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Action sci-fi film

War of the Worlds: Annihilation (2021): Cast & Ratings

War of the Worlds: Annihilation (2021) movie poster

War of the Worlds: Annihilation is a 2021 action sci-fi film directed by Maximilian Elfeldt, starring William Baldwin as General Skuller, Noel Gugliemi and Sean Berube. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and was made on a reported $22 million budget. Its Echo Score is 28/100.

Echo Score
28
budget
$22M
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War of the Worlds: Annihilation (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Genres
Action , Sci-Fi
Original language
English
Budget
$22M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is War of the Worlds: Annihilation About?

The premise of War of the Worlds: Annihilation without spoilers.

A mother and son find themselves faced with a brutal alien invasion where survival will depend on discovering the unthinkable truth about the enemy.

War of the Worlds: Annihilation Themes & Keywords

· 7 tags
  • alien invasion
  • alien invasion sci fi
  • cgi
  • invasion
  • mockbuster
  • mother
  • hope
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Cast & crew

War of the Worlds: Annihilation Cast & Characters

William Baldwin leads the cast as General Skuller, with Noel Gugliemi as Tiago and Sean Berube as Alien General. Directed by Maximilian Elfeldt; 18 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in War of the Worlds: Annihilation

· 14 more
From the director

More from Maximilian Elfeldt

More films directed by Maximilian Elfeldt: A Belgian Chocolate Christmas, Dracula: The Original Living Vampire, Apocalypse of Ice and End of the World.

Full filmography
Ratings

War of the Worlds: Annihilation Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 28/100, strongest in story & flow (38) and weakest in rewatch factor (20).

28 /100

War of the Worlds: Annihilation Echo Score Breakdown

War of the Worlds: Annihilation is overwhelmed by fundamental flaws across the board. Critics repeatedly highlight a weak script, incoherent plot, and pervasive CGI shortcomings that undermine visual credibility. Performances, particularly from the lead, are described as unconvincing, contributing to a flat emotional impact. While a small minority note occasional effective fog ambiance and a perceived entertaining core, these positives are far outweighed by the prevailing criticism, resulting in a largely unsatisfying viewing experience.

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

  • Art & Craft 22

    In terms of art and craft, the film suffers from noticeably substandard production values. Reviewers consistently fault the CGI as crude and the overall visual design as reminiscent of low‑budget attempts, diminishing immersion. Editing and direction receive little mention beyond these criticisms, indicating a lack of strength in pacing or compositional choices. Consequently, the artistic execution is judged to be markedly deficient.

  • Character & Emotion 33

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances are largely judged as ineffective. Critics describe the lead’s acting as unconvincing and the supporting cast as uneven, reducing audience engagement. A solitary positive note praises the lead’s commanding presence, yet this isolated endorsement does not offset the broader consensus of weak portrayals. Overall, the film’s character work fails to deliver credible or compelling emotional depth.

  • Story & Flow 38

    Regarding story and flow, the narrative is criticized for being thin, forced, and riddled with plot holes, resulting in low coherence. Pacing is described as erratic, with early scenes marred by implausible military decisions. A minority praises the ending and overall plot as satisfying, but these commendations are outweighed by widespread remarks of a nonsensical and unenjoyable storyline. The story therefore registers as poorly constructed.

  • Sensory Experience 27

    In the sensory domain, the film’s sound and visual elements receive predominantly negative feedback. The CGI is repeatedly labeled as low‑quality, and sound design is scarcely mentioned, implying a lack of impact. One reviewer notes an effective use of fog to create mood, offering a brief sensory highlight. Overall, the sensory experience is assessed as underwhelming and detracts from immersion.

  • Rewatch Factor 20

    The rewatch factor is deemed minimal, with the majority of reviewers urging audiences to avoid the film altogether. Repetition of the same narrative and technical flaws, combined with weak performances, diminishes any incentive for subsequent viewings. Although a handful of comments hint at occasional entertainment value, these are insufficient to generate lasting appeal, resulting in a low likelihood of repeat engagement.

Videos

War of the Worlds: Annihilation Trailers & Videos

The trailer of War of the Worlds: Annihilation.

War or the Worlds: Annihilation | Official Trailer | A Tubi Original
Cars

Cars in War of the Worlds: Annihilation

13 cars on screen, including the AM General M-35 and the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid.

All 13 cars
  • AM General M-35 in War of the Worlds: Annihilation AM General M-35 Important role
  • 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid in War of the Worlds: Annihilation 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Important role
  • AM General HMMWV M1043 in War of the Worlds: Annihilation AM General HMMWV M1043 Minor role
  • AM General HMMWV M1044 in War of the Worlds: Annihilation AM General HMMWV M1044 Minor role
Details

War of the Worlds: Annihilation Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “War of the Worlds Annihilation” and “세계 대전: 섬멸”.

Also known as
  • War of the Worlds Annihilation
  • 세계 대전: 섬멸
  • La Guerra de los mundos: Destrucción total
  • Война миров: Аннигиляция
  • War Of The Worlds - Die Vernichtung
  • Rat svjetova: Uništenje
  • 世界之战:灭绝
  • جنگ دنیاها: نابودی
  • Wojna Światów: Unicestwienie
  • 스카이라인 2023: 인베이젼
  • Đại Chiến Thế Giới: Hủy Diệt
  • 世界之戰:滅絕危機

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FAQ

War of the Worlds: Annihilation FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget and post-credit scenes of War of the Worlds: Annihilation, each answered in a sentence.

How long is War of the Worlds: Annihilation?

War of the Worlds: Annihilation runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was War of the Worlds: Annihilation released?

War of the Worlds: Annihilation was released on December 22, 2021.

Who directed War of the Worlds: Annihilation?

War of the Worlds: Annihilation was directed by Maximilian Elfeldt.

More films by Maximilian Elfeldt

Who is in the cast of War of the Worlds: Annihilation?

War of the Worlds: Annihilation stars William Baldwin as General Skuller, Noel Gugliemi as Tiago and Sean Berube as Alien General, among 18 credited actors.

What was the budget of War of the Worlds: Annihilation?

War of the Worlds: Annihilation had a reported budget of $22 million.

Does War of the Worlds: Annihilation have a post-credit scene?

No. War of the Worlds: Annihilation has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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