You see them on the street. You watch them on TV. You might even vote for one this fall. You think they're people just like you. You're wrong. Dead wrong.
A lone drifter stumbles upon a harrowing discovery -- a unique pair of sunglasses that reveals that aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission.
Cast
Roddy Piper
John Nada
Keith David
Frank Armitage
Meg Foster
Holly Thompsen
George Buck Flower
Drifter
Peter Jason
Gilbert
Raymond St. Jacques
Street Preacher
Jason Robards III
Family Man
John Lawrence
Bearded Man
Susan Barnes
Brown Haired Woman
Sy Richardson
Black Revolutionary
Wendy Brainard
Family Man's Daughter
Lucille Meredith
Female Interviewer
Susan Blanchard
Ingenue
Norman Alden
Foreman
Dana Bratton
Black Junkie
John F. Goff
Well Dressed Customer
Norman D. Wilson
Vendor
Thelma Lee
Rich Lady
Stratton Leopold
Depressed Human
Rezza Shan
Arab Clerk
Norman Howell
Blonde Haired Cop
Larry Franco
Neighbor
Tom Searle
Biker
Robert Grasmere
Scruffy Blonde Man
Vince Inneo
Passageway Guard
Bob Hudson
Passageway Guard #2
Jon Paul Jones
Manager
Dennis Michael
Male News Anchor
Nancy Gee
Female News Anchor
Claudia Stanlee
Young Female Executive
Christine Anne Baur
Woman on Phone
Eileen Wesson
Pregnant Secretary
Gregory J. Barnett
Security Guard #1
Jim Nickerson
Security Guard #2
Kerry Rossall
2nd Unit Guard
Cibby Danyla
Naked Lady
Jeff Imada
Male Ghoul
Michelle Costello
Female Ghoul
Jeb Stuart Adams
Homeless kid (uncredited)
Jennifer Austin
Teenage Girl (uncredited)
Michael Forino
Ghoul at Bar (uncredited)
Robert V. Greene
TV Technician (uncredited)
Helen Kelly
Woman at the Dinner Party (uncredited)
Al Leong
Asian Revolutionary (uncredited)
Gunnar Magg
Male Ghoulie (uncredited)
Matt McColm
Police Officer (uncredited)
Tommy Morrison
Dave - Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
John Carpenter
Voice That Says 'Sleep'
News
Obey and Check Out These ‘They Live’ Hoffman Lenses from Middle of Beyond
Horror retailer Middle of Beyond has released replicas of the 'They Live' Hoffman lenses, guaranteed to make you look good while kicking ass.
John Carpenter’s THEY LIVE Screen-Accurate Sunglasses Available from Fright-Rags
Fright-Rags has come here to chew bubble gum and release kick-ass film merch… and they’re all out of bubble gum! The horror brand has launched pre-ord...
- Release Date 11/04/1988
- Language English
- Director John Carpenter
- Editors Frank E. Jimenez, Gib Jaffe
- Cinematographer Gary B. Kibbe
- Producer Larry Franco
- Companies Alive Films, Larry Franco Productions
- Budget $4,000,000
- Homepage theofficialjohncarpenter.com
| Country | Date | Format | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Nov 4, 1988 | Theatrical | 14A |
| United States | Nov 4, 1988 | Theatrical | R |
| SE | Jan 1, 1989 | Physical (VHS release; The release day and month is not known.) | 15 |
| Japan | Jan 28, 1989 | Theatrical | G |
| United States | Apr 13, 1989 | Physical (VHS) | R |
| Italy | Apr 14, 1989 | Theatrical | T |
| France | Apr 19, 1989 | Theatrical | TP |
| Germany | May 4, 1989 | Theatrical | 18 |
| Australia | May 18, 1989 | Theatrical | M |
| PT | May 19, 1989 | Theatrical | M/12 |
| Netherlands | Jun 15, 1989 | Theatrical | 12 |
| United Kingdom | Jun 22, 1989 | Theatrical | 18 |
| IE | Jun 23, 1989 | Theatrical | 18 |
| Japan | Nov 25, 1989 | Physical (LaserDisc) | — |
| Brazil | Dec 1, 1989 | Theatrical (IMDB) | 14 |
| Mexico | Dec 1, 1989 | Theatrical | B-15 |
| Spain | Jun 12, 1992 | Theatrical (ICAA: 96752) | 18 |
| CZ | Mar 1, 1994 | Physical | — |
| United States | Mar 25, 1998 | Physical (DVD) | R |
| Netherlands | Dec 24, 2002 | Physical (DVD) | 16 |
| GR | Apr 2, 2003 | Physical (DVD) | K15 |
| Netherlands | May 14, 2003 | TV (V8) | 16 |
| SG | Sep 23, 2003 | Physical (DVD) | M18 |
| SE | Jun 2, 2004 | Physical (DVD release) | 15 |
| UA | Oct 24, 2020 | Premiere (Kyiv Critics' Week) | — |
They Live Ratings
Overall
Overall rating of the media
Scares
How effective are the jump scares
Atmosphere
How immersive and tense is the atmosphere
Gore
Level and quality of gore/violence
Story
Quality of the storyline and plot
Special Effects
Quality of special/visual effects
Sound Design
Audio quality and sound effects
Pacing
Flow and timing of the narrative