Aliens vs. Avatars
A 2011 mockbuster of Alien vs. Predator and Avatar.
Aliens vs. Avatars is a 2011 American science fiction film directed by Lewis Schoenbrun. It was made as a mockbuster of both *Alien vs. Predator* and *Avatar*, and centers on a conflict between a hostile alien species and shape-shifting beings from another world, with six college friends getting caught up in the fight. The cast includes Jason Lockhart, Kim Argetsinger, Dylan Vox, Georgina Totentino, Marlene Mc'Cohen, and Ginny You.
The movie was shot in Los Angeles, California, during the summer of 2010. At that time, Schoenbrun was finishing post-production on another film, *The Amazing Bulk*. He found *Aliens vs. Avatars* more challenging to produce, largely because it required multiple shooting locations.
Released straight to video, DVD, and television on September 20, 2011, the film did not get a theatrical run. That year, it was Schoenbrun’s most widely distributed movie. Horror blogger Baron Craze panned it, calling the dialogue “half baked thoughts, concepts, and Swiss cheese drivel” and noting that while cheap effects can work in B-movies, the film lacked fun and entertainment, ultimately “miss[ing] every grade” with a “laundry list of problems, namely boredom.” Reviewer Richard Scheib described it as “a marginally better made film of the type that is usually shot on a camcorder over successive weekends by teenage wannabes.” However, the film found a warmer reception on the Japanese home video market, where one personal reviewer gave it a perfect 5/5 score, explaining that “when things get too hectic, we need an utterly useless Z-movie like this to give us time to decompress,” adding that the price of 500 yen was worth it.
In 2012, the film’s production studio, Tomcat Films, sued hundreds of “John Doe” defendants in U.S. federal court for allegedly illegally downloading the movie, a lawsuit that has been described as copyright trolling. As of 2021, the film’s distributor, Summer Hill Entertainment, refers to the movie as *Alien vs. Alien*.
- release_date
- September 20, 2011
- director
- Lewis Schoenbrun
- genre
- Science fiction
- country
- United States
- distributor
- Summer Hill Entertainment
- production_studio
- Tomcat films
- runtime
- Not specified
Lore & Background
Aliens vs. Avatars was shot in Los Angeles, California in the summer of 2010. Director Lewis Schoenbrun was simultaneously completing post-production for his film The Amazing Bulk. Schoenbrun considered Aliens vs. Avatars more difficult to produce than his other works, primarily due to multiple shooting locations. The film stars Jason Lockhart, Kim Argetsinger, Dylan Vox, Georgina Totentino, Marlene Mc'Cohen, and Ginny You, with additional cast including Cassie Fliegel.
The film did not receive a theatrical release and was released directly to video, DVD, and television. In 2011, it was Schoenbrun's most widely released film. Horror film blogger Baron Craze panned the movie, criticizing its dialogue and effects, while reviewer Richard Scheib called it 'a marginally better made film of the type that is usually shot on a camcorder over successive weekends by teenage wannabes.' The film was better received on the home video market in Japan, with at least one personal reviewer giving it 5/5 stars.
In 2012, the film's production studio Tomcat films sued hundreds of 'John Doe' defendants in US federal court for allegedly illegally downloading the film, a suit described as a case of copyright trolling.
Reader's Guide
Aliens vs. Avatars is notable as a low-budget mockbuster capitalizing on the popularity of two major science fiction franchises. Its direct-to-video release and mixed critical reception illustrate the niche market for Z-movies. The film's significance lies partly in its legal aftermath: the 2012 copyright trolling lawsuit by Tomcat films against alleged downloaders became a notable example of aggressive copyright enforcement. The film also demonstrates the career trajectory of director Lewis Schoenbrun, who balanced multiple projects. While largely dismissed by critics, its positive reception in Japan highlights how such films can find cult audiences. The distributor's later retitling to 'Alien vs. Alien' reflects ongoing attempts to market the film. For historians, it serves as a case study in mockbuster production, direct-to-video distribution, and the legal controversies surrounding digital piracy enforcement in the early 2010s.
Did You Know?
- The film was shot in Los Angeles, California in the summer of 2010.
- Director Lewis Schoenbrun was completing post-production for The Amazing Bulk at the time of filming.
- In 2012, production studio Tomcat films sued hundreds of 'John Doe' defendants for allegedly illegally downloading the film.
- As of 2021, distributor Summer Hill Entertainment refers to the film as 'Alien vs. Alien'.
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