What Is Coneheads About?
The premise of Coneheads in 309 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the quiet cul‑de‑sacs of suburban New Jersey, a rogue reconnaissance mission sends an unexpected visitor to Earth. The crash‑landed alien couple, Beldar and * Prymaat*, find themselves stranded in a world whose everyday routines feel as alien as the stars they left behind. Their sleek, conical silhouettes and clipped, otherworldly speech set them apart in a culture built on casual normalcy, turning a simple move across the street into a study in miscommunication and wonder.
- Beldar* approaches the new life with a mix of pragmatic ingenuity and bewildered optimism, while * Prymaat* balances the practical demands of survival with a yearning to protect her family’s fragile sense of home. Together they adopt the quirks of suburban existence—jobs, a house, a surname—yet every polite exchange and neighborhood barbecue becomes a delicate performance, a comedy of errors that reveals both the absurdity and the tenderness of trying to belong somewhere that was never meant for them.
Beneath the pastel lawns and picket fences, unseen eyes begin to turn toward the family’s peculiar habits. Government agents, curious and unrelenting, start to sense that the newcomers are more than eccentric neighbors. At the same time, whispers of a far‑off, sinister agenda from their home planet, Remulak, linger like static on an old radio, suggesting that the couple’s stay on Earth may be part of a larger, unresolved narrative. The tension between staying hidden, embracing a new life, and confronting an inevitable call from the cosmos creates a constant undercurrent of suspense.
Amid these competing forces, the Coneheads’ daughter, Connie, begins to chart her own course, hinting at the next generation’s struggle between inherited alien heritage and the pull of human adolescence. The film rides the line between satire and heartfelt family drama, inviting the audience to wonder how far one will go to keep love intact when the universe itself seems poised to intervene.
What Happens in Coneheads?
The complete story of Coneheads, from the first scene to the last, in 994 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Upon detecting a UFO invading American airspace, the National Guard dispatches fighter jets to investigate. The craft remains unresponsive as it plummets into the Atlantic near Manhattan, and from the wreckage emerge two survivors from the planet Remulak: Beldar and his wife Prymaat. Their mission and origin are clear enough to the authorities—that they come from a distant world—but their appearance and voices are so unfamiliar that they instantly stand out in a country built on a different kind of normal. The Highmaster Mintot assigns Beldar the task of conquering Earth, yet the first practical step for both of them is survival in a world that does not bend easily to alien customs.
To blend in, Beldar becomes an appliance repairman, a choice that unfolds with both comic misfires and sharp social misreadings. When he discovers that his documents and status on Earth are not entirely above board, his boss Otto helps him forge a new identity through underworld connections, a move that quickly draws the attention of the INS. An ambitious INS agent, Gorman Seedling, and his sycophantic assistant Eli Turnbull throw themselves into a fruitless chase after the couple, stymied at every turn by the Coneheads’ odd comportment and their earnest, almost childlike attempts at assimilation.
Prymaat reveals she is pregnant, an event that intensifies the stakes for the family and cements their intent to stay safe on Earth. The Coneheads learn that the rescue ship they expected will not arrive for many years, if ever, so they adopt a more conventional Earth life. They scrimp and save through ordinary suburban labor and prudence, with Beldar quietly building a life that suits their needs while drawing minimal hostility from their neighbors. The family eventually relocates to the suburbs, where they take on the surname Conehead, purchase a home, and settle in Paramus, New Jersey. In a bid to make themselves useful and self-reliant, Beldar opens a driving school, a legitimate enterprise that also helps him observe human routines and etiquette more closely.
As the years pass, Gorman’s pursuit of the Coneheads eases after he earns a promotion, but a Senate inquiry is launched to investigate the mounting expenses and the unusual case, ensuring that the Coneheads cannot slip away into obscurity. Their teenage daughter Connie begins to navigate the human world with her own sense of independence, seeking to fit in with her peers. The new normal challenges Beldar, who resists some of Connie’s changes, especially as she starts dating an auto mechanic named Ronnie Bradford—the kind of casual, everyday relationship that makes their true origins harder to ignore.
The pursuit heats up again when Gorman and Eli reenter the Coneheads’ life, this time disguised as Jehovah’s Witnesses to gain entry into their home. Prymaat detects the beeping of a device from Remulak—the family’s link to their home planet—and quickly warns Beldar that the “Big Phone” has contacted him. This discovery pushes the Coneheads to prepare for a different kind of endgame: a potential rescue that could uproot their carefully built Earthly life. The moment Connie learns they may have to leave soon, she declares her desire to stay behind with Ronnie, a choice that tugs at the heart of a family trying to keep their loyalties intact while also honoring their love for their newly adopted home.
When INS agents arrive to arrest the family, Ronnie steps in to stall them long enough for the rescue vessel to arrive. In a tense, last-minute sequence, the Coneheads and their new ally are whisked away just as the ship’s engines ignite. Gorman and Eli are taken aboard with the Coneheads, momentarily intertwining human and extraterrestrial fates in a fragile, hopeful balance.
Back on Remulak, Beldar returns to a world of royal duties and ceremonial expectations. He is welcomed home by Mintot, who appears pleased with Earthly gifts that Beldar has presented, including the subservient presence of Gorman and Eli as slaves. Yet Mintot’s satisfaction is fragile; he notices Beldar’s teeth have been capped—an Earthly adjustment Otto had urged to help him blend in—and accuses him of treason. Beldar is forced to face a brutal trial, condemned to fight a savage foe known as the Garthok. The sight of the arena’s ferocity unsettles Prymaat, who fears for their safety.
The arena match unfolds as the Garthok seemingly dominates, killing other condemned prisoners with brutal ease. In a moment that blends Earthly resourcefulness with Remulakian bravado, Beldar uses a skill learned on Earth—golfing—to strike a rock into the Garthok’s mouth, triggering a fatal choke. The act earns him a pardon from Mintot, who recognizes the value of Beldar’s fusion of human tactics with alien restraint. Beldar’s request to return to Earth with Gorman as his servant is granted, while Eli remains on Remulak to serve Mintot as a trusted butler-like figure. The Conehead family departs with Prymaat, Connie, and Gorman, and Beldar’s priority becomes Connie’s happiness and sense of belonging on Earth over any grand planetary conquest.
In a bold, cinematic twist, Beldar engineers a feigned Earth attack to mislead Mintot’s forces and buy time for the Coneheads to escape to their true, chosen home. The ruse buys them a reprieve and, in a symbolic gesture, Gorman agrees to secure green cards for the family, cementing their place in Earth’s society. The film closes on a note of ordinary happiness: the Conehead family—reunited, accepted, and free to live out their days on Earth—embraces the everyday rhythms of suburban life, balancing the uncanny with the familiar, and recognizing that love and acceptance can bridge galaxies as effectively as any mission of conquest.
Notes on casting: Beldar is portrayed by the actor who brings the Conehead’s distinctive manner and voice to life, and Prymaat is the partner who anchors their humanity; these first mentions are linked to their respective pages. Other cast members contribute to the rich texture of the Coneheads’ world, though their character names appear primarily in dialogue and plot rather than in this summary.
Coneheads Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “UFO detected and crashes near Manhattan” to “Return to Earth and final settlement”. 14 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
UFO detected and crashes near Manhattan
The National Guard detects an unidentified flying object in American airspace. Fighter jets pursue the unresponsive craft and fire on it, causing it to crash into the Atlantic Ocean near Manhattan. The surviving aliens, Beldar and Prymaat, begin their Earth story aboard the ship.
When:beginning of story Where:Atlantic Ocean near Manhattan
- 2
Remulak assigns Beldar to conquer Earth
On Remulak, Highmaster Mintot assigns Beldar to conquer Earth for the planet. The couple survives the crash and prepares to make first contact while planning their long-term goals.
When:shortly after crash Where:Remulak
- 3
Beldar assumes human life and secures a false identity
Back on Earth, Beldar becomes an appliance repairman using a human disguise. His boss Otto helps him obtain a false identity from local gangsters, a step meant to aid in blending in and avoiding the INS.
When:shortly after arrival Where:Local town, USA
- 4
INS pursuit begins
Ambitious INS agent Gorman Seedling and his assistant Eli Turnbull launch attempts to capture the Coneheads but fail to close in. The chase underscores the government's struggle to identify the aliens among ordinary citizens.
When:shortly after disguise Where:United States
- 5
Prymaat reveals pregnancy
Prymaat informs Beldar that she is pregnant, confirming the Coneheads will soon have a child on Earth. The revelation reinforces their need to maintain a convincing disguise while planning a family on a new world.
When:during assimilation Where:Earth
- 6
Decision to blend in and move to the suburbs
With no rescue sighted for years, the Coneheads decide to blend in with humans. They relocate to the suburbs to save money and avoid detection while integrating into everyday life.
When:post-pregnancy Where:Suburban USA
- 7
Connie is born; family becomes Coneheads in Paramus
Their daughter Connie is born, and the family adopts the surname Conehead. They buy a home in Paramus, New Jersey, and Beldar opens a driving school to support their disguise and new life.
When:after Connie's birth Where:Paramus, New Jersey
- 8
Gorman promoted; Senate inquiry begins
Gorman terminates his pursuit after a promotion, but a U.S. Senate inquiry scrutinizes the Conehead case for its costs and demands a formal conclusion. The government weighs the extraterrestrial affair and its implications.
When:after settling in Where:United States Senate / government offices
- 9
Connie grows up and seeks normalcy
Connie, now a teenager, grows up among Earth norms and longs to fit in with her peers. Her friendship and romance with Ronnie Bradford heighten the tension between her identity as an alien and her human ambitions.
When:teenage years Where:Paramus, New Jersey
- 10
Gorman and Eli infiltrate as Jehovah's Witnesses
Gorman and Eli track the Coneheads to their home and enter by posing as Jehovah's Witnesses. Prymaat detects their Remulak device beeping and alerts Beldar that a rescue vessel is approaching, prompting him to eject the intruders.
When:before rescue Where:Coneheads' home
Show the other 4 events of Coneheads Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Rescue is imminent; INS arrests resume
Connie is told a rescue is coming; the INS arrives to arrest the Coneheads. Ronnie helps stall the agents while the rescue vessel arrives, allowing the Coneheads to prepare for departure with the rescue team.
When:imminent rescue Where:Coneheads' home
- 12
Rescue arrives and the Coneheads are taken aboard
The rescue ship arrives just in time, and Gorman and Eli are taken aboard along with the Coneheads. The group is brought to Remulak for the next stage of their journey.
When:just before departure Where:Earth vicinity / rescue ship
- 13
Remulak showdown and Garthok defeat
On Remulak, Mintot welcomes Earthly gifts, including Gorman and Eli as slaves. He notices Beldar's capped teeth and accuses him of treason, forcing him to fight the Garthok. Beldar defeats the monster by using his Earthly golfing skill to dislodge a rock that chokes it, earning Mintot's pardon.
When:after arrival Where:Remulak
- 14
Return to Earth and final settlement
The Highmaster pardons Beldar and allows his return to Earth with Prymaat, Connie, and Gorman. Eli stays behind as Mintot's ally. Back on Earth, Gorman grants the Coneheads green cards, and the family settles into a new life on Earth, prioritizing Connie's happiness.
When:departure and after Where:Remulak to Earth / Earth
Who Are the Main Characters in Coneheads?
8 characters, among them Beldar (Dan Aykroyd), Prymaat Conehead (Jane Curtin) and Connie Conehead: who each one is and the part they play in the story. 2 of them link to the actor’s page.
-
Beldar (Dan Aykroyd)
Played by Dan Aykroyd
A resourceful and stubborn alien father who tries to fit into suburban life while clinging to his mission from Remulak. He is practical, optimistic, and quick with a beaming smile that masks a steely determination. His love for Prymaat and Connie drives his decisions, even as he improvises to avoid detection.
- 👨🚀 Alien
- 🧑🏫 Working father
- 🧭 Adaptable
-
Prymaat Conehead (Jane Curtin)
Played by Jane Curtin
A devoted mother who navigates Earth customs with wit and resilience. She often acts as the social anchor for the family, balancing caution with affection. Prymaat supports Connie’s longing to belong while keeping her family’s alien identity intact.
- 👩👧👦 Family
- 🧪 Intelligence
- 🧭 Adaptable
- CC
Connie Conehead
The teenage daughter who grows up amid Earth norms and culture, torn between her parents’ expectations and her wish to fit in with peers. She represents the push-pull of assimilation and rebellion, especially in her relationship with Ronnie.
- 👧 Teen
- 💬 Social life
- 🪪 Identity
- GS
Gorman Seedling
An ambitious INS agent whose pursuit of the Coneheads feeds the film’s comic cat-and-mouse chase. He embodies bureaucratic pressure and the absurdity of government zeal in the face of extraterrestrial humor.
- 👮♂️ Government
- 🗂 Bureaucracy
- 🕵️♂️ Pursuit
- ET
Eli Turnbull
The sycophantic assistant to Gorman Seedling, eager to advance his own status by playing along with the pursuit. His flattery reveals the superficial nature of bureaucratic loyalty.
- 🧑💼 Assistant
- 💬 Flattery
- 🗂 Bureaucracy
- O
Otto
Beldar’s boss who secures a false Earth identity for him from local criminals. His presence is a comic foil that pushes Beldar to adapt, while also exposing the seedy underbelly of Earth 'jobs'.
- 🧑💼 Boss
- 💼 Identity
- 🕵️♂️ Underworld
- HM
Highmaster Mintot
Remulak’s ruler who initially celebrates Beldar’s conversion of Earth into potential conquest, only to become suspicious and punish him for perceived treason. His arc drives the space-bound subplot.
- 👑 Ruler
- 🌌 Alien politics
- 🧭 Judgment
- RB
Ronnie Bradford
The auto mechanic Connie starts seeing, who helps stall the INS agents and becomes a symbol of ordinary Earth life she momentarily wants to join.
- 🚗 Mechanic
- 💘 Love interest
- 🛡 Protection
Where and When Is Coneheads Set?
Coneheads is set in Paramus, New Jersey, Atlantic Ocean, Manhattan and New York (early 1990s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
early 1990s
Set in contemporary times relative to the film's 1993 release, the story blends late-20th-century suburban life with government oversight and media attention. The era provides a backdrop for the family’s efforts to pass as human while navigating ordinary American culture. The period framing highlights the humor of aliens adapting to a familiar but stubbornly normal world.
Where
Paramus, New Jersey, Atlantic Ocean, Manhattan, New York
The Coneheads settle in suburban Paramus, New Jersey, embracing a quiet, conventional lifestyle. They pursue normal jobs and routines to blend in, including Beldar running a driving school. Key moments also unfold around Manhattan and the Atlantic Ocean, where their crash and rescue echo the clash between everyday life and extraterrestrial origins.
- 🏙 Suburban life
- 🚗 Driving culture
- 👽 Alien presence
What Are the Themes of Coneheads?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Assimilation, Family and Identity.
-
01
Assimilation
The Coneheads attempt to fit into Earth society by mimicking everyday habits, language, and work routines. They acquire a human identity through clothes, jobs, and suburban living, highlighting the performative aspect of belonging. The film uses humor to critique how culture and personal identity can be shaped by social expectations. Yet, their alien origins constantly puncture the veneer of normalcy, reminding viewers of their otherness.
-
02
Family
Family loyalty anchors the Coneheads as they navigate Earth life together, teaching and protecting each other. Their bond drives Connie's desire to fit in while Beldar and Prymaat balance obedience to a mission with parenting. The suburb becomes a laboratory for family dynamics under unusual circumstances. The film uses this to explore how love and protection coexist with disguise and deception.
-
03
Identity
The alien origin of the Coneheads constantly challenges Earthling norms and expectations. Even as they learn to speak, work, and blend in, their physical appearance and alien tech reveal the gap between two worlds. The story uses identity tension to fuel humor and conflict, including government scrutiny and rescue plans. The resolution emphasizes chosen identity over planetary conquest.
What Kind of Film Is Coneheads?
Whimsical in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Whimsical
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A quirky and lighthearted sci-fi comedy that follows an alien family's earnest, often humorous attempts to build a suburban life on Earth while evading bumbling government agents.
- quirky
- lighthearted
- fish-out-of-water
- satirical
- family-friendly
- playful
- alien invasion
- assimilation
- family bonds
- suburban life
Quiz
How well do you remember Coneheads? Test yourself on the story.
