Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Evolution

  • 2001
  • PG-13
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
140K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,599
426
David Duchovny, Julianne Moore, Seann William Scott, and Orlando Jones in Evolution (2001)
Trailer
Play trailer2:21
1 Video
99+ Photos
Alien InvasionComedySci-Fi

Two college professors team up with a fire-fighting cadet and a government scientist to combat an alien organism that has been rapidly evolving since its arrival on Earth inside a meteor.Two college professors team up with a fire-fighting cadet and a government scientist to combat an alien organism that has been rapidly evolving since its arrival on Earth inside a meteor.Two college professors team up with a fire-fighting cadet and a government scientist to combat an alien organism that has been rapidly evolving since its arrival on Earth inside a meteor.

  • Director
    • Ivan Reitman
  • Writers
    • Don Jakoby
    • David Diamond
    • David Weissman
  • Stars
    • David Duchovny
    • Orlando Jones
    • Julianne Moore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    140K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,599
    426
    • Director
      • Ivan Reitman
    • Writers
      • Don Jakoby
      • David Diamond
      • David Weissman
    • Stars
      • David Duchovny
      • Orlando Jones
      • Julianne Moore
    • 497User reviews
    • 75Critic reviews
    • 40Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Evolution (2001)
    Trailer 2:21
    Evolution (2001)

    Photos208

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 202
    View Poster

    Top cast72

    Edit
    David Duchovny
    David Duchovny
    • Ira Kane
    Orlando Jones
    Orlando Jones
    • Harry Block
    Julianne Moore
    Julianne Moore
    • Allison
    Seann William Scott
    Seann William Scott
    • Wayne
    Ted Levine
    Ted Levine
    • Gen. Woodman
    Ethan Suplee
    Ethan Suplee
    • Deke
    Michael Bower
    Michael Bower
    • Danny
    • (as Michael Ray Bower)
    Pat Kilbane
    Pat Kilbane
    • Officer Johnson
    Ty Burrell
    Ty Burrell
    • Flemming
    Dan Aykroyd
    Dan Aykroyd
    • Governor Lewis
    Katharine Towne
    Katharine Towne
    • Nadine
    Gregory Itzin
    Gregory Itzin
    • Cartwright
    Ashley Clark
    • Lt. Cryer
    Michelle Wolff
    Michelle Wolff
    • Carla
    Sarah Silverman
    Sarah Silverman
    • Denise
    Richard Moll
    Richard Moll
    • Fire Training Inspector
    Michael McGrady
    Michael McGrady
    • Fireman
    Steven Gilborn
    Steven Gilborn
    • Judge Guilder
    • Director
      • Ivan Reitman
    • Writers
      • Don Jakoby
      • David Diamond
      • David Weissman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews497

    6.1139.5K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    8helenaduberry

    Funny

    Evolution is a step up from most gross-out comedies. With a nice idea for a plot, it starts off quite serious before the stars show their comic talents off. David Duchovny has good comic timing that hasn't really been tapped before, Orlando Jones is far better here than in Double Take and Say It Isn't So and Seann William Scott is a damn fine comic actor who uses his goofy charm to his advantage. Julianne Moore's constant falling over isn't funny, but you can't have everything. It's a shame that it flopped in the US, because it's really good. The special effects are decent, the turns are likeable and the script is loaded with sharp wit. OK, maybe some jokes go dead but seeing Orlando Jones getting lubricated after a bug enters his body and Scott singing to a flying monster in a mall is reason enough to go see this excellent summer blockbuster.
    7aspinn-38771

    Damn good fun!

    This is a simply good fun creature movie the acting was good the creatures were good the plot line good the comedy good in essence 90 minutes well spent.
    DunnDeeDaGreat

    Fun flick

    Evolution is meant to be nothing but a fun flick and that what is. The fil is vein of Ghostbusters and has very funny moments. Seann William Scott makes this movie for me though. He's on the verge of being a superstar. The atcion sequences and direction also make this a good film. Check it out for a good time.
    8dreamseq

    Loved the Creatures

    A lot has been said about what's good and bad in the movie. I won't revisit those comments. I thought the creatures were creative and hysterical.

    Sure they weren't logical or realistic, but they were fun in a fantasy sort of sense. I enjoyed the watching the entire alien "ecosystem" evolve.

    Fortunately, I'm the kind of person that understands a movie made to be predominantly a comedy doesn't require scientific accuracy, nor should the audience expect it. It was intentionally silly.

    One last thing. I thought David Duchovny did a great job playing a character that had a wry, dry sense of humor. He wasn't exactly a straight man, but it was clear to me, he was laughing at the world.

    Rating, I gave it 8/10 because it entertained me AND my wife, something many movies can't do.
    6gavin6942

    Not the Best Comedy, But It Has Enough Good Parts

    A duo of small town college professors stumble upon a meteor with alien life present. This is great news for them, at least until they find out that the alien evolves and reproduces at a rapid rate, so much that the earth may be devoured in a matter of days.

    This film's strong point? David Duchovny. While the jokes are so-so and the plot is a pleasant variation of "The Blob", it is Duchovny that makes this film watchable. Without him, it would be easily forgettable and probably wouldn't have the underground geek following that it does. I also appreciated the brief appearance from Sarah Silverman.

    A few years later, the film "Slither" came out which once again tackles the idea of an evolving, blob-like life form. I think "Slither" is the better film: better effects, much more horror-oriented and still with a healthy dose of comedy. Though I wouldn't say it made "Evolution" entirely obsolete -- they are two distinct films with distinct charms that may appeal to different audiences.

    More like this

    The Time Machine
    6.0
    The Time Machine
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
    6.7
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
    Rat Race
    6.5
    Rat Race
    Galaxy Quest
    7.4
    Galaxy Quest
    Dude, Where's My Car?
    5.5
    Dude, Where's My Car?
    The X Files
    7.0
    The X Files
    Mars Attacks!
    6.4
    Mars Attacks!
    Bedazzled
    6.1
    Bedazzled
    Evolution
    5.9
    Evolution
    Paul
    6.9
    Paul
    Tremors
    7.2
    Tremors
    Eight Legged Freaks
    5.5
    Eight Legged Freaks

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Initially written as a serious science-fiction thriller, Ivan Reitman hired David Diamond and David Weissman to re-write the project as a Ghostbusters (1984)-style comedy. The original writer, Don Jakoby, actually enjoyed the changes so much, he continued working on the film alongside the other writers.
    • Goofs
      In the opening sequence, when Wayne runs from the meteor about to hit the ground, he isn't wearing his fireman's jacket. When he is shown with his back to the camera looking at the explosion, he is wearing a jacket.
    • Quotes

      [Dr. Paulson is going to pull the alien bug out through Harry's rectum]

      Nurse Tate: I'll get the lubricant...

      Dr. Paulson: There's no time for lubricant!

      Harry Block: There's ALWAYS time for lubricant!

    • Crazy credits
      There is an item 'Stunt Primate'
    • Alternate versions
      In the courtroom scene, 'Julianne Moore (I)''s character's top pops open, flashing David Duchovny and contributing to her character's inherent clumsiness. This was later cut from the theatrical release, but remnants of its effect can be seen in the courtroom scene. At the beginning of the scene, the top button of her blouse is obviously stretching her blouse, and later we see her clutching her jacket over the open shirt. There is also an allusion to it later in the diner when Orlando Jones comments upon Duchovny's ex pulling off one of his old shirts, saying all the women he's met today have taken off their shirts in front of him.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: What's the Worst That Could Happen?/Pearl Harbor/The Anniversary Party/Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      Bombshell
      Written by Michael Tempesta & Michael Cummings

      Performed by Powerman 5000

      Courtesy of DreamWorks Records

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ20

    • How long is Evolution?Powered by Alexa
    • Were the references to Head & Shoulders product placement?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 8, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Evolución
    • Filming locations
      • Page, Arizona, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Dreamworks Pictures
      • The Montecito Picture Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $80,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $38,345,494
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,408,351
      • Jun 10, 2001
    • Gross worldwide
      • $98,376,292
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    David Duchovny, Julianne Moore, Seann William Scott, and Orlando Jones in Evolution (2001)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of Evolution (2001) in Canada?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.