What would you do if your planet were suddenly invaded by aliens with malevolent intentions? The American President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) opts for a message of peace and friendship, but the Martians are not interested. They smell blood, and with their weapons of mass destruction, they want nothing more than to completely destroy the human race. World leaders join forces with a group of ordinary citizens to devise a plan to stop the invaders.
"Mars Attacks" is an absurdist sci-fi satire in which narrow-minded individuals and megalomaniacal rulers are constantly ridiculed. The film exudes the atmosphere of a 1950s science-fiction B-movie and stands out for its humor and exuberant art direction, which sets it apart from typical science-fiction action films. The surreal CGI animation used to create the Martians gives the film a unique atmosphere within director Tim Burton's extensive body of work.