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They Live > Credits and Details
Directed by
John Carpenter John Carpenter ... directed by
Written by
Ray Nelson Ray Nelson ... short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning"
John Carpenter John Carpenter ... screenplay by
Cast
Roddy Piper Roddy Piper ... Nada
Keith David Keith David ... Frank
Meg Foster Meg Foster ... Holly
George 'Buck' Flower George 'Buck' Flower ... Drifter
Peter Jason Peter Jason ... Gilbert
Raymond St. Jacques Raymond St. Jacques ... Street Preacher
Jason Robards III Jason Robards III ... Family Man
John Lawrence John Lawrence ... Bearded Man
Susan Barnes Susan Barnes ... Brown Haired Woman
Sy Richardson Sy Richardson ... Black Revolutionary
Wendy Brainard Wendy Brainard ... Family Man's Daughter
Lucille Meredith Lucille Meredith ... Female Interviewer
Susan Blanchard Susan Blanchard ... Ingenue
Norman Alden Norman Alden ... Foreman
Dana Bratton Dana Bratton ... Black Junkie
John F. Goff John F. Goff ... Well Dressed Customer
Norman D. Wilson Norman D. Wilson ... Vendor (as Norm Wilson)
Thelma Lee Thelma Lee ... Rich Lady
Stratton Leopold Stratton Leopold ... Depressed Human
Rezza Shan Rezza Shan ... Arab Clerk
Norman Howell Norman Howell ... Blonde Haired Cop
Larry Franco Larry Franco ... Neighbor
Tom Searle Tom Searle ... Biker
Robert Grasmere Robert Grasmere ... Scruffy Blonde Man
Vince Inneo Vince Inneo ... Passageway Guard
Bob Hudson Bob Hudson ... Passageway Guard #2
Jon Paul Jones Jon Paul Jones ... Manager
Dennis Cosmo Michael Dennis Cosmo Michael ... Male News Anchor (as Dennis Michael)
Nancy Gee Nancy Gee ... Female News Anchor
Claudia Stanlee Claudia Stanlee ... Young Female Executive
Christine Anne Baur Christine Anne Baur ... Woman on Phone (as Christine Baur)
Eileen Wesson Eileen Wesson ... Pregnant Secretary
Gregory J. Barnett Gregory J. Barnett ... Security Guard #1 (as Gregory Barnett)
Jimmy Nickerson Jimmy Nickerson ... Security Guard #2 (as Jim Nickerson)
Kerry Rossall Kerry Rossall ... 2nd Unit Guard
Cibby Danyla Cibby Danyla ... Naked Lady
Jeff Imada Jeff Imada ... Male Ghoul
Michelle Costello Michelle Costello ... Female Ghoul
Uncredited Cast
Jeb Stuart Adams Jeb Stuart Adams ... Homeless Kid
Jennifer Austin Jennifer Austin ... Teenage Girl
Rick Avery Rick Avery ... TV Studio Worker
John Carpenter John Carpenter ... Voice That Says 'Sleep' (voice)
Michael Forino Michael Forino ... Ghoul at Bar
Robert V. Greene Robert V. Greene ... TV Technician
Randy James Randy James ... Bar Patron
Helen Kelly Helen Kelly ... Woman at the Dinner Party
Henry Kingi Henry Kingi ... Revolutionary
Al Leong Al Leong ... Asian Revolutionary
Gunnar Magg Gunnar Magg ... Male Ghoul
Matt McColm Matt McColm ... Police Officer
John Meier John Meier ... SWAT Officer
Tommy Morrison Tommy Morrison ... Dave - Resistance Fighter
Peter Rodkey Peter Rodkey ... Office Worker
Brian Wright Brian Wright ... Master Control Operator
Produced by
Andre Blay Andre Blay ... executive producer
Larry Franco Larry Franco ... producer
Shep Gordon Shep Gordon ... executive producer
Sandy King Sandy King ... associate producer
Original Music by
John Carpenter John Carpenter ... music by
Alan Howarth Alan Howarth ... music by
Special Effects by
Michael Arbogast Michael Arbogast ... special effects assistant
Roy Arbogast Roy Arbogast ... special effects coordinator
David Blitstein David Blitstein ... special effects assistant
Jim Danforth Jim Danforth ... special photographic effects
Scott Garcia Scott Garcia ... special effects technician
William Lee William Lee ... special effects assistant
Stunts
Rick Avery Rick Avery ... stunts / stunt actor
Christine Anne Baur Christine Anne Baur ... stunts / stunt actress
Simone Boisseree Simone Boisseree ... stunts
John Borland John Borland ... stunts
Brad Bovee Brad Bovee ... stunts
John Branagan John Branagan ... stunts
Tony Brubaker Tony Brubaker ... stunts
Kurt Bryant Kurt Bryant ... stunts
David Burton David Burton ... stunts
David Cadiente David Cadiente ... stunts
Jimmy Casino Jimmy Casino ... stunts
John Casino John Casino ... stunts
Phil Chong Phil Chong ... stunts
Gary Combs Gary Combs ... stunts
Gilbert B. Combs Gilbert B. Combs ... stunts
Bob K. Cummings Bob K. Cummings ... stunts
Gary Davis Gary Davis ... stunts
Tim A. Davison Tim A. Davison ... stunts
Shane Dixon Shane Dixon ... stunts
Cheryl Wheeler Duncan Cheryl Wheeler Duncan ... stunts
Richard L. Duran Richard L. Duran ... stunts
Eurlyne Epper Eurlyne Epper ... stunts
Gary Epper Gary Epper ... stunts
Jon H. Epstein Jon H. Epstein ... stunts
Debbie Evans Debbie Evans ... stunts
Diamond Farnsworth Diamond Farnsworth ... stunts
George Fisher George Fisher ... stunts
Joe Gilbride Joe Gilbride ... stunts
Andy Gill Andy Gill ... stunts
Allan Graf Allan Graf ... stunts
Randy Hall Randy Hall ... stunts
Steve Hart Steve Hart ... stunts
Eddie Hice Eddie Hice ... stunts
Freddie Hice Freddie Hice ... stunts
Marcia Holley Marcia Holley ... stunts
Norman Howell Norman Howell ... stunts / stunt actor
Brian Imada Brian Imada ... stunts
Jeff Imada Jeff Imada ... stunt coordinator
Mike Johnson Mike Johnson ... stunts
Matt Johnston Matt Johnston ... stunts
Henry Kingi Henry Kingi ... stunts / stunt actor
Joel Kramer Joel Kramer ... stunts
Daniel Lee Daniel Lee ... stunts
Al Leong Al Leong ... stunts / stunt actor
James Lew James Lew ... stunts
Billy D. Lucas Billy D. Lucas ... stunts / stunt double: Roddy Piper
Eric Mansker Eric Mansker ... stunts
Matt McColm Matt McColm ... stunts / stunt actor
John Meier John Meier ... stunts / stunt actor
Bennie Moore Bennie Moore ... stunts
Donna L. Noguchi Donna L. Noguchi ... stunts
Chuck Picerni Jr. Chuck Picerni Jr. ... stunts
Branscombe Richmond Branscombe Richmond ... stunts
Danny Rogers Danny Rogers ... stunts
Ronnie Rondell Jr. Ronnie Rondell Jr. ... stunts
Thomas Rosales Jr. Thomas Rosales Jr. ... stunts
Tim Roslan Tim Roslan ... stunts
Debby Lynn Ross Debby Lynn Ross ... stunts
Michael Runyard Michael Runyard ... stunts
Ben Scott Ben Scott ... stunts
John-Clay Scott John-Clay Scott ... stunts
Walter Scott Walter Scott ... stunts
Jan Michael Shultz Jan Michael Shultz ... stunts
Christopher Corey Smith Christopher Corey Smith ... stunts
Russell Solberg Russell Solberg ... stunts
Ceci Vendrell Ceci Vendrell ... stunts
Michael M. Vendrell Michael M. Vendrell ... stunts
Ric Roman Waugh Ric Roman Waugh ... stunts
Danny Weselis Danny Weselis ... stunts
Scott Wilder Scott Wilder ... stunts
Dianne L. Wilson Dianne L. Wilson ... stunts
Merritt Yohnka Merritt Yohnka ... stunts
Gregory J. Barnett Gregory J. Barnett ... stunt actor
Jimmy Nickerson Jimmy Nickerson ... stunt actor
Additional Info
Premiere: November 04, 1988
DVD Release: March 25, 1998
Blu-ray Release: November 06, 2012
Countries: United States Netherlands
Distributor: Scream Factory
Websites: IMDb Wikipedia
Ratings
SkullJoy

6.3 / 10

IMDb

7.2 / 10

Metacritic

55 / 100

Production Companies
Alive Films (presents)
Larry Franco Productions
Distributors
Universal Pictures
  (1988) (United States) (theatrical)
MCA Home Video
  (1989) (United States) (VHS)
MCA/Universal Home Video
  (1989) (United States) (laserdisc)
TNT
  (1997) (United States) (MonsterVision) (TV)
Image Entertainment
  (1998) (United States) (DVD)
GoodTimes Home Video
  (1999) (United States) (VHS)
Universal Studios Home Video
  (2003) (United States) (DVD)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE)
  (2009) (United States) (4 film collection) (DVD)
Scream Factory
  (2012) (United States) (collector's edition) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
Scream Factory
  (2020) (United States) (Ultra HD Blu-ray) (collector's edition)
Peacock
  (2021) (United States) (VOD) (video)
The Criterion Channel
  (2025) (United States) (streaming) (TV)
Filming Locations
116 N Spring St, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (opening park scene)
1200 Colton Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Shantytown/homeless camp)
333 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (construction site)
355 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Nada admires skyscrapers right after he arrives)
431 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Newspaper stand)
530 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Marry & Reproduce sign)
619 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Armisi Men's Apparel)
631 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Obey Sign)
640 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Newspaper stand)
645 hill st Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Alley fight scene)
712 S Olive St, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Ghoul primping in store mirror; "lady that's like putting perfume on a pig")
8634 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Holly's house)
899 West First Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Nada looks at the signs while wearing the sunglasses)
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  (church)
California, USA
  (Locations)
Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Location)
Georgia, USA
Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Location)
Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Location)
North Boylston & West Court Streets - Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Shantytown/homeless camp and church scenes.) (In the mid 80's, the area was vacant and known as "Justiceville, " the Skid Row shantytown settlement for the homeless, which was destroyed & shut down in May of 1985. Sight is now the soccer field of the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center.)
North Boylston & West Court Streets, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Homeless camp/shantytown)
Southern Pacific's rail yard and footbridge - 1320 N Broadway, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Nada walks under wooden foot bridge while heading towards Downtown Los Angeles.)
Spring Street Bridge - 1731 North Spring Street - Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Train yard where Nada arrives in town at the beginning)
Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
  (Nada walks towards downtown.)
USA
  (Location)
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