Men in Black

1997
PG-13
1h 38m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

628K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,031

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in Men in Black (1997)

A police officer joins a secret organization that polices and monitors extraterrestrial interactions on Earth.

Play trailer2:25

8 Videos

99+ Photos

Alien Invasion Buddy Comedy Buddy Cop High-Concept Comedy Urban Adventure Action Adventure Comedy Sci-Fi

James, an NYC cop, is hired by Agent K of a secret government agency that monitors extraterrestrial life on Earth. Together, they must recover an item that has been stolen by an intergalacti... Read allJames, an NYC cop, is hired by Agent K of a secret government agency that monitors extraterrestrial life on Earth. Together, they must recover an item that has been stolen by an intergalactic villain.James, an NYC cop, is hired by Agent K of a secret government agency that monitors extraterrestrial life on Earth. Together, they must recover an item that has been stolen by an intergalactic villain.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

628K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,031

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 22 wins & 39 nominations total

Videos8

Trailer 2:29

Theatrical Version

Clip 3:44

The Rise of Will Smith

Clip 2:27

Which Roles Did Will Smith Turn Down?

Clip 3:14

What We Know About The 'Untitled Men in Black Spin-Off' ... So Far

Featurette 2:08

Mib Metamorphosis

Photos450

+ 444

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Vincent D'Onofrio researched his role as Edgar by watching a lot of bug documentaries. In order to achieve his character's distinctive walk, he put on knee braces so he couldn't bend his legs, and taped up his ankles.

Goofs
When riding in the tunnel, Jay puts on an 8-track and listens to Elvis. Jay quips, "You do know Elvis is dead?" to which Kay replies, "No he isn't, he just went home," implying he is an alien. Earlier Kay reveals the aliens first made contact in 1961 - five years after Elvis Presley made his breakthrough performance on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948). However, 1961 is only when they made contact, not necessarily when they first landed.

Quotes
Edwards: Why the big secret? People are smart. They can handle it.
Kay: A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow.
Edwards: What's the catch?
Kay: The catch? The catch is you will sever every human contact. Nobody will ever know you exist anywhere. Ever. I'll give you to sunrise to think it over.
[starts walking away]
Edwards: [shouting after Kay] Hey! Is it worth it?
Kay: Oh yeah, it's worth it...
[starts walking again, stops and turns back briefly]
Kay: ... if you're strong enough!

Crazy credits
The animals and aliens used in this film were in no way mistreated and all scenes in which they appeared were under strict supervision with the utmost concern for their handling.

Alternate versions
The version shown on Australian cable television is the uncut version with a PG rating

Connections
Edited into Men in Black: Extended and Alternate Scenes (2000)

Soundtracks
Men In Black
Produced by Track Masters
Co-produced by Will Smith
Written by Will Smith, Patrice Rushen, Freddie Washington and Terri McFadden
Performed by Will Smith featuring Cheryl Gamble (as Coko)
Courtesy of Columbia Records

User reviews422

Review

Featured review

Alias Smith & Jones

MEN IN BLACK (1997) ***1/2 Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio, Rip Torn, Tony Shalhoub, Siobahn Fallon. Giddily hilarious sci-fi comedy: think a 90s "Ghostbusters" meets the "X-Files": hard-as-nails, deadpan Jones (a great master straight man) is one of many secret agents of MIB (Men In Black) recruiting steetsmart, mouthy Smith (a great wiseass) to team up and stop an intergalactic alien bug (in rotting human form D'Onofrio who gives a brilliant, funny turn) from wiping out the Earth and all mankind. Incredible out there special effects from ILM and ingenious aliens from self-professed "Monster Maker" makeup guru Rick Baker. Hip, clever dialogue and fine chemistry from the odd couple gives this comic book adaptation of Lowell Cunningham a glossy work over including Bo Welch's inventive production design and Danny Elfman's atmospheric score. Fluid direction by Barry Sonnefield.