War of the Worlds 2025, Invaders vs. Earth Hacker Tech
The 2025 film War of the Worlds, directed by Rich Lee and starring Ice Cube as William Radford, reimagines H.G. Wells’ classic alien invasion story from a gritty, urban survival perspective, now centered on keyboards and science. Set in Los Angeles, this version blends sci-fi, social realism, and action-thriller elements, creating a story that feels both modern and sharply political.
The film depicts white and black hat hackers (disruptors) versus government methods (Big Brother spying dubbed Goliath) versus the invaders, allowing viewers to see the action through phones, computers, and tablets. Nearly all the action takes place on a computer screen, with menus, commands, hack codes, breaking news, and video calls. This unique storytelling style immerses you in the action, giving you a sense of fighting for survival. This time, the aliens are after the most critical data the US has had in about a hundred years. Worry not, the design of the invaders wasn’t far from its original appearance. Only updated.
With its distinctive mix of character-driven storytelling, street-level chaos, and philosophical themes about humanity and excessive government overwatch, this version stands out among adaptations—especially when compared to Orson Welles’ infamous 1938 radio broadcast and Steven Spielberg’s 2005 Hollywood blockbuster starring Tom Cruise.
The visual tone of the 2025 War of the Worlds is soaked in concrete grays, warm oranges, and smoky blacks, reflecting the style of realistic deep government conspiracies. Cinematographer Christopher Probst captures a close-up feeling of claustrophobia amid large-scale destruction. Rich Lee’s direction prioritizes tension over spectacle. There are large alien machines, yes—but most of the fear comes from what’s unseen, unheard, or just around the corner. Moments of stillness, moral ambiguity, and slow-burn suspense make it feel less like a blockbuster and more like a psychological war drama crossed with survival horror.
What never changed was how the invading aliens were defeated. As the tripods start to fall, killed by a designer organic bacteria created by William Radford’s daughter, with the support of his son (who’s revealed as the leader of the ‘Disruptors’), the story begins to unravel.
Supporting Ice Cube are Eva Longoria and Clark Gregg.