# Why do aliens in movies/TV always invade the USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 27, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014 "2009-03-27T17:03:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/21 "2009-03-27T19:04:18Z")
If they tried to invade Japan, Godzilla would kick their asses. Besides the Japanese are used to monster attacks and would take the warning seriously. Here, the invaders would have more time to wreak havoc while those trying to warn the scientists were dismissed as “woo-woos” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/22 "2009-03-27T19:10:32Z")
In literature, they invade all over the place, usually in the country that the author is from, so the Martians in Wells’ **War of the Worlds** invade Britain, and in **Zwei Planete** they invade continental Europe (by way of the North Pole). Harry Turtledove’s aliens in the World War series invaded the whole world. So did the Puppet Masters in Heinlein’s novel. Heck, even in the Topps buble gum card series Mars Invades they are shown invading the British Parliament and Paris. But Movies have to cater to a broader audience, so they’re dumber than trading cards. IIRC, the movie Mars Attacks ignored the international aspects. Independence Day gave us token foreign countries, but spent all their time in the US. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/23 "2009-03-27T19:12:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > If they tried to invade Japan, Godzilla would kick their asses. Besides the Japanese are used to monster attacks and would take the warning seriously. Here, the invaders would have more time to wreak havoc while those trying to warn the scientists were dismissed as “woo-woos” They might also send Mothra in as a first wave attack, while the aliens are still in the air. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/24 "2009-03-27T19:27:48Z")
> [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](#): > > Why are monsters in Japanese monster movies always attacking Tokyo? I recall a scene in an X-Man comic, when a monster shows up in Tokyo. There’s an amusing bit with an enraged official tearing at his hair and snarling "Why Tokyo ?! WHY ALWAYS _ **TOKYO ?!** _ " ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/25 "2009-03-27T19:49:26Z")
Because it’s the only country worth invading! ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/26 "2009-03-27T19:53:06Z")
> [@](#): > > by **CalMeacham** > IIRC, the movie Mars Attacks ignored the international aspects. You forget the words of the French prime minister: “We have just signed an accord with the Martians!” ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/27 "2009-03-27T20:06:52Z")
In _Village of the Damned_, the filmed versions of **The Midwick Cuckoos** , the films focus on the “invasions” in the UK (1960 version) and US (1995 version). Mention, however, is made of similar infestations in other parts of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/28 "2009-03-27T20:10:38Z")
My wife told me that in the 50s alien invasions in movies were symbolic for being invaded by the communists. It was a way to warn us about being overrun by foreigners without saying it directly. I think that idea is pretty well known. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/29 "2009-03-27T20:14:53Z")
I seem to recall reading an article about a recent alien invasion/disaster movie in which the producer was asked why Manhattan was so often the focus of destruction. The answer was that New York has landmarks and a skyline that are widely recognizable, much more so than almost any other city. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/30 "2009-03-27T20:31:02Z")
In Peter Jackson’s Bad Taste, the aliens invade New Zealand. Presumably, this was because Jackson had no money at the time- and was thus unable to film on location elsewhere or fake another city. I often wonder what Bad Taste would be like if Jackson remade it with the budgets available to him today. **Bijou Drains** Your wife was right. Invasion Of The Body Snatchers and Invaders From Mars among others had some very clear red menace subtext. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/31 "2009-03-27T22:29:26Z")
Because of our obesity problem, we cannot run away as quickly, and we are also therefore chewier. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/32 "2009-03-27T23:05:58Z")
I wonder if they’d realize they were “profiling” us? Yeah! How come it’s always **us** getting ab-ducted and rods stuck up our ass an shit? I say we protest. 😉 Q ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/33 "2009-03-27T23:23:12Z")
Aliens are always invading the U. S. of A. because we have the best special effects. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/34 "2009-03-28T00:02:11Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > You forget the words of the French prime minister: “We have just signed an accord with the Martians!” So… how’d that work out? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/35 "2009-03-28T02:50:17Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > If you watch anime, you’ll find that they mostly invade Tokyo, though some invade other parts of Japan. Hokkaido is about as far as they get from Tokyo, however. Tokyo Tower, most specifically, is the center of all nefarious and magical intentions. If you read the comic book version of Akira, you get the vague feeling that the story is a secondary consideration for the author; mostly he just wants to blow up and mangle Tokyo in as many ways as he can think of. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/36 "2009-03-28T02:58:25Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > Kiefer Sutherland, who plays the general W.R. Monger, gave an interesting answer: because the films are made in America. Jeffrey Katzenberg gave a humorous, yet sensible answer: “We had it coming!” I think this is indeed why aliens would choose to invade America: because America is a well-known and well-off country. Sutherland got it right. The world does not actually look like a political map. To aliens the concept of “Country” would be meaningless. If they wanted to land in the center of wealth and power Paris or Berlin would be as logical a place as any, since the population, wealth and military power of Europe is just as great in any practical sense as America, and it’s more concentrated. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/37 "2009-03-28T03:18:10Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > If you watch _Doctor Who_, they mostly invade Wales, from what I’ve seen. I rarely watch **Doctor Who** , but they definitely seemed to invade the UK in an episode where an alien was posing as a politician and eating people. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/38 "2009-03-28T04:22:18Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > You forget the words of the French prime minister: “We have just signed an accord with the Martians!” Cheese-eating surrender monkeys! I thought they invaded the US because there is more stock footage of it and its military available to a guy working in Hollywood. I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/39 "2009-03-28T10:48:58Z")
They invade everywhere. \*Our \*movies are about the times they invade _here_. ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014/40 "2009-03-28T18:54:34Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Sutherland got it right. > > The world does not actually look like a political map. To aliens the concept of “Country” would be meaningless. If they wanted to land in the center of wealth and power Paris or Berlin would be as logical a place as any, since the population, wealth and military power of Europe is just as great in any practical sense as America, and it’s more concentrated. Could the aliens measure energy expenditure/heat radiation from outer space? Would that show the centres of industrial power accurately? Would the US still be no. 1 target if so? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-aliens-in-movies-tv-always-invade-the-usa/491014.md?page=3)