Battle: Los AngelesMovie Reviews

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Avg. Critic Score: 37 out of 100 Generally unfavorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
14 Iffy for 14+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 75
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    The battle in Battle: Los Angeles is grab-the-armrest tense until the last seconds. Read full review

  • 63
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    The Duke is not only name-checked in passing, but Eckhart (who's excellent) even bears a squinty resemblance by the final scenes. Read full review

  • 60
    Arizona Republic | Bill Goodykoontz

    Unfortunately, screenwriter Christopher Bertolini has given Eckhart and Liebesman a story so riddled with war-movie cliches that it contains almost nothing else. Read full review

  • 50
    Los Angeles Times | Betsy Sharkey

    The city's skyline is blown to bits. Burning, broken, blackened bits. So if that's what you're in the mood for, that is what the film delivers, endlessly, but in that cheesy-campy way that can make a bad movie good fun. Read full review

  • 50
    USA Today | Scott Bowles

    You have to give director Jonathan Liebesman some points for sparing no shell casings or standing buildings to hustle us through the film's languorous two hours. Read full review

  • 40
    Variety | Brian Lowry

    Mostly, this is the cinematic equivalent of a first-person shooter game, one where the Marines possess only slightly more personality than the faceless invaders. Read full review

  • 38
    Washington Post |

    H.G. Wells did it better. This movie spends so much yawn-inducing time on variations of the same combat scenario that its final showdown feels rushed. Read full review

  • 30
    The New York Times | A.O. Scott

    As it lurches from Act II to Act III, Battle: Loss Angeles reveals itself to be a lousy movie. Read full review

  • 25
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Except for the relentless, jittery way that the film has been photographed, there's nothing of interest going on in it. It's all fractious guerrilla-newsreel "style" masquerading a void. Read full review

  • 12
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Here's a science-fiction film that's an insult to the words "science" and "fiction," and the hyphen in between them. You want to cut it up to clean under your fingernails. Read full review

View more reviews for Battle: Los Angeles on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 14+ Violent alien invasion movie is a waste of time.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this violent alien invasion film is more or less a war movie in disguise, with constant fighting and shooting, explosions, death, and blood. Between the violence and the strong language (including "f--k" and many uses of "s--t"), it pushes as far as it can get with its PG-13 rating. All of that said, although the movie isn't very good, some of the characters do behave admirably and could be considered positive role models who work well together.
  • Families can talk about the movie's extreme violence, fighting, and death. Is it necessary to the story? Does it send any particular message?
  • Is the movie scary? Would it have been scarier or less scary if it had shown more of the aliens?
  • What's the appeal of alien invasion movies? Do they play on any real-life fears?
The good stuff
  • message true1 Positive messages: Despite the movie's nonstop violence, it does promote the value of teamwork and thinking positively.
  • rolemodels true3 Positive role models: The soldiers show bravery and positive thinking, and they work together well, solving problems and eventually triumphing over the odds. Nantz is haunted by past battles and terrible mistakes he's made; his men don't trust him, but he demonstrates admirable heroism. He shows inclusiveness and empathy toward the story's civilians.
What to watch for
  • violence false4 Violence: This movie is an almost constant battle, with a plethora of guns and shooting. Many characters get shot and die, and there's a generous amount of blood. There are also grenades, missiles, and big explosions, as well as general devastation and destruction. In one graphic scene, the heroes "operate" on an alien body, looking for major organs in an attempt to figure out how to kill it.
  • sex false0 Sex: Not an issue
  • language false3 Language: Language is strong and frequent, pushing the boundaries of a PG-13 rating. Words include one "f--k," as well as many uses of "s--t," plus "ass," "hell," "goddamn," "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation), "damn," "bastard," "oh my God," and "son of a bitch."
  • consumerism false1 Consumerism: Some billboards can be seen, including Pepsi and Panda Express.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Exclusive Features

Cast Interviews Exclusive Cast Interviews Michelle Rodriguez talks bootcamp and butt-kicking while Michael Pena and Bridget Monynahan discuss working on a real set (as opposed to Green Screen) and Aaron Eckhart ponders joining the Marines?!