If an alien civilization were to visit Earth, what movie would you pick to show them in order to give them a summary of what mankind is all about?
Idiocracy
It's got what alien civilizations crave
...but after that aliens gonna want to see the "Ass".
Idiocracy
Everyday idiocracy is becoming more and more real
History of the world: part 1
I'm so disappointed there was never a part 2 made. That's one of my all-time favorite movies.
Independence Day. Just run away, alien dudes! The xenophobia isn't worth it!
Office space.
Schindler's List. Humans can be nasty, horrible, utterly evil. It's all too common. But some of us will work to do good. Some of us will push back and do what's right. There is evil in this world, but there is also goodness.
"Contact" for a similar reason. It's a mix of all motivations, along with people's general mistrust of each other.
Samsara for the same reason. It shows beauty mixed with terrifying images of human impact.
Koyaanisqatsi or Baraka, since I'm guessing they won't understand English nor indeed any human language.
I made the mistake of watching Baraka on 3gs of mushrooms.
I am a changed man.
Doesn't sound like a mistake.
I was hoping to find Koyaanisqatsi here
They'll nuke us out of orbit after watching that, but hey
Problem solved!
Life of Brian, no doubt
The meaning of life too
300
Let them think humanity is 99% buff oily badasses in speedos who will gladly fuck you up until their dying breath.
The man from earth. That should confuse them.
Hey, Neptune! I'm the only other human to have seen that movie!
I wish there were more. I love it so much.
There was a sequel, but I didn't really care for it.
There is a sequel but it failed to capture the spirit of the first one. I think it used to be free on their website.
Also, when I watched it a few years back, they were working on a TV series but I am not sure if it ever got off the ground.
Me too.
Nonsense, I've seen it multiple times. It's a favorite of mine. A sequel on the other hand was, 'meh' at best.
Somehow. They did make a sequel. That's what Wikipedia says.
I should re-watch it. It's been years.
By Jerome Bixby? It's my favorite movie. I have to watch that again soon
My autistic ass would have them watch all three Lord of the Rings movies. Y'all need to find a better diplomat than me.
My first thought too 😅
Idiocracy
The Big Lebowski
That's, just like, uh, your opinion, man.
Don't Look Up - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dont_look_up_2021
Sort of summarizes the total shit-show that current politicians and billionaires are responsible for.
Mean girls
On a Wednesday and make everyone wear pink, so the aliens feel ashamed for not wearing pink.
Idiocracy.
Real answer though, 2001 a space odyssey.
Idiocracy was honestly my first thought, but they wouldn't have all the cultural nuance required to understand it. Someone else said Don't Look Up, which I think would get through the irrationality a bit better.
Haha 2001 was my first thought, and Idiocracy was my second.
Independence Day.
I'll tell them it was a documentary. Or at least based on a true story.
"Interesting! Tell us, where are these aliens with terrible cybersecurity? We were thinking of conquering you, but now it's pretty clear that there's an easier and wealthier target."
History of the World: Part 1 seems pretty fitting.
Why not part 2?
Gotta start from the beginning.
Idiocracy.
Independence Day. Tell them it's a documentary.
Just the entire Cunk on Earth series.
100% factual information about human history.
5th Element is the only correct answer.
Although it would probably lead to a big badda boom :)
Shocked nobody's mentioned 'Mars Attacks.'
Orgasmo. The '97 one, not the '69 one. ... fuck it, also the '69 one. Make it a double-feature.
You should show them my latest movie that I can't promote right now.
They would be so confused, it would be hilarious.
Schindler's List
Not a movie exactly, creators asked some basic questions and invited people to submit footage from a single day in July 2010. Exciting or mundane, anything.
It’s really well put together and always gives me a refreshed perspective on my place in the world.
They did it again in 2020, during the pandemic.
A Serbian Film
Spaceballs
Baraka... but they'd be 30 years out of sync with today :-)
I feel like it stood the test of time. Was my top pick with Idiocracy being a close second.
Why not Samsara?
Obviously the complete Stargate franchise. Humans don't put up with aliens tryin' to pull any shit.
The Gods Must Be Crazy. I think it shows the absurdity of our modern civilization in a lighthearted way.
Gods*
You're completely right. That what I get for writing on my phone. Corrected
Eraserhead.
Lol. They'd leave and never come back.
"Gorg, wtf did I just watch?"
"I don't know, Sir"
Right? The best plan.
Arrival I think would be a great choice.
Honestly, Contact.
Obviously the greatest documentary ever committed to film: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.
If I could get away with a miniseries, James Burke's Connections.
Or Cunk on Earth. It's a toss-up.
I just came here to upvote every "Idiocracy" comment
The Invention of Lying
Doctor Zhivago. And when they inevitably fall asleep. I’m jacking that Ufo.
District 9
Double Feature: Ender's Game (2013) and Starship Troopers (1997) - then we serve them a sumptuous shellfish tower to discuss their surrender over dinner.
Yeah, let them read the book and tell them that sadly no movie has ever been made.
Letting them know what mankind is all about seems like a terrible idea. We're jerks.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) - Literally telling aliens that we will fuck shit up.
Stalker (1979) - You can leave your garbage and we'll think it's treasure.
Dude, Where's My Car? (2000) - Humanity is really just a bunch of idiots, stumbling through everything.
Full Metal Jacket.
gremlins 2
Samsara
Love that movie, Baraka is also a good choice.
Hellraiser II
Wall-E. Sums it up pretty well
shrek 2
Shawshank Redemption
Earth Girls Are Easy
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
They Shall Not Grow Old (2018) by Peter Jackson.
Salò.