District 9 (2009): cast, story & where to watch

2009 · Film · ★ 7.4

District 9 poster

Released in 2009, District 9 is a science fiction film directed by Neill Blomkamp, running about 112 minutes. “You are not welcome here.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth. Not to conquer or give aid, but to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens' welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.

Who’s in it. District 9 stars Sharlto Copley as Wikus van de Merwe, Jason Cope as Christopher Johnson / Grey Bradnam / Trent, Nathalie Boltt as Sarah Livingstone - Sociologist and Sylvaine Strike as Dr Katrina McKenzie, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, District 9 has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $210.8M at the box office.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch District 9 page.

If you liked it. Fans of District 9 tend to enjoy Inception, Interstellar, The Empire Strikes Back and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Frequently asked

Where can I watch District 9 (2009)?
In US, District 9 is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
Is District 9 worth watching?
District 9 holds an audience score of 7.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy science fiction. Most viewers rate it highly.
Who stars in District 9?
District 9 stars Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt, Sylvaine Strike and Elizabeth Mkandawie.
When was District 9 released?
District 9 was released in 2009, with a runtime of about 112 minutes.