War of the Worlds (2025): Cast, Ratings & Ending
War of the Worlds is a 2025 adventure thriller directed by Rich Lee, starring Ice Cube, Eva Longoria and Michael O'Neill. It is partly based on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. It runs 2 hours 25 minutes. Critics gave it 6 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 2.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 25m (145 min)
- Director
- Rich Lee
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Patrick Aiello Productions
- Based on
- The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is War of the Worlds About?
The premise of War of the Worlds without spoilers, adapted from The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Cyber-security analyst Will Radford discovers a disturbing threat to national security while monitoring a vast surveillance program. As an unknown entity launches an attack, he begins to suspect the government is concealing vital information, not only from him but from the entire world. He must uncover the truth before it’s too late.
War of the Worlds Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- alien invasion sci fi
- department of homeland security
- cybercriminal
- government surveillance
- surveillance
- spying
- alien attack
- product placement
- amazon
- remake
- data theft
- alien tripod
+38 more Show fewer
- computer virus
- meteorite
- threat assessment
- hacker
- prominent product placement
- video surveillance
- alien
- reference to amazon prime
- self driving automobile
- reimagining
- invasion of privacy
- analyst
- police officer
- analysis
- male protagonist
- cameras
- black man
- four word title
- threat
- listening to music
- fbi
- nasa
- weather
- man wears glasses
- woman wears glasses
- disruptive
- cafe
- father daughter relationship
- muffin
- pregnant woman
- video game
- father son relationship
- playing a video game
- dead mother
- drone
- tracking hacker
- easy button
- amazon delivery
War of the Worlds Cast & Characters
Ice Cube leads the cast, with Eva Longoria and Michael O'Neill. Directed by Rich Lee; 13 actors are credited in all.
- Director Rich Lee
Also Starring in War of the Worlds
· 9 more- Harvey B. Jackson LAPD Ofc. Lyman
- Matt Corboy News Reporter #2
- Nicole Pulliam News Reporter
- Ego Mikitas
- Jonathan Daniel Brown
- Olivia DeLaurentis
- Jake Reiner News Reporter #3
- Sydney Heller
- Iman Benson
War of the Worlds Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave War of the Worlds 6 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 2.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 18/100, strongest in rewatch factor (30) and weakest in sensory experience (10).
War of the Worlds Echo Score Breakdown
The film is broadly regarded as a poorly executed adaptation, with critics and viewers highlighting its weak direction, subpar performances, and incoherent narrative. While a few reviewers note sporadic moments of unintended humor, these do not compensate for the overall lack of craftsmanship. Consequently, the movie offers limited appeal and fails to satisfy expectations for a modern sci‑fi remake today.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 15
In terms of direction and visual execution, reviewers consistently describe the film as thin and frenetic, with shoddy cinematography and amateurish editing. The production design receives little praise, and the overall craftsmanship appears rushed, contributing to a perception of low artistic quality. This consensus places the film at the lower end of technical proficiency.
- Character & Emotion 20
When evaluating performances, critics note uniformly poor acting, especially from the lead, whose portrayal is described as lacking nuance and credibility. Supporting actors are occasionally mentioned as marginally competent, yet their efforts are insufficient to elevate the overall character work. The prevailing view is that the film fails to deliver convincing or engaging performances.
- Story & Flow 15
The narrative is widely criticized for incoherence and erratic pacing, with reviewers pointing to nonsensical plot developments and abrupt tonal shifts. Originality is seen as absent, and the storyline fails to maintain audience engagement. Consequently, the film’s plot structure is judged as one of its most significant weaknesses.
- Sensory Experience 10
Sound design and musical choices receive little commendation, with comments describing the score as intrusive and the overall audio mix as uneven. Visual effects are repeatedly labeled as low‑budget and unconvincing, reinforcing a sense of cheapness throughout the film. This collective assessment places the sensory experience firmly in the low‑quality tier.
- Rewatch Factor 30
Despite the overwhelming negative consensus, a minority of viewers acknowledge occasional unintentional humor that may appeal to fans of cult‑bad cinema, suggesting limited rewatch potential for those seeking a joke‑filled experience. However, the predominance of flaws diminishes broader appeal, resulting in a modest likelihood of repeat viewings.
-
IMDb 2.5 /10
34818 votes
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 6 Metascore
User score 2.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 34% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 1.0 /5
211855 ratings
See on Letterboxd
War of the Worlds Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in War of the Worlds from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In an alternate version of Earth’s history, Eric Wells experiences a devastating event at the age of 10 when he witnesses a Martian Tripod destroy Leeds, England, and tragically kills his parents. Fortunately, before the Tripod can also claim his life, it suddenly crashes to the ground, saving him from certain death. This catastrophic attack in 1899 results in the loss of over 140 million lives worldwide and the destruction of many major cities. The Martians, despite their advanced technology and destructive power, are ultimately defeated by Earth’s bacteria, to which they have no resistance.
Full summary
The whole story of War of the Worlds, scene by scene, with the ending explained
War of the Worlds Trailers & Videos
The trailer of War of the Worlds.
How Well Do You Know War of the Worlds?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year does the Martian attack occur in the movie?
Cars in War of the Worlds
12 cars on screen, including the Tesla Model X and the 2015 Chevrolet Suburban.
-
Tesla Model X Important role -
2015 Chevrolet Suburban Minor role -
2015 Chevrolet Tahoe Minor role -
2015 Cadillac Escalade Background role
War of the Worlds Also Known As
29 alternative titles, including “Война миров” and “A Guerra dos Mundos”.
- Also known as
-
- Война миров
- A Guerra dos Mundos
- 우주전쟁
- Wojna światów
- La Guerre des mondes
- מלחמת העולמות
- 世界大戰
- La guerra de los mundos
- Klodernes kamp
- Krieg der Welten
- La guerra dei mondi
- Világok harca
+17 more Show fewer
- Maailmojen sota
- De oorlog der werelden
- ウォー・オブ・ザ・ワールド
- वॉर ऑफ़ द वर्ल्ड्स
- ವಿಶ್ವ ಯುದ್ಧ
- ലോകയുദ്ധം
- வார் ஆஃப் தி வேர்ல்ட்ஸ்
- สงครามโลก
- 世界大战
- Válka světů
- ΓΟΥΟΡ ΟΦ ΔΕ ΓΟΥΟΡΛΝΤΣ
- Klodenes kamp
- Dünyalar Savaşı
- Cuộc Chiến Giữa Các Thế Giới
- حرب العوالم, სამყაროთა ომი
- Війна світів
- Война на световете
Seen War of the Worlds?
Movies Like War of the Worlds
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The War of the Worlds, War of the Worlds and War of the Worlds: The Attack.
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The War of the Worlds 1953 -
War of the Worlds 2005 -
War of the Worlds: The Attack 2023 -
The War of the Worlds 2019 -
War of the Worlds: Goliath 2014 -
War of the Worlds: Annihilation 2021 -
War of the Worlds: Extinction 2024 -
H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds 2005 -
War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave 2008 -
H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds 2005 -
The War of the Worlds: Next Century 1981 -
Invasion 1965
War of the Worlds FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of War of the Worlds, each answered in a sentence.
How long is War of the Worlds?
War of the Worlds runs 2 hours 25 minutes (145 minutes).
When was War of the Worlds released?
War of the Worlds was released on July 30, 2025.
Who directed War of the Worlds?
War of the Worlds was directed by Rich Lee.
Who is in the cast of War of the Worlds?
War of the Worlds stars Ice Cube, Eva Longoria and Michael O'Neill, among 13 credited actors.
How is War of the Worlds rated?
War of the Worlds has 2.5/10 on IMDb, 6 on Metacritic, 34% on TMDB and 1.0/5 on Letterboxd.
Is War of the Worlds based on a book?
Yes. War of the Worlds is partly adapted from The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells.
Does War of the Worlds have a post-credit scene?
No. War of the Worlds has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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