Mars Attacks!

Episode 297 of Tom Clark's 6M Podcast is a look at Mars Attacks!. Tom Clark and Phil Lindsey break down Tim Burton's 1996 sci-fi black comedy, based on the infamous Topps trading card series. They examine the film's massive ensemble cast, its satirical take on alien invasion movies, and how Burton blended 1950s B-movie influences with dark humor, over-the-top destruction, and one of the most unconventional blockbuster casts of the decade. They also discuss the film's troubled development, the decision to replace stop-motion effects with CGI, Danny Elfman's score, and the movie's evolution from box office disappointment to cult classic. Does Mars Attacks! work as a sharp parody of alien invasion films and American institutions, or is it simply a gloriously chaotic exercise in Tim Burton's unique brand of filmmaking? Dive into that and a lot more! Boink Studios podcasts are created by humans. All hosts featured on our shows are human, and all podcast artwork, logos, and creative direction are created by humans. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boinkstudios Appreciate the content? Support the channel: https://buymeacoffee.com/tomclark Visit us at: https://boinkstudios.com Follow the 6M Podcast: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/6mpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6mpodcast/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/boinkstudios.bsky.social Listen to Boink Studios' Podcasts: Tom Clark's Main Event: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tom-clarks-main-event/id910362334 Bare Mode: A Podcast Review of The Bear: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/bare-mode-a-podcast-review-of-the-bear/id1828513020 Two Nations Under Ted: A Ted Lasso Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-nations-under-ted-a-ted-lasso-podcast/id16938703 © Boink Studios 2026