The Brother From Another Planet (1984)
82%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: NA
“The Brother From Another Planet” is a film that, despite its flaws, manages to strike a delicate balance between humor and social commentary. John Sayles’ talk-heavy script explores themes of racial prejudice and other societal ills through the eyes of a mute black alien, played brilliantly by Joe Morton. While some critics have criticized the film’s lack of visual storytelling and sagging plot, others have praised its deft balancing act and quiet little bites of humor. Overall, “The Brother From Another Planet” is a charmingly low-tech sci-fi indie that manages to provoke thought while still providing laughs.
“The Brother From Another Planet” is a quirky sci-fi indie that’s part comedy, part social commentary, and all heart. While some critics found the film to be too talk-heavy or weighed down by its own message, others praised John Sayles’ direction and Joe Morton’s expressive performance as the mute alien protagonist. Personally, I found the film to be a fun and thought-provoking romp through the streets of New York City, with plenty of laughs and poignant moments along the way. Whether you’re a sci-fi fan or just looking for a unique and entertaining movie experience, “The Brother From Another Planet” is definitely worth checking out.
Production Company(ies)
Alien
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
1984
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 44m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 7, 1984 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 19, 2017
Genre(s)
Sci-fi
Keyword(s)
starring Joe Morton, Daryl Edwards, Steve James, Leonard Jackson, Bill Cobbs, directed by John Sayles, written by John Sayles, sci-fi, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Paul Attanasio, Dave Kehr, Roger Ebert, produced by Peggy Rajski, Maggie Renzi, MPAA rating R, New York City, Harlem, alien, escaped slave, fixing machines, agents, social commentary, racial prejudice, slavery, Messiah-like, low-budget, John Sayles, MacArthur Fellows grant, metaphor, silent lead character, camerawork, action scene, independent film, 1984, A-Train Films, IFC Films, Stereo
Worldwide gross: $3,677,209
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $3,677,209
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $300,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $932,877
Production budget ranking: 2,071
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $502,354
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Daryl Edwards – Fly
Steve James – Odell
Leonard Jackson – Smokey
Bill Cobbs – Walter
Maggie Renzi – Noreen
Director – John Sayles
Producers – Peggy Rajski, Maggie Renzi
Writer – John Sayles
Production Company – A-Train Films
Distributor – IFC Films
Sound Mix – Stereo
Director(s)
John Sayles
Writer(s)
John Sayles
Producer(s)
Peggy Rajski, Maggie Renzi
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (28) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (3)
Sayles is no storyteller; despite the verve of its language, “The Brother From Another Planet” eventually sags of its own weight.
January 4, 2018
Paul Attanasio
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
The two different ends require shifts in point of view that are beyond Sayles’s talent as a visual storyteller, and the film does not cohere.
June 4, 2007
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Central to the film’s deft balancing act between shaggy dog humour and something just a little more serious is Morton’s expressive performance as the alien, though the rest of the cast also plays admirably.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The movie finds countless opportunities for humorous scenes, most of them with a quiet little bite, a way of causing us to look at our society.
October 23, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s a nice, unsurprising shaggy-dog story that goes on far too long.
August 30, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Vincent Canby
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
…this one, something of a B-ish sci-fi dramadey, provides laughs as it provokes.
August 7, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
[A] charmingly low-tech sci-fi indie.
February 18, 2020
M.V. Moorhead
Phoenix Magazine
…nearly topples over from the weight of its social commentary.
May 19, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
April 6, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Quirky urban spaceman comedy, that’s only moderately funny and observant.
December 31, 2007 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
A talk-heavy script about racial prejudice and other ills through the eyes of a mute black alien, terrifically played by John Sayles’ regular Joe Morton.
May 7, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
December 9, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Jon Niccum
Lawrence Journal-World…
Plot
An escaped alien slave lands in New York City and tries to adapt to life on the streets of Harlem while being pursued by agents from his home planet in “The Brother From Another Planet.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
“The Brother” is played by Joe Morton, who delivers an expressive performance despite being mute throughout the film.
John-Sayles.jpg
