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Action adventure film

Skylines (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Skylines (2020) movie poster

Skylines is a 2020 action adventure film directed by Liam O'Donnell, starring Lindsey Morgan as Rose, Jonathan Howard and Rhona Mitra. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $170,581 worldwide on a $70 million budget. Critics gave it 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.8/10. Stream it on Hoopla and Netflix, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
4.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
54%
worldwide gross
$170.6K
Echo Score
60
Skylines (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Director
Liam O'Donnell
Genres
Action , Adventure , Sci-Fi
Original language
English
Budget
$70M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Skylines About?

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

When a deadly virus threatens humanity, Captain Rose Corley leads an expedition to a distant planet seeking a potential cure. There, they encounter hybrid aliens who may hold the key to survival. Facing interstellar dangers and complex political alliances, the crew embarks on a desperate mission to prevent a catastrophic intergalactic event that could extinguish the remnants of Earth.

Skylines Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • alien
  • alien spacecraft
  • space battle
  • supernatural power
  • alien creature
  • outer space
  • space mission
  • virus
  • alien ship
  • sequel
  • third part
  • psychotronic film
+38 more
  • one word title
  • no opening credits
  • no title at beginning
  • title at the end
  • open ended
  • flash forward
  • flashback
  • written by director
  • electronic music score
  • surrealism
  • slow motion scene
  • conspiracy
  • evil man
  • fictional war
  • good versus evil
  • prologue
  • bloopers during credits
  • murder
  • death
  • violence
  • brutality
  • held at gunpoint
  • rescue
  • escape
  • deception
  • betrayal
  • double cross
  • blood
  • blood splatter
  • gore
  • blood on camera lens
  • ambush
  • blue blood
  • fear
  • danger
  • near death experience
  • survival
  • attempted murder
Where to watch

Where to Watch Skylines

Stream it on Hoopla and Netflix, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Skylines Cast & Characters

Lindsey Morgan leads the cast as Rose, with Jonathan Howard as Leon and Rhona Mitra as Dr. Mal. Directed by Liam O'Donnell; 13 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Skylines Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Skylines 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in character & emotion (65) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).

60 /100

Skylines Echo Score Breakdown

Skylines presents a blend of competent low-budget craftsmanship and familiar franchise conventions. The narrative offers steady action and modest visual ambition, appealing to existing fans while falling short of cinematic scale. Critical responses highlighted engaging moments and committed performances tempered by derivative plot elements and TV-like aesthetics. The result is a moderately entertaining sequel that satisfies genre enthusiasts without breaking new ground.

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

  • Art & Craft 60

    In terms of cinematography and production design, Skylines leans toward a television-style presentation, with measured framing and straightforward editing. Practical creature effects receive intermittent praise, while digital backgrounds and set pieces occasionally reveal budgetary limits. The film’s visual cohesion supports the action sequences but stops short of delivering a fully cinematic scope. Overall, its artful elements are competent but constrained.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character depth and emotion, the film benefits from a focused lead performance that conveys stoic determination and dry humor. Supporting roles often lack development, and emotional stakes hinge on familiar archetypes. Chemistry between protagonists surfaces in select scenes but rarely transcends genre conventions. Overall, the character work is serviceable, offering engagement primarily for established series followers.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of plot coherence and pacing, Skylines maintains a steady momentum that aligns with conventional sci-fi action rhythms. The narrative extends established franchise threads, delivering predictable developments and a clear forward drive. Originality is limited by derivative elements drawn from genre predecessors, yet the film sustains engagement through succinct set pieces. Overall, the story is functional but seldom surprising.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    When considering sensory experience, the film’s sound design and score provide functional support to the action without overwhelming the mix. Visual style alternates between practical creature effects and modest CGI, creating moments of striking alien imagery alongside evident budgetary constraints. Color grading and visual cohesion remain consistent, framing action clearly. Overall, the sensory elements are serviceable and complement the film’s genre aims.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    In terms of rewatch appeal, Skylines primarily rewards viewers invested in the franchise continuity, with recurring characters and ongoing plot threads. Its formulaic structure and familiar beats offer predictable satisfaction, but limited surprises and moderate ambition reduce incentives for multiple viewings. Occasional standout action sequences may tempt fans to revisit key scenes. Overall, rewatch value is modest.

Plot

Skylines Plot Summary

What happens in Skylines 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

Earth faces a catastrophic invasion by aliens, leading to harrowing consequences for humanity. A father’s mind is “harvested” by the extraterrestrials, who integrate his consciousness into an alien body. Despite his transformation, the father’s will resists, fiercely battling against the aliens threatening his pregnant wife. Amidst chaos and destruction, she gives birth during a fierce confrontation, with the child being taken in by a man amongst the chaos. Thus, Rose is born under a radiant blue light, which accelerates her growth and imbues her with extraordinary abilities. She harnesses these powers to liberate the harvested minds, known as Pilots, trapped within alien forms, reuniting families torn apart by the invasion.

Full summary

The whole story of Skylines, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Skylines Box Office & Budget

Skylines grossed $170,581 worldwide on a $70 million budget.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$170.6K

International
$170.6K
Budget
$70M
Videos

Skylines Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Skylines | Official Trailer (HD) | Vertical Entertainment
  • Trailer Skylines (2021) - Official Trailer (HD)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Skylines?

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

What extraordinary event leads to the chaos in Skylines?

Details

Skylines Also Known As

23 alternative titles, including “Skylin3s” and “스카이라인 3”.

Also known as
  • Skylin3s
  • 스카이라인 3
  • 天际浩劫3
  • Skyline 3 - Skylin3s
  • 天際浩劫3
  • スカイライン -逆襲-
  • スカイライン 逆襲
  • スカイライン ぎゃくしゅう
  • Skyline 3
  • Скайлайн 3
  • Skylines 3
  • Cuộc Chiến Hủy Diệt
+11 more
  • 스카이라인: 라스트 워
  • 末日終結戰
  • Yukarıdaki Tehlike 3
  • קו הרקיע
  • สกายไลน์ 3 สงครามถล่มจักรวาล
  • Мисия хоризонт
  • スカイライン-逆襲-
  • Nouveaux horizons
  • 天际浩劫 3
  • स्कायलाइंस
  • 天凶之城 3, ჰორიზონტები

Seen Skylines?

FAQ

Skylines FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Skylines, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Skylines?

Skylines runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was Skylines released?

Skylines was released on December 18, 2020.

Who directed Skylines?

Skylines was directed by Liam O'Donnell.

More films by Liam O'Donnell

Who is in the cast of Skylines?

Skylines stars Lindsey Morgan as Rose, Jonathan Howard as Leon and Rhona Mitra as Dr. Mal, among 13 credited actors.

Where can I watch Skylines?

In the US, Skylines is streaming on Hoopla and Netflix and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Skylines make at the box office?

Skylines grossed $170,581 worldwide on a budget of $70 million.

How is Skylines rated?

Skylines has 4.8/10 on IMDb, 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, 55% on TMDB and 2.4/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Skylines have a post-credit scene?

No. Skylines has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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