Men in Black (1997)
Kernel Score: 80% · 14,626 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
Released: 1997-07-02
Runtime: 98 minutes
Is Men in Black worth watching?
Worth watching. A cop is recruited to police aliens living in New York. It's a snappy sci-fi comedy that rests on a great pairing of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, and it's still easy to enjoy.
Watch it if you
- like sci-fi comedies
- enjoy buddy-cop banter
- want a light, short watch
Skip it if you
- want deep sci-fi
- dislike dated 90s effects
Best for: Easy movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Men in Black
- Stream: Paramount+, YouTube TV
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
After a police chase with an otherworldly being, a New York City cop is recruited as an agent in a top-secret organization established to monitor and police alien activity on Earth: the Men in Black. Agent K and new recruit Agent J find themselves in the middle of a deadly plot by an intergalactic terrorist who has arrived on Earth to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies.
Men in Black parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Men in Black is a PG-13 sci-fi action comedy with alien battles and some intense action sequences.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes sci-fi action violence and intense alien encounters, rated PG-13.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Men in Black
If you liked Men in Black, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Back to the Future (1985) — 95%: Fun, inventive and eminently rewatchable
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017) — 87%: Funny, colourful superhero adventure
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) — 90%: Quirky team in a comic space adventure
- The Avengers (2012) — 87%: Team-up with banter
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) — 85%: Heartfelt alien-on-earth story
- The Incredibles (2004) — 85%: Fun, stylish family action
Director
Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast
- Tommy Lee Jones as Kay
- Will Smith as Jay
- Linda Fiorentino as Laurel
- Vincent D'Onofrio as Edgar
- Rip Torn as Zed
- Tony Shalhoub as Jeebs
- Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Beatrice
- Mike Nussbaum as Gentle Rosenburg
- Jon Gries as Van Driver
- Sergio Calderón as Jose
Men in Black FAQ
Is Men in Black worth watching?
Worth watching. A cop is recruited to police aliens living in New York. It's a snappy sci-fi comedy that rests on a great pairing of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, and it's still easy to enjoy.
Where can I watch Men in Black?
In the US you can stream Men in Black on Paramount+ and YouTube TV and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Men in Black OK for kids?
Men in Black is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Men in Black is a PG-13 sci-fi action comedy with alien battles and some intense action sequences.
What movies are like Men in Black?
If you liked Men in Black, try Back to the Future, Thor: Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers.