Ice Cube leads a modern retelling of the classic alien invasion story War of the Worlds, now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. The 2025 film brings a fresh twist to H.G. Wells’ 1898 novel, focusing on surveillance, government secrets, and a high-tech alien threat.
The movie follows Will Radford (Ice Cube), a cybersecurity expert working for the Department of Homeland Security. His job involves monitoring global threats through a massive surveillance system. But when meteors crash into Earth, revealing deadly alien machines, he uncovers a shocking government cover-up.
What Is the New War of the Worlds About?
The story centers on Will Radford, who tracks a hacker known as “Disruptor” while strange meteors hit the planet. The meteors release alien machines that attack humans and target data centers worldwide. Will soon learns that the government knew about the aliens and their hunger for data, leading to a dangerous conspiracy.
With the help of his hacker son Dave (Henry Hunter Hall) and scientist daughter Faith (Iman Benson), Will fights to shut down a secret surveillance program called “Goliath”, which the aliens are using to grow stronger. The film mixes sci-fi action with themes of privacy and family.
“It’ll be exciting for audiences to watch the movie and ask themselves: if aliens invaded today, how would we experience it? Most likely, we’d be watching it on our phones,” says producer Timur Bekmambetov.
Who Is in the Cast?
The movie features a strong cast, including:
- Ice Cube as Will Radford, a Homeland Security officer
- Eva Longoria as Dr. Sandra Salas, a NASA scientist
- Clark Gregg as Donald Briggs, the Director of Homeland Security
- Andrea Savage as FBI Agent Sheila Jeffries
- Henry Hunter Hall as Dave Radford, Will’s hacker son
- Iman Benson as Faith Radford, Will’s pregnant daughter
- Devon Bostick as Mark Goodman, an Amazon delivery driver
How to Watch War of the Worlds (2025)
The film is available to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video since July 30, 2025. It runs for 91 minutes and is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action, violence, and strong language.
Viewers can watch it in 4K with multiple language options, including English, Spanish, French, German, and more. Amazon Prime subscribers can access it for free, while others may need to rent or buy it.
What Are Critics Saying?
Reviews have been mixed, with some critics calling it a fresh take on the classic story, while others found it lacking.
“Ice Cube fights an alien invasion from behind a computer in Rich Lee’s screen-set take on the H.G. Wells classic,” says Gizmodo.
“What should have been a spectacular Roland Emmerich-style montage of destruction instead comes off blurry and unconvincing,” writes Variety.
Some viewers criticized the heavy Amazon product placement, including a scene where an Amazon delivery driver helps save the day using a drone.
How Does It Compare to Other War of the Worlds Adaptations?
The original H.G. Wells novel was published in 1898. Since then, there have been many adaptations, including:
- Orson Welles’ 1938 radio drama, which caused panic
- The 1953 movie, a classic sci-fi film
- Steven Spielberg’s 2005 version starring Tom Cruise
- The 2019 BBC miniseries, set in Edwardian England
This new version stands out by using a “screenlife” format, where most of the action is seen through computer screens, phones, and surveillance cameras.
Behind the Scenes
The film was directed by Rich Lee, known for music videos, and written by Kenneth Golde and Marc Hyman. It was produced by Patrick Aiello and Timur Bekmambetov, who also worked on Searching (2018) and Unfriended (2015).
Filming took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, with actors working remotely in some scenes. The movie was shot in a “screenlife” style, meaning much of the footage appears as if viewed through digital devices.
Final Thoughts
While not all critics loved it, War of the Worlds (2025) offers a modern twist on the alien invasion story. With Ice Cube in the lead and a focus on technology and surveillance, it brings a new perspective to the classic tale.
Also read: Resident Alien Cancelled After Four Seasons: Show Creator Promises a Satisfying Finale
Credits: Sources include Wikipedia, TV Insider, Variety, Gizmodo, and other entertainment news reports.
