Paul

Paul follows two British science geeks whose road trip across the United States collides with a real life alien on the run. The extraterrestrial named Paul has spent decades inside a top secret facility, dispensing blunt wisdom to world leaders. When his containment gets shaky, he slips away in the first RV that passes by the base near Area 51. The vehicle is driven by Graeme and Clive, a pair of nerdy travelers who end up sheltering Paul and getting pulled into a wild chase with government agents, conspiracy theories, and a string of comic misadventures. The trio bonds as they dodge capture and navigate a culture clash between small town America and alien espionage. Their misadventures spice the ride.

Directed by Greg Mottola, Paul is an original screenplay by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost with input from Edgar Wright, blending British humor with a sci-fi road movie sensibility. It was released by Universal Pictures in 2011, a notable collaboration.

The film grossed about 98 million worldwide on a 40 million budget, signaling solid returns and a successful collaboration across the Atlantic, with most revenue coming from North America and Europe and Asia as well and strong home media sales.

Paul helped fuse British humor with a mainstream sci fi road trip vibe and left a recognizable alien character in the genre. Seth Rogen voices Paul, giving him a sardonic, endearing personality that fans recall in interviews and parodies. The mix of dialogue and goofy moments keeps the tone playful.

The reception skewed mixed to positive, with an average score around 6.7. Critics appreciated the breezy humor and Pegg and Frost chemistry, while some noted uneven pacing. Themes include friendship under pressure, how outsiders interpret government secrecy, and the comfort of a buddy road trip. It also nods to friendship.