Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth. Not to conquer or give aid, but to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens' welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.
Practical Effects
Seamless CGI aliens that feel physically real.
Acting
Sharlto Copley's complete physical transformation.
Direction
Blomkamp's debut that never got topped.
Director
Neill Blomkamp
Sharlto Copley
Wikus van de Merwe
Jason Cope
Christopher Johnson / Grey Bradnam / Trent
Nathalie Boltt
Sarah Livingstone - Sociologist
Sylvaine Strike
Dr Katrina McKenzie
Elizabeth Mkandawie
Interviewee
John Sumner
Les Feldman - MIL Engineer
William Allen Young
Dirk Michaels
Nick Blake
Francois Moraneu - CIV Engineer Team
Greg Melvill-Smith
Interviewer
Robert Hobbs
Ross Pienaar
Vanessa Haywood
Tania van de Merwe
Themba Nkosi
Interviewee
Barry Strydom
Interviewee
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Blomkamp based District 9 on Cape Town's District Six, where 60,000 residents were forcibly removed during apartheid. The 'prawn' slur mirrors real dehumanizing language used against refugees.
The entire third act mech battle was improvised when funding fell through—Blomkamp shot it guerrilla-style in an actual Nigerian slum, which is why it feels so chaotic and real.
US
