Arrival (2016)
Kernel Score: 85% · 19,044 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery
Released: 2016-11-10
Runtime: 116 minutes
Is Arrival worth watching?
Must-watch. Arrival treats first contact as a puzzle about language and grief rather than a fight. It's patient, quiet and emotional, and Amy Adams anchors it. The ending reframes everything that came before.
Watch it if you
- like thoughtful, slow science fiction
- enjoy ideas about language and time
- want sci-fi with feeling instead of battles
Skip it if you
- want action and alien fights
- dislike slow, quiet pacing
Best for: Solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Arrival
- Stream: Paramount+, Peacock
- Free with ads: Kanopy
- Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
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 parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Arrival is a thoughtful PG-13 sci-fi drama about first contact with aliens, involving some military tension.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Mostly non-violent, though military tension and the threat of conflict with aliens are present.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Arrival
If you liked Arrival, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Interstellar (2014) — 95%: Big-hearted science fiction about time, love and distance
- Dune: Part Two (2024) — 94%: Same director's epic, patient science fiction
- Dune (2021) — 89%: Same director's atmospheric, serious sci-fi
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017) — 85%: Same director's slow, thoughtful future noir
- Moon (2009) — 87%: Quiet, human sci-fi built on one lead performance
- Contact (1997) — 84%: First-contact story led by a scientist
Director
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
Arrival FAQ
Is Arrival worth watching?
Must-watch. Arrival treats first contact as a puzzle about language and grief rather than a fight. It's patient, quiet and emotional, and Amy Adams anchors it. The ending reframes everything that came before.
Where can I watch Arrival?
In the US you can stream Arrival on Paramount+ and Peacock, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.
Is Arrival OK for kids?
Arrival is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Arrival is a thoughtful PG-13 sci-fi drama about first contact with aliens, involving some military tension.
What movies are like Arrival?
If you liked Arrival, try Interstellar, Dune: Part Two, Dune and Blade Runner 2049.