Alien Movie Trivia and Facts: “War of the Worlds” (2005) III

At the MTV Movie Awards, Dakota Fanning was nominated for a MTV Movie Award for Best Frightened Performance. In this article, you will learn more tidbits of information, such as movie connections seen in the film and character trivia.

In the movie, the term ‘aliens’ is never mentioned.

In the scenes that included the driving of Convoy Scene military vehicles, authentic National Guard troops (many of which hailing from Virginia) were responsible for this task. Inside of the Hummers and troop trucks, you will see extras, bit-players, and member of the stunts-crew.

One of the posters handing in Ray Ferrier’s home at the start of the film is Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws.”

At the Teen Choice Awards, the film was nominated for a Teen Choice Award in the category of Choice Summer Movie.

An older version of “War of the Worlds” was produced in 1953. Original characters from this film make an appearance in the newer version as the grandparents (Gene Berry and Ann Robinson). Ann Robinson not only starred in the 1953 and 2005 version of “War of the Worlds,” but also appeared in three episodes of a TV series that aired in 1988 , titled the same.

The role played by Tim Robbins’ is actually a blend of three different characters from the novel written by H.G. Wells. He is named Ogilvy, which is after a friend of the book’s narrator. He also embodies characteristics of the Curate (a man who gets trapped in a ruined house with the main character) and the Artilleryman (the inspiration for the kind of behavior and dialogue that the film character displays).

When Rachel sings a lullaby in the movie, it is called “Hushabye Mountain” and was featured in the 1968 film titled Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

A crashed plane shown in the movie is an authentic out-of-use Boeing 747 that was bought for use in the film.

In order for the film crew to continue shooting in the region of Bayonne, New Jersey, the studio enticed residents of First Street and Pointview Terrace with money to relocate their cars off of the block (between a time period of Tuesday to Friday).

Filming for “War of the Worlds” began only 7 months before it was to be released. To make sure that all of the more than 500 shot involving CGI effects would finish in time, the early phases of production focused on all of the scenes including “big action.”

“War of the Worlds” possessed a shooting schedule that was to last for 72 days. This amount of time equaled the same as two of Spielberg’s previous movies ,  “Schindler’s List” (1993) and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981).

Residents in Howell, New Jersey got a treat when filming took place on their street, as actors warmed in the garages of homes situated nearby in between takes.

“War of the Worlds” became the sixth film in a row for Tom Cruise to go beyond the $100 million mark since 2000. It was also the 13th movie for the actor that was able to break that same barrier.