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Action thriller

Beyond Skyline (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Beyond Skyline (2017) movie poster

Beyond Skyline is a 2017 action thriller directed by Liam O'Donnell, starring Frank Grillo as Mark, Jonny Weston and Antonio Fargas. It runs 1 hour 46 minutes and earned $992,181 worldwide on a $14 million budget. Critics gave it 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.

IMDb rating
5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
70%
worldwide gross
$992.2K
Echo Score
55
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Beyond Skyline (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 46m (106 min)
Director
Liam O'Donnell
Original language
English
Budget
$14M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Beyond Skyline About?

The premise of Beyond Skyline without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

When Los Angeles mysteriously disappears, Detective Mark Corley (Frank Grillo) begins a desperate search for his son. His pursuit leads him to Southeast Asia where he crash-lands and joins forces with a diverse group of survivors. Together, they must confront a powerful alien force, uncover the truth behind the disappearances, and fight to save the world from an otherworldly invasion.

Beyond Skyline Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • alien
  • survival
  • spaceship
  • rescue
  • abduction
  • melee
  • crash
  • explosion
  • fight
  • brain
  • alien invasion
  • alien technology
+38 more
  • alien abduction
  • subway
  • brawl
  • hand to hand combat
  • combat
  • laos
  • los angeles california
  • mind control
  • police station
  • widower
  • police officer
  • police detective
  • train driver
  • blind man
  • homeless man
  • jungle
  • showdown
  • hybrid
  • sequel
  • blue light
  • forest
  • village
  • train
  • pistol
  • ruins
  • father son relationship
  • knife
  • rpg
  • rifle
  • second part
  • arm ripped off
  • gore
  • blood splatter
  • fistfight
  • martial arts
  • mixed martial arts
  • punched in the face
  • punched in the chest
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Cast & crew

Beyond Skyline Cast & Characters

Frank Grillo leads the cast as Mark, with Jonny Weston as Trent and Antonio Fargas as Sarge. Directed by Liam O'Donnell; 16 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Liam O'Donnell

More films directed by Liam O'Donnell, best-rated first: Skylines and Portals.

Full filmography
Ratings

Beyond Skyline Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Beyond Skyline 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 55/100, strongest in story & flow (60) and weakest in art & craft (45).

55 /100

Beyond Skyline Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Beyond Skyline presents an uneven blend of energetic action and low-budget production. Many appreciations note the film’s brisk pacing and inventive genre-hopping, praising its surprising set pieces and nonstop visual stimulus. At the same time, critiques highlight inconsistent directing, frequent CGI lapses, and shallow character moments that undermine plot coherence. The result is a moderately engaging B-movie sequel with limited lasting impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 45

    Art & Craft is hampered by budgetary constraints that produce inconsistent visual quality. Some creative special effects and non-stop visual stimulus highlight the filmmakers’ ambition, but frequent green screen artifacts and uneven directorial execution undermine overall polish. Critics and viewers noted both inventive combat choreography and palpable cost-cutting, resulting in an aesthetic that fluctuates between engaging spectacle and distracting roughness.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    Character & Emotion showcases committed physical performances but lacks substantial depth and emotional resonance. Observers praised lead Frank Grillo’s engaging presence and the martial arts sibling duo’s chemistry, yet many noted scant dialogue depth and occasional cringe-worthy lines. This mix of energetic delivery and superficial characterization results in a cast that can sustain action-driven moments but seldom fosters lasting emotional connection.

  • Story & Flow 60

    Story & Flow offers brisk pacing and inventive genre-hopping, yet coherence suffers from cliché-laden plotting and abrupt tonal shifts. Reviewers appreciated surprising narrative turns and sustained energy, particularly during action set pieces, but criticized banal dialogue, predictable tropes, and underdeveloped subplots. Ultimately, the film delivers an engaging ride for popcorn audiences but falls short of delivering a tightly woven or thought-provoking storyline.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    Sensory Experience delivers thrilling spectacle through graphic creature effects, gore, and energetic fight sequences, creating a visceral atmosphere. While many found the non-stop visual stimuli and striking alien designs engrossing, others noted frequent CGI overload and rudimentary sound design that reveal budgetary shortcuts. The overall impression is of a film that entertains through sensory intensity, albeit with occasional technical rough edges.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Rewatch Factor is moderate, driven by the film’s high-energy action but limited by its shallow substance and technical flaws. Fans of B-movie thrills may revisit for inventive combat sequences and playful genre nods, while others find little incentive for repeat viewing due to inconsistent character depth and noticeable budget constraints. The movie’s lasting appeal hinges on viewer tolerance for rough-around-the-edges spectacle.

Plot

Beyond Skyline Plot Summary

What happens in Beyond Skyline from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Taking place simultaneously with the events of Skyline, the story follows Mark Corley, a Los Angeles police detective who’s desperately trying to reconnect with his estranged son, Trent. As Mark helps Trent escape from jail, a catastrophic alien invasion erupts, engulfing the entire city’s populace in mysterious blue light, pulling them into various alien spaceships. In the chaos, Mark must lead a small band of survivors through a network of underground subway tunnels, though tragically, many are picked off one by one.

Full summary

The whole story of Beyond Skyline, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Beyond Skyline Box Office & Budget

Beyond Skyline grossed $992,181 worldwide on a $14 million budget, 7% of what it cost.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$992.2K

7% of its budget back

International
$992.2K
Budget
$14M
Videos

Beyond Skyline Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser and 3 clips.

Official Trailer
  • Teaser 15" Spot
  • Clip Fight
  • Clip Things are Looking up Kid
  • Clip Blue Light Attack
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Beyond Skyline?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main character that leads the group of survivors?

Cars

Cars in Beyond Skyline

5 cars on screen, including the 1995 Chrysler Cirrus and the 1992 Ford F-Series.

All 5 cars
  • 1995 Chrysler Cirrus in Beyond Skyline 1995 Chrysler Cirrus Minor role
  • 1992 Ford F-Series in Beyond Skyline 1992 Ford F-Series Minor role
  • 2002 Acura RSX in Beyond Skyline 2002 Acura RSX Background role
  • 2006 Dodge Charger in Beyond Skyline 2006 Dodge Charger Background role
Details

Beyond Skyline Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “สงครามสกายไลน์ดูดโลก 2” and “Dincolo de orizont”.

Also known as
  • สงครามสกายไลน์ดูดโลก 2
  • Dincolo de orizont
  • Anapus horizonte
  • 비욘드 스카이라인
  • 天際浩劫2, skyline 2 beyond skyline
  • Beyond Skyline 2017
  • Skyline 2 - Beyond Skyline
  • Skyline 2
  • Yukarıdaki Tehlike 2
  • Скайлайн 2
  • อสูรท้านรก
  • 天劫:救贖之戰
+12 more
  • 天际浩劫2
  • Πέρα από τη Γραμμή του Ορίζοντα
  • 스카이라인 2
  • Anapus horizonto
  • מעל השמיים
  • スカイライン-奪還-
  • Skyline: Além do Horizonte
  • Aiz apvāršņa
  • Skyline - Além do Horizonte
  • 天凶之城:末日救贖
  • Vùng Trời Diệt Vong
  • Par-delà l'horizon

Seen Beyond Skyline?

FAQ

Beyond Skyline FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Beyond Skyline, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Beyond Skyline?

Beyond Skyline runs 1 hour 46 minutes (106 minutes).

When was Beyond Skyline released?

Beyond Skyline was released on December 15, 2017.

Who directed Beyond Skyline?

Beyond Skyline was directed by Liam O'Donnell.

More films by Liam O'Donnell

Who is in the cast of Beyond Skyline?

Beyond Skyline stars Frank Grillo as Mark, Jonny Weston as Trent and Antonio Fargas as Sarge, among 16 credited actors.

How much did Beyond Skyline make at the box office?

Beyond Skyline grossed $992,181 worldwide on a budget of $14 million.

How is Beyond Skyline rated?

Beyond Skyline has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, 46 on Metacritic and 53% on TMDB.

Does Beyond Skyline have a post-credit scene?

No. Beyond Skyline has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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