Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins

B-Sides, Tom Cruise: Although it is true that War of the Worlds boasts award nominations and a huge box office take, almost two decades later it has been overshadowed by other blockbusters of both Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg. It stands as one of the more exciting sci-fi thrillers of the first decade of the 2000s.

Dockworker Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) struggles to build a positive relationship with his two children, Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and Robbie (Justin Chatwin). When his ex-wife, Mary Ann (Miranda Otto), drops them off at Ferrier’s house, it seems as though it will be just another tension-filled weekend. However, when electromagnetic pulses of lightning strike the area, the strange event turns out to be the beginning of an alien invasion, and Ferrier must now protect his children as they seek refuge.