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{{Other uses}}
{{distinguish|Section 9}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December
{{Infobox film
| name = District 9
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| distributor = [[Sony Pictures Releasing]] (through [[Ster-Kinekor]] in South Africa<ref name="Mojo"/>)
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2009|7|23|[[San Diego Comic Con|SDCC]]|2009|08|13|New Zealand|2009|08|14|United States|2009|08|28|South Africa}}
| runtime = 112 minutes<!-- Theatrical runtime: 112:06 --><ref>{{cite web |title=District 9 |url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/district-9-2009-0 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |date=21 July 2009 |access-date=4 March 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402170539/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/district-9-2009-0 |archive-date=2 April 2015
| country = {{Plainlist|
* New Zealand<ref name="BFI">{{cite web |title=District 9 (2009) |url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b8d56672d |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |access-date=1 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714140106/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b8d56672d |archive-date=14 July 2014
* United States<ref name="BFI" />
* South Africa<ref name="BFI" />
}}
| language = English<!-- English is the primary language -->
| budget = $30 million<ref name="Mojo">{{cite web |title=District 9 (2009) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=district9.htm |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=23 July 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716064211/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=district9.htm |archive-date=16 July 2015
| gross = $210.8 million<ref name="Mojo" />
}}
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The film is partially presented in a [[found footage (film technique)|found footage]] format by featuring fictional interviews, news footage, and video from surveillance cameras. The story, which explores themes of [[humanity (virtue)|humanity]], [[xenophobia]] and [[social segregation]], begins in an [[alternate history|alternate]] 1982, when an alien spaceship appears over [[Johannesburg, South Africa]]. When a population of sick and malnourished insectoid aliens is discovered on the ship, the South African government confines them to an internment camp called District 9. Twenty years later, during the government's relocation of the aliens to another camp, one of the confined aliens named Christopher Johnson, who is about to try to escape from Earth with his son and return home, crosses paths with a bureaucrat named Wikus van de Merwe leading the relocation. The title and premise of ''District 9'' were inspired by events in [[Cape Town]]'s [[District Six]], during the [[South Africa under apartheid|apartheid]] era.
A [[viral marketing]] campaign for the film began in 2008 at [[San Diego Comic-Con]], while the theatrical trailer debuted in July 2009. ''District 9'' had its World Premiere on 23 July
==Plot==
In 1982, a giant extraterrestrial spaceship arrives and hovers over the South African city of Johannesburg. An investigation team finds over a million malnourished aliens inside, and the South African government relocates them to a camp called District 9. However, over the years, it turns into a slum, and locals often complain that the aliens{{emdash}}derogatorily called "[[Parktown prawn|prawn]]s"{{emdash}}are filthy, ignorant lawbreakers who bleed resources from humans.
Following unrest between the aliens and locals, the government hires Multinational United (MNU), a giant weapons manufacturer, to relocate the aliens to a new camp outside the city. Piet Smit, an MNU executive, appoints an MNU employee and his son-in-law, Wikus van de Merwe, to lead the relocation. Meanwhile, three aliens, Christopher Johnson, his young son CJ, and his friend Paul, search a District 9 garbage dump for alien fuel in Prawn technology, which Christopher has had them spend the last
Wikus begins mutating into a Prawn, starting with his left arm injured after the fuel exposure. He is immediately taken to the brutal MNU lab, where researchers discover his chimeric DNA grants him the ability to operate Prawn weaponry, which is biologically restricted for them. Wanting to capture this human/alien hybridity before Wikus fully transforms, Smit orders Wikus' body to be [[vivisect]]ed and harvested for its profitable properties. Wikus, however, overpowers the lab personnel and escapes. While Venter's forces hunt for him, a [[smear campaign|smear story]] is broadcast, one that reaches Wikus' wife
Wikus takes refuge in District 9, finding Christopher and the spaceship's concealed command module [[shuttlecraft|dropship]] underneath his house. Christopher explains to Wikus that the confiscated fuel is crucial to his plan of reactivating the dropship, and if he can get them in the dropship to the mothership, he can cure Wikus. Wikus attempts to acquire weapons from the District 9 Nigerian arms dealer, Obesandjo, who wants to eat Wikus's alien arm to gain alien abilities. Wikus, however, seizes an alien weapon and escapes.
Wikus and Christopher force
Meanwhile, CJ, remaining hidden in the dropship, remotely activates the mothership and a large
MNU's experiments are exposed, and the aliens are moved to the new camp named District 10. Tania finds a metal flower on her doorstep, giving her hope that Wikus is still alive. Wikus, now
==Cast==
{{castlist|
* [[Sharlto Copley]] as Wikus van de Merwe, a mild-mannered, shy, bumbling, awkward [[bureaucrat]] at the MNU Department of Alien Affairs, who becomes infected with an alien fluid, slowly turning him into one of the "prawns". This was the first time acting professionally in a [[feature film]] for Copley, a friend of director Blomkamp.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swietek |first=Frank |title=Neill Blomkamp and Sharlto Copley on "District 9" |url=http://www.oneguysopinion.com/InterviewsResults.php?ID=451 |date=7 August 2009 |work=Interviews |publisher=One Guy's Opinion |access-date=11 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914050308/http://www.oneguysopinion.com/InterviewsResults.php?ID=451 |archive-date=14 September 2009}}</ref>
* [[Jason Cope]] as Christopher Johnson, a District 9 prawn who assists Wikus in fighting MNU.
** Cope also performed the role of Grey Bradnam, the UKNR Chief Correspondent and all the speaking aliens, as well as for the cameraman Trent<ref name="5things">{{Cite web |url=http://io9.com/5341120/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-district-9 |title=5 Things You Didn't Know About District 9 |date=19 August 2009 |access-date=21 November 2014 |work=IO9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129033624/http://io9.com/5341120/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-district-9 |archive-date=29 November 2014
* [[David James (South African actor)|David James]] as Colonel Koobus Venter, an aggressive, sadistic, and xenophobic [[private military company|PMC]] mercenary-soldier sent to capture Wikus. He is shown as taking pleasure in killing the aliens and responding brutally to anyone who opposes him.
* Vanessa Haywood as Tania Smit-van de Merwe, Wikus's wife.
* Mandla Gaduka as Fundiswa Mhlanga, Wikus's assistant and trainee during the eviction
* [[Eugene Wanangwa Khumbanyiwa]] as Obesandjo, a paralyzed [[Psychopathy|psychopathic]] Nigerian gang leader who believes that eating alien body parts will enable him to operate their weapons
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* [[Nathalie Boltt]] as Sarah Livingstone, a sociologist at [[Kempton Park, Gauteng|Kempton Park]] University
* [[Sylvaine Strike]] as Katrina McKenzie, a doctor from the Department of Social Assistance
*
* Nick Blake as Francois Moraneu, a member of the CIV Engineer Team
* [[Jed Brophy]] as James Hope, an officer with the [[South African Police Service|SAPS]] Alien Crimes Unit
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* [[Trevor Coppola]] as MNU Mercenary
* Morne Erasmus as MNU Medic
}}
==Themes==
Like ''[[Alive in Joburg]]'', the short film on which the feature film is based, the setting of ''District 9'' is inspired by historical events during the [[apartheid]] era, particularly alluding to [[District Six]], an inner-city residential area in [[Cape Town]], declared a "whites only" area by the government in 1966, with 60,000 people [[Apartheid#Forced removal|forcibly removed]] to [[Cape Flats]], {{Convert|25|km|abbr=in}} away.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1916009,00.html |title='District 9' Review: The Summer's Coolest Fantasy Film |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=13 August 2009 |access-date=25 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816090634/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1916009,00.html |archive-date=16 August 2009
Doctor Shohini Chauduri wrote that ''District 9'' even echoes apartheid in its title, as it is reminiscent "of [[District Six|District 6]] in Cape Town, declared a whites-only area under the Group Areas Act". She also discusses how the wide shots used in ''District 9'' strongly emphasize the idea of exclusion under apartheid. The separation of people and "prawns" into human and non-human zones marks South Africa's social divisions.<ref>{{cite web | first= Shohini |last= Chaudhuri | url= https://qmplus.qmul.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/661999/mod_resource/content/1/Chaudhuri%2C%20Uninvited%20visitors.pdf | title= Cinema of the Dark Side | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20180218210844/https://qmplus.qmul.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/661999/mod_resource/content/1/Chaudhuri%2C%20Uninvited%20visitors.pdf |archivedate=18 February 2018 | year= 2014 | work= Uninvited Visitors | pages= 135–143| accessdate=}}</ref>
The film emphasizes the irony of Wikus and the impact of his experiences on his personality, which shows him becoming more humane as he becomes less biologically human. The film uses his story to pose the question of humanity as the "prawn" characters in the film are shown to be kinder to Wikus than the actual humans are as he undergoes his transformation. The film also features the portrayal of Nigerian Arms dealers, provoking thought on conflict between marginalized communities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://movies.msn.com/oscars/geek-oscars/?icid=MOVIES1>1=MOVIES1&mpc=2 |title=If Geeks Ran the Oscars |access-date=16 February 2010 |work=MSN Movies |first=Don | last=Kaye |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224174605/http://movies.msn.com/oscars/geek-oscars/?icid=MOVIES1>1=MOVIES1&mpc=2 |archive-date=24 December 2011
Themes of [[racism]] and [[xenophobia]] are shown in the form of [[speciesism]]. Used to describe the aliens, the word "prawn" is a reference to the [[Parktown prawn]], a [[Anostostomatidae|king cricket]] species considered a pest in South Africa.<ref name="radiointerview">{{Cite web |url=http://www.highveld.co.za/thelounge/gallery/event.asp?id=565 |title=Interview with Neill Blomkamp on the Highveld Stereo 94.7 radio station |date=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830194354/http://www.highveld.co.za/thelounge/gallery/event.asp?id=565 |archive-date=30 August 2009
Duane Dudek of the ''Journal Sentinel'' wrote that "The result is an action film about xenophobia, in which all races of humans are united in their dislike and mistrust of an insect-like species".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/movies/53074407.html |title='District 9' social theme isn't so alien – JSOnline |last=Dudek |first=Duane |date=13 August 2009 |work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=6 September 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723064150/http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/movies/53074407.html |archive-date=23 July 2010
Another underlying theme in ''District 9'' is states' reliance on multinational corporations (whose accountability is unclear and whose interests are not necessarily congruent with democratic principles) as a form of government-funded enforcement. As MNU represents the type of corporation which partners with governments, the negative portrayal of MNU in the film depicts the dangers of outsourcing militaries and bureaucracies to private contractors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sacsis.org.za/site/article/352.1 |title=Hold the Prawns |work=SACSIS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922201454/http://www.sacsis.org.za/site/article/352.1 |archive-date=22 September 2009
==Production==
===Development===
Producer [[Peter Jackson]] planned to produce a [[Halo (series)#Film|film adaptation]] based on the ''[[Halo (franchise)|Halo]]'' video game franchise with first-time director [[Neill Blomkamp]]. Due to a lack of financing, the ''Halo'' adaptation was placed on hold. Jackson and Blomkamp discussed pursuing alternative projects and eventually chose to produce and direct, respectively, ''District 9'' featuring props and items originally made for the ''Halo'' film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/xwqjg3/the-complete-untold-history-of-halo-an-oral-history|title=The Complete, Untold History of Halo|last=Haske|first=Steve|date=
▲Producer [[Peter Jackson]] planned to produce a [[Halo (series)#Film|film adaptation]] based on the ''[[Halo (franchise)|Halo]]'' video game franchise with first-time director [[Neill Blomkamp]]. Due to a lack of financing, the ''Halo'' adaptation was placed on hold. Jackson and Blomkamp discussed pursuing alternative projects and eventually chose to produce and direct, respectively, ''District 9'' featuring props and items originally made for the ''Halo'' film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/xwqjg3/the-complete-untold-history-of-halo-an-oral-history|title=The Complete, Untold History of Halo|last=Haske|first=Steve|date=2017-05-30|website=Waypoint|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20|archive-date=15 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315011247/https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/xwqjg3/the-complete-untold-history-of-halo-an-oral-history|url-status=live}}</ref> Blomkamp had previously directed commercials and short films, but ''District 9'' was his first [[feature film]]. The director co-wrote the script with his wife, [[Terri Tatchell]], and chose to film in South Africa, where he was born.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Fleming |first=Michael |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/peter-jackson-gears-up-for-district-2-1117975244/ |title=Peter Jackson gears up for 'District' |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=1 November 2007 |access-date=13 February 2018 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=14 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073338/http://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/peter-jackson-gears-up-for-district-2-1117975244/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Leotta 2015">{{cite book |last=Leotta |first=A. |title=Peter Jackson |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |series=The Bloomsbury Companions to Contemporary Filmmakers |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-62356-096-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gua2CgAAQBAJ |access-date=16 February 2018 |pages=126–29 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121031749/https://books.google.com/books?id=Gua2CgAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In ''District 9'', Tatchell and Blomkamp returned to the world explored in his [[short film]] ''Alive in Joburg'', choosing characters, moments and concepts that they found interesting including the documentary-style filmmaking, staged interviews, alien designs, alien technology/[[mecha]] suits, and the parallels to racial conflict and segregation in South Africa, and fleshing out these elements for the feature film.<ref name="talks" />
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===Filming===
The film was shot on location in Chiawelo, [[Soweto]], during a time of violent unrest in [[Alexandra, Gauteng|Alexandra]] ([[Gauteng]]) and other South African townships involving clashes between native South Africans and Africans born in other countries.<ref name="nyt0805">{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Itzkoff |title=A Young Director Brings a Spaceship and a Metaphor in for a Landing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/movies/06district.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=5 August 2009 |access-date=31 August 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425071554/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/movies/06district.html |archive-date=25 April 2012
Filming for ''District 9'' took place during the winter in Johannesburg. According to director Neill Blomkamp, during the winter season, Johannesburg "actually looks like [[Chernobyl]]", a "[[Nuclear holocaust|nuclear apocalyptic]] wasteland". Blomkamp wanted to capture the deserted, bleak atmosphere and environment, so he and the crew had to film during the months of June through July. The film took a total of 60 days of shooting. Filming in December raised another issue in that there was much more rain. Due to the rain, there was a lot of greenery to work with, which Blomkamp did not want. Blomkamp had to cut some of the vegetation in the scenery to portray the setting as desolate and dark.
The film features many weapons and vehicles produced by the South African [[arms industry]], including the [[Vektor R4|R5]] and [[Vektor CR-21]] assault rifles, [[Denel NTW-20]] 20 mm [[anti-materiel rifle]], [[Milkor BXP]] [[submachine gun]], [[Casspir]] [[armoured personnel carrier]], [[Ratel IFV|Ratel]] infantry fighting vehicle, [[Rooikat]] armoured fighting vehicle, [[Atlas Oryx]] helicopter and militarized [[Toyota Hilux]] [[Technical (vehicle)|"technical"]] pickup truck.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rule |first=Andrew |title=District 9 is one long sales pitch for South Africa's arms industry |url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/20029/district-9-one-long-sales-pitch-south-africa%E2%80%99s-arms-industry |work=The Week with First Post |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202013821/http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/20029/district-9-one-long-sales-pitch-south-africa%E2%80%99s-arms-industry |archive-date=2 December 2014
Blomkamp said no single film influenced ''District 9'', but cited the 1980s "hardcore sci-fi/action" films such as ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'', ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'', ''[[The Terminator]]'', ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'', ''[[Predator (film)|Predator]]'' and ''[[RoboCop (1987 film)|RoboCop]]'' as subconscious influences. The director said, "I don't know whether the film has that feeling or not for the audience, but I wanted it to have that harsh 1980s kind of vibe—I didn't want it to feel glossy and slick."<ref name="talks" />
Because of the amount of [[Hand-held camera|hand-held shooting]] required for the film, the producers and crew decided to shoot using the digital [[Red Digital Cinema|Red One]] [[Ultra-high-definition television|4K]] camera. Cinematographer [[Trent Opaloch]] used nine digital Red Ones owned by Peter Jackson for primary filming.<ref name="caranicas824">{{Cite magazine |last=Caranicas |first=Peter |title='District' lenser braces for invasion |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007288.html |date=14 August 2009 |department=International |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=7 September 2009}}</ref> According to HD Magazine, ''District 9'' was shot on RED One cameras using build 15, Cooke S4 primes and Angenieux zooms. The [[Documentary film|documentary]]-style and [[
=== Creative
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}
This film is essentially an expanded version of director Neill Blomkamp's 2005 work. The original short film, titled "Alive in Joburg" was written and directed by Neill Blomkamp. It narrates the conflict between aliens and local residents in Johannesburg (referred to as Joburg). Sharlto Copley, who starred in "Alive in Joburg," also became the lead actor in "District 9." Interestingly, the movie was developed with six different endings, but only one was ultimately used.
During the same period, Peter Jackson was planning to produce a film adaptation of the Xbox game "Halo" and had chosen Neill Blomkamp as the director. However, due to the interests of major corporations, the project was indefinitely shelved. Believing in Blomkamp's talent, Peter Jackson decided to fund a new project, investing 30 million dollars for Blomkamp to direct a film of his own choosing. This led to the creation of "District 9."
=== Content
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}
The alien settlement depicted in the film was actually shot in an African slum, lending a gritty realism to the setting. Except for the main characters' dwelling and the alien protagonist Christopher's hut, which were temporarily constructed, all the slum shacks were real locations. The depiction of aliens dismembering wild beasts and their fondness for cat food draws a parallel to the desperate living conditions in slums, where inhabitants often rely on carrion or cat food for sustenance.
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The aliens in ''District 9'' were designed by [[Weta Workshop]], and the design was executed by [[Image Engine]].{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
Blomkamp wanted the aliens to maintain both humane and barbaric features in the design of the creatures. According to Terri Tatchell, the director's writing partner, "They are not appealing, they are not cute, and they don't tug at our heartstrings. He went for a scary, hard, warrior-looking alien, which is much more of a challenge."<ref>{{Cite web|title=District 9: the most disgusting aliens in film|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/6133598/District-9-the-most-disgusting-aliens-in-film.html|access-date=
Blomkamp originally sought to have [[Weta Digital]] design the creatures, but the company was busy with effects for ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]''. The director then decided to choose a Vancouver-based effects company because he anticipated making films there in the future and because [[British Columbia]] offered a tax credit. Blomkamp met with Image Engine and considered them "a bit of a gamble" since the company had not pursued a project as large as a feature film.<ref name="talks">{{Cite news |last=Desowitz |first=Bill |url=http://www.vfxworld.com/?atype=articles&id=4032 |title=Neill Blomkamp Talks ''District 9'' |work=VFXWorld |date=14 August 2009 |access-date=31 August 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820182016/http://vfxworld.com/?atype=articles&id=4032 |archive-date=20 August 2009
Weta Digital designed the 2{{frac|1|2}}-kilometer-diameter mothership<ref>[http://www.digital.cinefex.com/nxtbooks/cinefex/119/index.php?startid=31 Cinefex] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929072436/http://www.digital.cinefex.com/nxtbooks/cinefex/119/index.php?startid=31 |date=29 September 2013 }} 119, page 31</ref> and the drop ship, while the exo-suit and the little pets were designed by [[The Embassy Visual Effects]]. [[Zoic Studios]] performed overflow 2D work.<ref name="talks" /> On-set live special effects were created by MXFX.<ref>[http://www.mxfx.co.za/features.html MXFX Physical Special Effects] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301113540/http://www.mxfx.co.za/features.html |date=1 March 2012 }}</ref> Some of the software used for the visual effects were [[Autodesk Softimage]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=5231 |title=Embassy on 'District 9' |publisher=CG Society |date=
===Music===
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The music for ''District 9'' was scored by Canadian composer Clinton Shorter, who spent three weeks preparing for the film. Director Neill Blomkamp wanted a "raw and dark" score, but one that maintained its South African roots. This was a challenge for Shorter, who found much of the South African music he worked with to be optimistic and joyful. Unable to get the African drums to sound dark and heavy, Shorter used a combination of [[taiko]] drums and synthesized instruments for the desired effects, with the core African elements of the score conveyed in the vocals and smaller percussion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoover |first=Tom |title=Interviews: Clinton Shorter – The Music of District 9 |url=http://scorenotes.com/interviews.html |year=2009 |publisher=Score Notes |access-date=8 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909061811/http://scorenotes.com/interviews.html |archive-date=9 September 2009}}</ref> Both the score and soundtrack feature music and vocals from [[Kwaito]] artists.
==
''District 9'' held its
Sony Pictures launched a "Humans Only" marketing campaign to promote ''District 9''. Sony's marketing team designed its promotional material to emulate the segregational [[billboard]]s that appear throughout the film.<ref name="variety">{{Cite magazine |last=Oldham |first=Stuart |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/news/interview-neill-blomkamp-1118007279/ |title=Interview: Neill Blomkamp |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=14 August 2009 |access-date=31 August 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821083921/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007279.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564 |archive-date=21 August 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Billboards, banners, posters, and stickers were thus designed with the theme in mind, and the material was spread across public places such as bus stops in various cities, including "humans only" signs in certain locations and providing toll-free numbers to report "non-human" activity.<ref name="humans" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Billington |first=Alex |url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/08/14/for-humans-only-a-look-back-at-district-9s-success-story/ |title=For Humans Only: A Look Back at District 9's Success Story |work=FirstShowing.net |publisher=First Showing, LLC |date=14 August 2009 |access-date=31 August 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819135155/http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/08/14/for-humans-only-a-look-back-at-district-9s-success-story/ |archive-date=19 August 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> This marketing strategy was designed to provoke reactions in its target audience (namely, sci-fi fans and people concerned with discrimination), hence the use of obviously fake segregational propaganda.<ref name="Film Marketing">{{cite book |last1=Kerrigan |first1=Finola |title=Film Marketing |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-74704-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rsEtDwAAQBAJ&q=district+9&pg=PT10 |access-date=18 April 2021 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121031749/https://books.google.com/books?id=rsEtDwAAQBAJ&q=district+9&pg=PT10 |url-status=live }}</ref>▼
According to Dwight Caines, Sony's president of digital marketing, an estimated 33,000 phone calls were made to the toll-free numbers during a two-week period with 2,500 of them leaving voicemails with reports of alien sightings.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/19/entertainment/et-district19 |title=Alien' Bus-Stop Ads Create A Stir |last=Lee |first=Chris |date=19 June 2009 |work=Los Angeles Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031085139/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/19/entertainment/et-district19 |archive-date=31 October 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Promotional material was also presented at the 2008 [[San Diego Comic-Con]], advertising the website D-9.com,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://d-9.com/ |title=D-9.com |publisher=Sony Pictures |access-date=7 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725090044/http://www.d-9.com// |archive-date=25 July 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> which had an application presented by the fictional Multi-National United (MNU). The website had a local alert system for Johannesburg (the film's setting), [[Web feed|news feeds]], behavior recommendations, and rules and regulations. Other viral websites for the film were also launched, including an MNU website with a countdown timer for the film's release,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.multinationalunited.com/ |title=Multi-National United |publisher=Sony Pictures |access-date=7 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907074518/http://www.multinationalunited.com/ |archive-date=7 September 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> an anti-MNU blog run by fictional alien character Christopher Johnson,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mnuspreadslies.com/ |title=MNU Spreads Lies |publisher=Sony Pictures |access-date=7 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908212831/http://www.mnuspreadslies.com/ |archive-date=8 September 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and an MNU-sponsored educational website.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mathsfromouterspace.com/ |title=Maths from Outer Space: An MNU Sponsored Initiative |publisher=Sony Pictures |access-date=7 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907235434/http://www.mathsfromouterspace.com/ |archive-date=7 September 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Billington |first=Alex |url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/07/30/next-big-viral-neill-blomkamps-district-9-for-humans-only/ |title=Next Big Viral: Neill Blomkamp's District 9 – For Humans Only |work=FirstShowing.net |publisher=First Showing, LLC |date=30 July 2008 |access-date=31 August 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903185009/http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/07/30/next-big-viral-neill-blomkamps-district-9-for-humans-only/ |archive-date=3 September 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> An online game for ''District 9'' has also been made where players can choose to be a human or an alien. Humans are MNU agents on patrol trying to arrest or kill aliens. Aliens try to avoid capture from MNU agents whilst searching for alien canisters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=56856 |title=New District 9 Online Game, Trailer Coming! |date=3 July 2009 |publisher=comingsoon.net |access-date=3 July 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705124146/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=56856 |archive-date=5 July 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> This digital approach to marketing follows a rising trend among digital natives who develop marketing trends and techniques which are appropriate to the digital age, and is cost-efficient due to its reliance on social media and communications. This breaking down and circumvention of existing marketing structures follows [[Postmodernism|postmodernist theory]] in cinema.<ref name="Film Marketing"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Hill |first1=ed. by John |last2=Willemen |first2=Pamela Church Gibson ; consultant ed. Richard Dyer, E. Ann Kaplan, Paul |title=The Oxford Guide to Film Studies |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford university press |location=New York |isbn=0-19-871124-7 |pages=96–105 |edition=Repr. [d. Ausg.] 1998. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JwiKQgAACAAJ |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121031749/https://books.google.com/books?id=JwiKQgAACAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>▼
===Marketing===
WETA released in July 2010 Christopher Johnson and Son as sculptures.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38455/wetas-first-district-9-figure-revealed-christopher-johnson-and-son |title=Weta's First District 9 Figure Revealed: Christopher Johnson and Son |author=Debi Moore |date=10 July 2010 |access-date=10 July 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727190611/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38455/wetas-first-district-9-figure-revealed-christopher-johnson-and-son |archive-date=27 July 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>▼
▲Sony Pictures launched a "Humans Only" marketing campaign to promote ''District 9''. Sony's marketing team designed its promotional material to emulate the segregational [[billboard]]s that appear throughout the film.<ref name="variety">{{Cite magazine |last=Oldham |first=Stuart |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/news/interview-neill-blomkamp-1118007279/ |title=Interview: Neill Blomkamp |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=14 August 2009 |access-date=31 August 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821083921/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007279.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564 |archive-date=21 August 2009
▲According to Dwight Caines, Sony's president of digital marketing, an estimated 33,000 phone calls were made to the toll-free numbers during a two-week period with 2,500 of them leaving voicemails with reports of alien sightings.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://
▲WETA released in July 2010 Christopher Johnson and Son as sculptures.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38455/wetas-first-district-9-figure-revealed-christopher-johnson-and-son |title=Weta's First District 9 Figure Revealed: Christopher Johnson and Son |author=Debi Moore |date=10 July 2010 |access-date=10 July 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727190611/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38455/wetas-first-district-9-figure-revealed-christopher-johnson-and-son |archive-date=27 July 2010
According to the [[American Humane Association]], the film displays an unauthorized "no animals were harmed" end credit, which is a registered trademark of the group.<ref>[http://www.humanehollywood.org/index.php/end-credits/unauthorized-end-credits Unauthorized End Credits] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115120818/http://www.humanehollywood.org/index.php/end-credits/unauthorized-end-credits |date=15 November 2015 }}</ref>
===Home media===▼
The [[Blu-ray|Blu-ray Disc]] and [[DVD region code|region 1 code]] [[widescreen]] edition of ''District 9'' as well as the 2-disc special-edition version on [[DVD]] was released on 22 December 2009 by [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]]. The DVD and Blu-ray Disc includes the documentary "The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log" and the special features "Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus", "Innovation: Acting and Improvisation", "Conception and Design: Creating the World of District 9", and "Alien Generation: Visual Effects".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34090/district-9-blu-ray-and-dvd-art-hovers-over-us |title=District 9 Blu-ray and DVD Art Hovers Over Us |publisher=DreadCentral |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405081545/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34090/district-9-blu-ray-and-dvd-art-hovers-over-us |archive-date=5 April 2011
The demo for the video game ''[[God of War III]]'' featured in the [[Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009|2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo]] is also included with the Blu-ray release of ''District 9'' playable on the [[PlayStation 3|Sony PlayStation 3]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/10/district-9-forged-together-with-god-of-war-iii/ |title=District 9 Forged Together With God of War III |last=Caiazzo |first=Anthony |date=28 October 2009 |publisher=[[Sony Computer Entertainment]] |access-date=28 October 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015043809/http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/10/28/district-9-forged-together-with-god-of-war-iii/ |archive-date=15 October 2012
''District 9'' was released on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on 13 October 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=District 9 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Ultra HD Review {{!}} High Def Digest|url=https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/85984/district94kultrahdbluray.html|access-date=
==Reception==
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''District 9'' grossed US$115.6 million from the United States and Canada, with a worldwide total of $210,819,611, against a production budget of US$30 million.<ref name="Mojo" />
It opened in 3,048 theatres in Canada and the United States on 14 August 2009, and the film ranked first at the weekend box office with an opening gross of US$37.4 million. Among comparable science fiction films in the past, its opening attendance was slightly less than the 2008 film ''[[Cloverfield]]'' and the 1997 film ''[[Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]''. The audience demographic for ''District 9'' was 64 percent male and 57 percent people 25 years or older.<ref name="humans">{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2610&p=.htm |title=Weekend Report: Humans Welcome ''District 9'' |last=Gray |first=Brandon |date=16 August 2009 |work=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=17 August 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090818223908/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2610&p=.htm |archive-date= 18 August 2009
The film enjoyed similar success in the UK with an opening gross of £2,288,378 showing at 447 cinemas.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news_digest/Locarno_Film_Festival_presents_leaner_bill.html?cid=995986 |title= 'District 9' claims UK box office No.1 |work=digitalspy.com |author=Fletcher, Alex |date=9 September 2009 |access-date=1 December 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225015510/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news_digest/Locarno_Film_Festival_presents_leaner_bill.html?cid=995986 |archive-date=25 February 2012
===Critical response===
[[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives ''District 9'' an approval rating of 90% based on 314 critic reviews and 82% based on 250,000+ audience reviews, with an [[Weighted arithmetic mean|average]] score of 7.80/10. The website's consensus states, "Technically brilliant and emotionally wrenching, ''District 9'' has action, imagination, and all the elements of a thoroughly entertaining science-fiction classic."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/district_9/ |title=District 9 (2009) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=25 March 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804080946/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/district_9/ |archive-date=4 August 2009
Sara Vilkomerson of ''[[The New York Observer]]'' wrote, "''District 9'' is the most exciting science fiction movie to come along in ages; definitely the most thrilling film of the summer; and quite possibly the best film I've seen all year."<ref name="observer">{{Cite web |url=http://www.observer.com/2009/movies/district-9-blew-my-mind |title= District 9 Blew My Mind! | first=Sara | last= Vilkomerson |access-date=12 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815143806/http://www.observer.com/2009/movies/district-9-blew-my-mind |archive-date=15 August 2009 |work= Observer
[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film three stars out of four and praised it for "giving us aliens to remind us not everyone who comes in a spaceship needs to be angelic, octopod or stainless steel", but complained that "the third act is disappointing, involving standard shoot-out action. No attempt is made to resolve the situation, and if that's a happy ending, I've seen happier. Despite its creativity, the film remains [[space opera]] and avoids the higher realms of science-fiction."<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/district-9-2009 |title=Throw another prawn on the barbie | first= Roger | last= Ebert |access-date=12 August 2009 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=
Josh Tyler of Cinema Blend says the film is unique in interpretation and execution, but considers it to be a knockoff of the 1988 film ''[[Alien Nation (film)|Alien Nation]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Too-Close-To-Call-10-Ways-District-9-Is-An-Alien-Nation-Knockoff-14310.html | title= Too Close To Call: 10 Ways District 9 Is An Alien Nation Knockoff | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100528151941/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Too-Close-To-Call-10-Ways-District-9-Is-An-Alien-Nation-Knockoff-14310.html |archivedate=28 May 2010 | first= Josh | last= Tyler | work= CinemaBlend.com | date= 10 August 2009 | accessdate=}}</ref>
[[IGN]] listed ''District 9'' at No. 24 on a list of the Top 25 Sci-Fi Films of All Time.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://movies.ign.com/articles/677/677739p1.html |title=District 9 |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=17 September 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101204000706/http://movies.ign.com/articles/677/677739p1.html |archive-date=4 December 2010
From the Chicago Tribune: "As this summer nears its end, this movie has made the entire Hollywood feel ashamed."
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From The Hollywood Reporter: "A truly genuine, original science fiction movie that captivates you from the start, making the audience unable to stop watching until the very end."
===Criticism about representation of Nigerians===
[[Nigeria]]'s Information Minister [[Dora Akunyili]] asked movie cinemas around the country to either ban the film or edit out specific references to the country because of the film's negative depiction of the Nigerian characters as criminals and cannibals. Letters of complaint were sent to the producer and distributor of the film demanding an apology. She also said the gang leader Obesandjo is almost identical in spelling and pronunciation to the surname of former president [[Olusegun Obasanjo]].<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-af-nigeria-district-9-091909-2009sep19-story.html| title= Nigerian officials: "District 9" not welcome here| newspaper= The San Diego Union-Tribune| date= 19 September 2009| access-date= 19 February 2018| agency= Associated Press| archive-date= 20 February 2018| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180220033253/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-af-nigeria-district-9-091909-2009sep19-story.html| url-status= live}}</ref> The film was later banned in Nigeria; the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board was asked to prevent cinemas from showing the film and also to confiscate it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Govt bans showing of District 9 film in Nigeria |url= http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/09/25/govt-bans-showing-of-district-9-film-in-nigeria/ |publisher=Vanguard | website= vanguardngr.com |date=25 September 2009 |access-date=25 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091001070536/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/09/25/govt-bans-showing-of-district-9-film-in-nigeria/ |archive-date=1 October 2009
[[Hakeem Kae-Kazim]], a Nigerian-born British actor, also criticised the portrayal of Nigerians in the film,<ref name= xenophobiaafrica>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/sep/02/district-9-labelled-xenophobic-nigerians |title=District 9 labelled xenophobic by Nigerians |last=Smith |first=David |date=2 September 2009 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=6 September 2010 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907121910/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/sep/02/district-9-labelled-xenophobic-nigerians |archive-date=7 September 2013
However, the [[Malawi]]an actor [[Eugene Wanangwa Khumbanyiwa|Eugene Khumbanyiwa]], who played Obesandjo, has stated that the Nigerians in the cast of ''District 9'' were not perturbed by the portrayal of Nigerians in the film, and that the film should not be taken literally: "It's a story, you know. It's not like Nigerians do eat aliens. Aliens don't even exist in the first place."<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8264180.stm|title = Nigeria 'offended' by sci-fi film|work = |publisher = BBC News|date = 19 September 2009|access-date = 23 March 2015|archive-date = 14 May 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150514172228/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8264180.stm|url-status = live}}</ref>
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| website= AfricaisaCountry.com| date = 11 September 2009|access-date = 23 March 2015|archive-url = https://archive.today/20150412150618/http://africasacountry.com/comment-district-9-and-the-nigerians/|archive-date = 12 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2013, the film was one of several discussed by [[David Sirota]] in ''[[Salon (website)|Salon.com]]'' in an article concerning [[White savior narrative in film|white savior narratives in film]].<ref name="sirota">{{cite news |last=Sirota |first=David |url= http://www.salon.com/2013/02/21/oscar_loves_a_white_savior/ |title=Oscar loves a white savior |work=[[Salon.com]] |date=21 February 2013 |access-date=14 May 2014 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140410110258/http://www.salon.com/2013/02/21/oscar_loves_a_white_savior/ |archive-date=10 April 2014
Alexandra Heller Nicholas discusses Wikus's self-identity in ''District 9'' as problematic due to him being a white man and the hero of the film. Nicholas argues that a white saviour "disempowers the film's allegory to apartheid that comments on the corruption of the South African government" as well as the discrimination black South Africans dealt with during and post-apartheid. Making Wikus the "white savior" backtracks from the main message of ''District 9'' which is to show the audience the detrimental effects "of colonialism brought by the Western world". Another point Nicholas makes is that ''District 9'' is a "stereotypical White Saviour film". She states that the plot is about a white man working for the government, who has roots "in South Africa's apartheid culture", involuntarily joining the "victims of apartheid". In this case, instead of black people, it's prawns.<ref>{{cite web | first= Emilye | last= Denny | year= 2017 | url= https://www.challengingborders.com/there-is-no-need-for-a-white-savior-in-district-9/ | title= There is no need for a White Savior | work= ChallengingBorders.com | publisher= | accessdate= | archive-date= 18 February 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180218213456/https://www.challengingborders.com/there-is-no-need-for-a-white-savior-in-district-9/ | url-status= live }}</ref>
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''District 9'' was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2009 by the [[National Board of Review]] of Motion Pictures. The film also won The Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation. The film received four [[Academy Awards]] nominations for: Best Motion Picture of the Year (Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham), Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell), Best Achievement in Film Editing (Julian Clarke) and Best Achievement in Visual Effects (Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken); seven [[British Academy Film Awards]] nominations: Best Cinematography (Trent Opaloch), Best Screenplay – Adapted (Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell), Best Editing (Julian Clarke), Best Production Design (Philip Ivey, Guy Potgieter), Best Sound (Brent Burge, Chris Ward, Dave Whitehead, Michael Hedges and Ken Saville), Best Special Visual Effects (Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken) and Best Director (Neill Blomkamp); five [[Broadcast Film Critics Association]] nominations: Best Makeup ('''Won'''), Best Screenplay, Adapted (Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell), Best Sound, Best Visual Effects and Best Action Movie; and one [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] nomination: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture (Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell).<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/district-9 | title= District 9 | website= goldenglobes.com | publisher= | date= | accessdate= | archive-date= 13 July 2022 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220713202353/https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/district-9 | url-status= live }}</ref>
It is the fifth [[TriStar Pictures]] film ever nominated for Best Picture at the [[Academy Awards]] (the previous four were ''[[As Good as It Gets]]'', ''[[Jerry Maguire]]'', ''[[Bugsy]]'' and ''[[Places in the Heart]]).'' It won the 2009 [[Bradbury Award]] from the [[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America]].<ref name="sfaw100515">{{Cite news |first=Kevin |last=Standlee |publisher=Science Fiction Awards Watch |title=Nebula Awards Results |url= http://www.sfawardswatch.com/?p=3274 | website= sfawardswatch.com |date=15 May 2010 |access-date=15 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100525110902/http://www.sfawardswatch.com/?p=3274 |archive-date=25 May 2010
▲''District 9'' held its World Premiere 23 July 2009 at the Reading Gaslamp 15 at San Diego Comic-Con, with Copley, Blomkamp and Jackson in attendance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=James |title=Comic-Con 09: First Reaction: District 9 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/comic-con-09-first-reaction-district-9/ |publisher=Games Radar |access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Darkangel66a |title=District 9 Comic Con Screening Introduction |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXZg9tbyZ4c |website=YouTube |access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref> It was released by [[TriStar Pictures]] on 14 August 2009.
▲==Home media==
▲The [[Blu-ray|Blu-ray Disc]] and [[DVD region code|region 1 code]] [[widescreen]] edition of ''District 9'' as well as the 2-disc special-edition version on [[DVD]] was released on 22 December 2009 by [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]]. The DVD and Blu-ray Disc includes the documentary "The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log" and the special features "Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus", "Innovation: Acting and Improvisation", "Conception and Design: Creating the World of District 9", and "Alien Generation: Visual Effects".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34090/district-9-blu-ray-and-dvd-art-hovers-over-us |title=District 9 Blu-ray and DVD Art Hovers Over Us |publisher=DreadCentral |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405081545/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34090/district-9-blu-ray-and-dvd-art-hovers-over-us |archive-date=5 April 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
▲The demo for the video game ''[[God of War III]]'' featured in the [[Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009|2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo]] is also included with the Blu-ray release of ''District 9'' playable on the [[PlayStation 3|Sony PlayStation 3]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/10/district-9-forged-together-with-god-of-war-iii/ |title=District 9 Forged Together With God of War III |last=Caiazzo |first=Anthony |date=28 October 2009 |publisher=[[Sony Computer Entertainment]] |access-date=28 October 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015043809/http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/10/28/district-9-forged-together-with-god-of-war-iii/ |archive-date=15 October 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34281/district-9-blu-ray-include-god-war-iii-demo |title=District 9 Blu-ray to Include God of War III Demo |last=Barton |first=Steve |date=30 October 2009 |access-date=30 October 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019021102/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34281/district-9-blu-ray-include-god-war-iii-demo |archive-date=19 October 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
▲''District 9'' was released on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on 13 October 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=District 9 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Ultra HD Review {{!}} High Def Digest|url=https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/85984/district94kultrahdbluray.html|access-date=2020-07-27|website=ultrahd.highdefdigest.com|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727160333/https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/85984/district94kultrahdbluray.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Future==
On 1 August 2009, two weeks before ''District 9'' was released to cinemas, Neill Blomkamp hinted that he intended to make a sequel if the film was successful enough. During an interview on the ''Rude Awakening'' [[947 (radio station)|94.7 Highveld Stereo]] breakfast radio show, he alluded to it, saying "There probably will be." Nevertheless, he revealed that his next project is unrelated to the ''District 9'' universe.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://scifiwire.com/2009/07/district-9-director-alrea.php |title=District 9 director already thinking about a sequel |date=31 July 2009 |access-date=29 August 2009 |work=SCI FI Wire |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919033742/http://scifiwire.com/2009/07/district-9-director-alrea.php |archive-date=19 September 2009}}</ref>
In an interview with [[Rotten Tomatoes]], Blomkamp stated that he was "totally" hoping for a follow-up: "I haven't thought of a story yet but if people want to see another one, I'd love to do it."<ref>Mueller, Matt. [http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/district_9/news/1842105/neill_blomkamp_talks_district_9_rt_interview "Neill Blomkamp Talks ''District 9'' — RT Interview"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906121331/http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/district_9/news/1842105/neill_blomkamp_talks_district_9_rt_interview |date=6 September 2009 }}, ''Rotten Tomatoes'', 3 September 2009.</ref>
Blomkamp has posed the possibility of the next movie in the series being a [[prequel]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/feed.asp?NID=26657 |title=Will The Next District 9 Be A Prequel? |date=10 January 2010 |access-date=14 January 2010 |work=Empire Online |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019094245/http://www.empireonline.com/news/feed.asp?NID=26657 |archive-date=19 October 2012
In an interview with [[Empire (film magazine)|''Empire'']] magazine posted on 28 April 2010, Sharlto Copley suggested that a follow-up, while very likely, would be about two years away, given his and Neill Blomkamp's current commitments.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=27715 |title=Sharlto Copley On The District 9 Sequel |date=28 April 2010 |access-date=28 April 2010 |work=Empire Online |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517132858/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=27715 |archive-date=17 May 2012
In an interview with [[IGN]] in June 2013, Blomkamp said, "I really want to make a ''District 9'' sequel. I genuinely do. The problem is I have a bunch of ideas and stuff that I want to make. I'm relatively new to this—I'm about to make my third film, and now the pattern that I'm starting to realise is very true is that you lock yourself into a film beyond the film you're currently working on. But it just doesn't work for me." Referring to a potential sequel, Blomkamp said "[he] want[s] to make ''District 10'' at some point."<ref>[http://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/scifi/neill-blomkamp-talks-district-9-sequel-star-wars.html Neill Blomkamp Talks About A District 9 Sequel And Star Wars] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616101247/http://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/scifi/neill-blomkamp-talks-district-9-sequel-star-wars.html |date=16 June 2013}}</ref>
On 26 February
On 19 August
In August 2023, Blomkamp was asked about a ''District 9'' sequel while promoting ''Gran Turismo'' and hinted at the project being shelved indefinitely. "I don't know if it's getting made or not," Blomkamp told Brian Davids of ''The Hollywood Reporter''. "I don't know if I even want to make that right now, but at some point down the line, it'll probably get made."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/gran-turismo-movie-neill-blomkamp-1235575045/ | title='Gran Turismo' Director Neill Blomkamp on Telling an Unlikely True Story and Putting 'District 10' on the Back Burner | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=25 August 2023 }}</ref>
==See also==
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[[Category:Films set in 1982]]
[[Category:Films set in 2010]]
[[Category:Films set in South Africa]]
[[Category:Films set in Johannesburg]]
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[[Category:New Zealand science fiction thriller films]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in film]]
▲[[Category:Film controversies in Nigeria]]
[[Category:English-language South African films]]
[[Category:QED International films]]
[[Category:Fiction about refugees and displaced people]]
[[Category:Saturn Award-winning films]]
[[Category:Social science fiction films]]
[[Category:South African action thriller films]]
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[[Category:Films produced by Carolynne Cunningham]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction action films]]
[[Category:English-language independent films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction thriller films]]
[[Category:English-language action thriller films]]
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