder about this. An answer suggests itself{{px2}}{{mdash}}{{hsp}}a very chilling answer. The invaders were interested in humans as food animals. When they came here before, humans were very scarce. The aliens left their hidden machines and departed, patiently observing the Earth until humans would multiply to the requisite numbers{{px2}}{{mdash}}{{hsp}}and then they came back, to take over. Under this interpretation, all of us{{px2}}{{mdash}}{{hsp}}all humans over the whole of history{{px2}}{{mdash}}{{hsp}}have been livestock living in an alien food farm, destined to be 'harvested{{' "}}.<ref>C. Brown, Lawrence. "H.G.Wells' Enduring Influence" in Mark Smythe (ed.). "Old and New trends in 21st Century Popular Culture".</ref>

==Release==
''War of the Worlds'' premiered at the [[Ziegfeld Theatre (1969)|Ziegfeld Theatre]] on June 23, 2005. There, Tom Cruise revealed [[TomKat|his relationship]] with [[Katie Holmes]].<ref name="premiere">{{cite web |title=Cruise, Holmes step out |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-06-23-war-of-the-worlds-premiere_x.htm |author=Donna Freydkin |date=June 23, 2005 |work=USA Today |access-date=September 17, 2009 |archive-date=May 22, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522011733/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-06-23-war-of-the-worlds-premiere_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Six days later, on June 29, the film was released in approximately 3,908 theaters across America.<ref name="BOM">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=waroftheworlds.htm |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=September 11, 2009 |archive-date=August 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827230920/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=waroftheworlds.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The home video was released on November 22, 2005.

===Secrecy===
Spielberg kept most of the parts secret in the filmmaking, as the cast and crew were left confused about how the aliens looked.<ref name="sec1">{{cite web |title=Headgame 7: War of the Worlds |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/628/628781p1.html |author=Steve Head |date=June 24, 2005 |publisher=[[IGN]] |page=1 |access-date=September 18, 2009 |archive-date=October 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005205244/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/06/25/headgame-7-war-of-the-worlds |url-status=live }}</ref> When asked about the secrecy of the screenplay, David Koepp answered, "[Spielberg] wouldn't give [the screenplay] to ''anybody''." Koepp explained he would e-mail it to him, and he would give a section of the script that was relating to whatever somebody was doing.<ref name="sec1"/> [[Miranda Otto]] thought of not even discussing the story with her family and friends. Otto said, "I know some people who always say, 'Oh, everything's so secret.' I think it's good. In the old days people didn't get to know much about movies before they came out and nowadays there's just so much information. I think a bit of mystery is always really good. You don't want to blow all of your cards beforehand."<ref name="sec2">{{cite web |title=Headgame 7: War of the Worlds |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/628/628781p2.html |author=Steve Head |date=June 24, 2005 |publisher=[[IGN]] |page=2 |access-date=September 18, 2009 |archive-date=October 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005223939/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/06/25/headgame-7-war-of-the-worlds?page=2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spielberg admitted after keeping things secret for so long, there is in the end the temptation to reveal too much to the detriment of the story at the press conference of ''War of the Worlds''. So, Spielberg only revealed the hill scene, where Ferrier tries to stop his son from leaving, stating "to say more would reveal too much."<ref>Press Conference of ''War of the Worlds''. [[Tom Cruise]], [[Steven Spielberg]]. June 23, 2005.</ref> The actual budget of the film was $132 million.<ref name="BOM"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Movie Budgets |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/records/allbudgets.php |publisher=The Numbers |access-date=September 25, 2009 |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728213245/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/records/allbudgets.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'', Spielberg's relations with Cruise were "poor" during the film's release because Spielberg believed Cruise's "antics" at the time (such as an erratic appearance on the [[Oprah Winfrey]] show) had "hurt" the film; also, a doctor whose name Spielberg had given to Cruise was picketed by [[Scientology|Scientologists]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/12/paramount200712|title=Showdown at Fort Sumner|first=Bryan|last=Burrough|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=November 6, 2007 |access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001041215/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/12/paramount200712|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Marketing and home media releases===
[[Paramount Pictures|Paramount Pictures Interactive Marketing]] debuted a [[survival skills|human survival]] [[online game]] on its official website<ref>[https://www.waroftheworlds.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621014039/http://www.waroftheworlds.com/|date=June 21, 2012}},</ref> on April 14 to promote the film.<ref name="onlinegame">{{cite web |title=Paramount Pictures Interactive Marketing to Place Online Gamers Into the Action With 'War of the Worlds' Online Game |url=http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-12-2005/0003386837&EDATE= |date=April 12, 2005 |agency=PR Newswire |access-date=September 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716074438/http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F04-12-2005%2F0003386837&EDATE= |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[Hitachi]] collaborated with Paramount Pictures for a worldwide [[promotional campaign]], under the title of ''"The Ultimate Visual Experience"''. The agreement was announced by Kazuhiro Tachibana, [[general manager]] of Hitachi's Consumer Business Group.<ref name="hitachi">{{cite web |title=Hitachi goes global for 'War of the Worlds' |url=http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/050421.html |date=April 20, 2005 |publisher=[[Hitachi]] |access-date=September 26, 2009 |archive-date=October 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014225150/http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/050421.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Kazuhiro stated, "Our 'The Ultimate Visual Experience' campaign is a perfect match between Spielberg and Cruise's pursuit of the world's best in film entertainment and Hitachi's commitment to the highest picture quality through its digital consumer [[electronic product]]s."<ref name="hitachi"/>

The film was released on VHS and DVD on November 22, 2005, with both a single-disc edition and a two-disc special edition which included production featurettes, documentaries and various trailers.<ref>{{cite web |title=DW has big War plans |url=http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6255870.html |date=September 12, 2005 |first=Jennifer |last=Netherby |work=Video Business |access-date=December 20, 2009 |archive-date=October 24, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061024042509/http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6255870.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The film grossed $113 million in DVD sales, bringing its total film gross to $704,745,540, ranking tenth place in the 2005 DVD sales chart.<ref name="DVD5">{{cite web |title=DVD Sales Chart (2005) |url=http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/Video-Sales.php?type=3 |publisher=Lee's Movie Info |access-date=September 27, 2009 |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218112932/http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/Video-Sales.php?type=3 |url-status=live }}</ref> Paramount released the film on [[Blu-ray Disc]] on June 1, 2010.

==Reception==

===Box office===
On {{Start date|2005|06|29}}, the film grossed $81 million worldwide,<ref name="bom1">{{cite web |title=Opening Day Records |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=open&p.htm |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=September 28, 2009 |archive-date=October 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012151929/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=open&p.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and earned the 38th-biggest opening week by grossing $98.8 million in 3,908 theaters, an average of $25,288.<ref name="BOM2">{{cite web |title=Biggest Opening Weeks |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/openingweeks.htm |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=September 28, 2009 |archive-date=May 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507175945/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/openingweeks.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] weekend, it grossed $64.9 million, an average of $16,601,<ref name="BoomsWeekend">{{cite web |last=Gray |first=Brandon |date=July 5, 2005 |title='War of the Worlds' Booms on Independence Day Weekend |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3531015172/ |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330155446/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3531015172/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and gave Tom Cruise his biggest opening weekend, until the release of ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'' in May 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2022/05/29/top-gun-maverick-gives-tom-cruise-biggest-box-office-opening/9986995002/|title='Top Gun: Maverick' gives Tom Cruise the biggest opening weekend of his career: $156 million|website=[[USA Today]] }}</ref> It was the second-biggest film opening on Independence Day weekend, after ''[[Spider-Man 2]]''.<ref name="BoomsWeekend" /><ref name="BOM4">{{cite web |title=Independence Day Weekends |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/july-4th.htm |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=September 28, 2009 |archive-date=September 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926205022/http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/july-4th.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> During its first five days of release, it made $100.2 million, breaking ''[[The Lost World: Jurassic Park]]''{{'}}s record to become the fastest Steven Spielberg film to reach $100 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jul-05-et-boxoffice5-story.html|title=THE SPOILS OF 'WAR': STUDIO FIREWORKS|website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 5, 2005 }}</ref> It earned $200 million in 24 days, ranking 37th in the list of fastest films to gross $200 million.<ref name="BOM5">{{cite web |title=Fastest Movies to Hit $200 million at the Box Office |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/fastest.htm?page=200&p=.htm |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date=July 22, 2005 |access-date=September 28, 2009 |archive-date=September 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919021507/http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/fastest.htm?page=200&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> It went on to make a total gross of $603.9 million worldwide.<ref name="BOM"/> The film would remain as Tom Cruise's highest-grossing film until 2011 when it was dethroned by ''[[Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2012/02/back-on-top-mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-now-tom-cruises-career-highest-grossing-film-225358/|title=Back On Top? 'Mission: Impossible 4' Now Tom Cruise's Highest-Grossing Film|date=February 3, 2012 }}</ref> Overall, it was the fourth [[2005 in film#Highest-grossing films|highest-grossing film of 2005]].<ref name="BOM6">{{cite web |title=2005 Yearly Box Office Results |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2005&p=.htm |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |year=2005 |access-date=September 28, 2009 |archive-date=January 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130235103/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2005&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BOM7">{{cite web |title=All Time Worldwide Box Office Grosses |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/ |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=September 28, 2009 |archive-date=May 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530000224/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Critical response===
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''War of the Worlds'' holds an approval rating of 75% based on 267 reviews, and an average rating of 7/10. The site's critical consensus states: "Steven Spielberg's adaptation of ''War of the Worlds'' delivers on the thrill and paranoia of H.G. Wells' classic novel while impressively updating the action and effects for modern audiences."<ref name="rottentomatoes">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_of_the_worlds/ |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421065647/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_of_the_worlds |url-status=live }}</ref> Review aggregator website [[Metacritic]] gave the film an average score of 73 out of 100 based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds |url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/waroftheworlds |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=September 28, 2009 |archive-date=July 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717030322/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/waroftheworlds |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=[[CinemaScore]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[James Berardinelli]] praised the acting and considered that focusing the narrative on the struggle of one character made the film more effective, but described the ending as weak, even though Spielberg "does the best he can to make it cinematically dramatic".<ref name="reelviews">{{cite web |author=Berardinelli, James |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/w/war_worlds.html |publisher=Reel Views |access-date=September 28, 2009 |author-link=James Berardinelli |archive-date=June 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607065456/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/w/war_worlds.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Total Film]]''{{'s}} review gave ''War of the Worlds'' four out of five stars, considering that "Spielberg finds fresh juice in a tale already adapted for film, TV, stage, radio and record", and describing the film as having many "startling images", comparing the first Tripod attack to the [[Omaha Beach]] landing from ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]''.<ref name="totalfilm">{{cite web |title=War Of The Worlds (12A) |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/war-of-the-worlds |publisher=[[Total Film]] |date=July 1, 2005 |access-date=September 28, 2009 |archive-date=March 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307194939/http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/war-of-the-worlds |url-status=live }}</ref>

''[[Los Angeles Times]]''{{'}} [[Kenneth Turan]], who commended the film's [[special effect]]s, stated that Spielberg may actually have done his job in ''War of the Worlds'' "better than he realizes". Turan claimed that, by "showing us how fragile our world is", Spielberg raises a provocative question: "Is the ultimate fantasy an invasion from outer space, or is it the survival of the human race?"<ref name="latimes">{{cite web |author=Turan, Kenneth |author-link= Kenneth Turan |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-world29jun29,0,4382960.story?coll=cl-mreview |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 29, 2005 |access-date=September 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123133215/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-world29jun29,0,4382960.story?coll=cl-mreview |archive-date=November 23, 2005}}</ref> However, ''[[Broomfield Enterprise]]''{{'s}} Dan Marcucci and Nancy Serougi did not share Berardinelli and Turan's opinion. They felt that Morgan Freeman's narration was unnecessary, and that the first half was "great" but the second half "became filled with clichés, riddled with holes, and tainted by Tim Robbins".<ref name="broomfield">{{cite web |author=Marcucci, Dan |author2=Serougi, Nancy |title=A basic rule of thumb is – if you see Tim Robbins, you've stayed too long. |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_of_the_worlds/articles/1449910/a_basic_rule_of_thumb_is_if_you_see_tim_robbins_youve_stayed_too_long |publisher=[[Broomfield Enterprise]] (in [[Rotten Tomatoes]]) |date=October 27, 2005 |access-date=September 30, 2009 |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918205239/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_of_the_worlds/articles/1449910/a_basic_rule_of_thumb_is_if_you_see_tim_robbins_youve_stayed_too_long |url-status=live }}</ref>

Michael Wilmington of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, writing "''War of the Worlds'' definitely wins its battle, but not the war." Wilmington stated that the film "takes [viewers] on a wild journey through two sides of [Spielberg]: the dark and the light." He also said the film contained a core sentiment similar to that of Spielberg's ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]''.<ref name="chicagotribune">{{cite web |author=Wilmington, Michael |title=Movie review: 'War of the Worlds' |url=http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/review/movie-review-war-of/160311/content |work=Chicago Tribune |date=August 24, 2007 |access-date=September 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119055905/http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/review/movie-review-war-of/160311/content |archive-date=January 19, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[About.com]]'s Rebecca Murray gave a positive review, stating, "Spielberg almost succeeds in creating the perfect alien movie", with criticism only for the ending.<ref name="about.com">{{cite web |author=Murray, Rebecca |title="War of the Worlds" Movie Review |url=http://movies.about.com/od/waroftheworlds/a/warworlds062805.htm |publisher=[[About.com]] |access-date=September 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403115437/http://movies.about.com/od/waroftheworlds/a/warworlds062805.htm |archive-date=April 3, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

[[Jonathan Rosenbaum]] of ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' praised the special effects and Cruise's performance.<ref name="chicagoreader">{{cite web |author=Rosenbaum, Jonathan |title=War of the Worlds |date=June 24, 2005 |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/war-of-the-worlds/Film?oid=1068991 |publisher=[[Chicago Reader]] |access-date=September 30, 2009 |archive-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227154657/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/war-of-the-worlds/Film?oid=1068991 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] criticized the "retro design" and considered that despite the big budget, the alien invasion was "rudimentary" and "not very interesting", regarding the best scenes as Ferrier walking among the airliner wreckage and a train running in flames, declaring that "such scenes seem to come from a kind of reality different from that of the tripods."<ref name="roger">{{cite web |author=Ebert, Roger |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050628/REVIEWS/50606007 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=September 30, 2009 |author-link=Roger Ebert |archive-date=April 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429210143/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20050628%2FREVIEWS%2F50606007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The French film magazine ''[[Cahiers du cinéma]]'' ranked the film as 8th place in its list of best films of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cahiersducinema.com/article1926.html|title=PALMARES 2000|language=fr|work=[[Cahiers du cinéma]]|access-date=January 17, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111041739/http://www.cahiersducinema.com/article1926.html|archive-date=January 11, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It is also Spielberg's first film to make the magazine's [[Cahiers du Cinéma's Annual Top 10 Lists|annual listings]] of the top 10 films of the year, which would be followed by ''[[Lincoln (film)|Lincoln]]'' (2012), ''[[The Post (film)|The Post]]'' (2017) and ''[[The Fabelmans]]'' (2022). Japanese film director [[Kiyoshi Kurosawa]] listed the film as the best film of 2000–2009.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Aoyama |first1=Shinji |author-link1=Shinji Aoyama |last2=Hasumi |first2=Shigehiko |author-link2=Shigehiko Hasumi |last3=Kurosawa |first3=Kiyoshi |author-link3=Kiyoshi Kurosawa |title=Eiga Nagabanashi |year=2011 |language=ja |publisher=Little More |page=271 |isbn=978-4-89815-313-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thefilmstage.com/cahiers-du-cinemas-top-10-films-of-2023-includes-trenque-lauque-fallen-leaves-and-anatomy-of-a-fall/ |title=Cahiers du cinéma's Top 10 Films of 2023 Includes Trenque Lauquen, Fallen Leaves, and Anatomy of a Fall|first=Jordan |last=Raup |date=December 1, 2023 |work=The Film Stage }}</ref>

===Accolades===
{{expand section|date=June 2023}}
''War of the Worlds'' was nominated for three [[78th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]: [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Sound Editing]], [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Sound Mixing]] ([[Andy Nelson (sound engineer)|Andy Nelson]], [[Anna Behlmer]] and [[Ron Judkins]]) and [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Visual Effects]] ([[Pablo Helman]]).<ref name="Oscars2006">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/78th-winners.html |title=The 78th Academy Awards (2006) Nominees and Winners |access-date=November 20, 2011 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |archive-date=October 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001074434/https://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/78th-winners.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It was nominated for six [[Saturn Award]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/sith-leads-nomination-list-for-32nd-annual-saturn-awards_article_50679.html |title=SITH Leads Nomination List for 32nd Annual Saturn Awards |date=February 15, 2006 |publisher=Mania Entertainment |access-date=December 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504134328/http://www.mania.com/sith-leads-nomination-list-for-32nd-annual-saturn-awards_article_50679.html |archive-date=May 4, 2010}}</ref> and won [[Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor|Best Performance by a Younger Actor]] (Dakota Fanning).<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Saturn Award|Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films]] |url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |title=Past Saturn Awards |access-date=December 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512032708/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=May 12, 2011}}</ref> It won a [[Motion Picture Sound Editors|Golden Reel Award]] for Sound Effects & Foley,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/featurenominees.html|title=2006 Golden Reel Award Nominees & Recipients: Feature Films|publisher=[[Motion Picture Sound Editors]]|access-date=March 3, 2011|archive-date=February 12, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212220259/http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/featurenominees.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> a [[World Soundtrack Academy|World Soundtrack Award]] for Best Original Soundtrack,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsoundtrackawards.com/awards2.cgi?go=history&category=&year=2005&type= |title=World Soundtrack Awards 2005 |publisher=[[World Soundtrack Academy]] |access-date=March 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718114530/http://www.worldsoundtrackawards.com/awards2.cgi?go=history&category=&year=2005&type= |archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> and three [[VES Award]]s for its visual effects,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ves-awards/previous/4th-annual|title=4th Annual VES Awards|publisher=[[Visual Effects Society]]|access-date=March 3, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410055109/http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ves-awards/previous/4th-annual|archive-date=April 10, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and was nominated for three [[Empire Award]]s,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.empireonline.com/awards2006/winners/movie.asp |title=Best Movie |work=[[Empireonline.com]] |publisher=[[Bauer Consumer Media]] |year=2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616191517/http://www.empireonline.com/awards2006/winners/movie.asp |archivedate=June 16, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.empireonline.com/awards2006/winners/director.asp |title=Best Director |work=[[Empireonline.com]] |publisher=[[Bauer Consumer Media]] |year=2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616185349/http://www.empireonline.com/awards2006/winners/director.asp |archivedate=June 16, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.empireonline.com/awards2006/winners/scene.asp |title=Sony Ericsson Scene of the Year |work=[[Empireonline.com]] |publisher=[[Bauer Consumer Media]] |year=2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616200113/http://www.empireonline.com/awards2006/winners/scene.asp |archivedate=June 16, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> two [[Satellite Award]]s,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/award-edition.php?edition-id=satellite_2005 |title=10th Satellite Awards |website=[[FilmAffinity]] |access-date=2024-02-23 }}</ref> and an [[MTV Movie Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/mtv-taps-reel-noms-2-1200335125/ |title= MTV taps reel noms |first= Lawrence |last= Marcus |work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date= April 24, 2006 |access-date= November 23, 2023 |archive-date= November 23, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231123212058/https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/mtv-taps-reel-noms-2-1200335125/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of works based on The War of the Worlds|List of works based on ''The War of the Worlds'']]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote|War of the Worlds (2005 film)|War of the Worlds (2005 film)}}
* {{IMDb title}}

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