Skyline

Los Angeles heats up under a night sky torn by strange lights that draw ordinary people outdoors. Across rooftops and alleys, an alien force begins to swallow the city in a sudden, unsettling siege. A handful of strangers come together to survive, led by Jarrod and Elaine, with Oliver, Terry, and Candice among the others who band together as the situation deteriorates. Power flickers, radios go silent, and the streets fill with panic as the otherworldly threat moves through the skyline. The survivors race through traffic gridlock, corporate towers, and parking structures while the city disintegrates around them, and each decision could be their last. Their triumphs and setbacks unfold as cameras capture the scale of the threat overhead tonight.

Directed by Greg Strause and Colin Strause, Skyline leans on practical effects and a lean budget. Based on an original story by Liam O'Donnell and Joshua Cordes, it released in 2010 with a 10.5 million budget, aiming for a siege.

Worldwide box office totaled 66,984,887 dollars, a strong return on a 10.5 million budget that exceeded expectations for a mid priced sci fi release and helped pave the way for sequels in the franchise, and it performed well internationally too.

Skyline stands out for its widescreen LA siege and the eerie glow of alien ships haloing the skyline. While not a cultural phenomenon, it left fans with memorable visuals and a shorthand for city under alien invasion that popped up in trailers, memes, and later sci fi chatter worldwide audiences.

Critics offered mixed takes, praising the fast pace and practical effects on a tight budget while noting thin character development and familiar genre beats. Some praised the claustrophobic energy, others wished for deeper emotional stakes and fresher ideas. Still Skyline delivers a ride that stands out among budget alien invasions.