What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMars Attacks!
Film · 1996
If you loved Mars Attacks!, start with BrainDead (Michelle King, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Mars Attacks! across media.
What hooked you in Mars Attacks! was the way it weaponized absurdity to mock the fragile egos of humanity and our political institutions.
Books on the same thread
The Martian Chronicles
Ray Bradbury · Book · 1977
Explores: Colonialism, Nostalgia, Environmentalism.
If you enjoyed the cosmic irony of Mars Attacks!, this collection offers a more melancholic take on the human encounter with Martians and the inevitable failure of colonization.
The Martian
Andy Weir · Book · 2015
Explores: Resourcefulness, Human Ingenuity, Isolation.
While Mars Attacks! thrives on chaotic destruction, this book provides the inverse experience by showing how human ingenuity and scientific rigor can actually survive in a hostile Martian environment.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams · Book · 1979
Explores: Existentialism, Bureaucracy, The Absurd.
This book shares the irreverent, biting humor found in Mars Attacks!, using the backdrop of space travel to highlight the sheer absurdity of bureaucracy and existence in the universe.
War with the Newts
Karel Čapek · Book · 1955
Explores: Colonialism, Xenophobia, Environmental Disaster.
Much like the alien invasion in Mars Attacks!, this satire uses a bizarre non-human threat to expose the greed and corruption inherent in human political and corporate structures.
Series on the same thread
3rd Rock from the Sun
Terry Turner · Series · 1996
Shares a thread with Mars Attacks!: Alien Invasion.
You will recognize the same fish-out-of-water comedy from Mars Attacks! in this series, as aliens attempt to navigate human culture with disastrous and deeply funny social misunderstandings.
BrainDead
Michelle King · Series · 2016
Shares 3 threads with Mars Attacks!: Alien Invasion, Political Satire, Sci-Fi Comedy.
This show mirrors the political paranoia of Mars Attacks! by depicting a Washington D.C. where the government is literally compromised by alien forces, blending horror with sharp satire.
M*A*S*H
Larry Gelbart · Series · 1972
Explores: Dark Humor, Existentialism, Friendship During Wartime.
The doctors here rely on the same brand of dark, cynical humor to cope with their surroundings as the characters in Mars Attacks! facing an extraterrestrial existential threat.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Joel Hodgson · Series · 1989
Shares a thread with Mars Attacks!: Satire.
Since Mars Attacks! is itself a loving homage to B-movie tropes, you will appreciate this show for its dedication to riffing on and celebrating those exact low-budget film traditions.
Podcasts on the same thread
NerdCast
Jovem Nerd · Podcast
Shares a thread with Mars Attacks!: satire.
This podcast captures the same spirit of irreverent commentary found in Mars Attacks!, turning the chaos of the modern world into a satirical experience for the listener.
WAR MODE
Podcast
Shares a thread with Mars Attacks!: Satire.
If the cynical political humor of Mars Attacks! resonated with you, this podcast offers a similar brand of dark, biting commentary on the state of current events and politics.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Mars Attacks! a film about a peaceful alien encounter?
Mars Attacks! begins with the premise that extraterrestrial visitors come in peace. However, the mission is revealed to be hostile when the Martians initiate the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress shortly after their arrival, proving their initial claim of a friendly mission to be entirely false.
What happens when the Martians arrive in Mars Attacks!?
In Mars Attacks!, a fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds major cities across the world. While President James Dale and professor Donald Kessler initially believe the visitors are friendly, the Martians eventually demonstrate their true intentions by destroying the U.S. Congress, leading the military to call for a response.
Who is the primary advisor to the president in Mars Attacks!?
The primary advisor to President James Dale in Mars Attacks! is science professor Donald Kessler. He provides the president with assurances that the Martian mission is friendly, which leads the administration to believe the extraterrestrials have come in peace before the situation turns violent and the Congress is destroyed.
Does the military believe the Martians in Mars Attacks!?
The military does not trust the Martians in Mars Attacks! after the peaceful exchange concludes with the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress. Following this act of violence, the military men involved in the situation call for action against the Martian fleet surrounding the world's major cities.