My Stepmother Is an Alien
Performance & Direction: My Stepmother Is an Alien Review
Last updated: January 31, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.7/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and My Stepmother Is an Alien features a noteworthy lineup led by Dan Aykroyd . Supported by the likes of Kim Basinger and Jon Lovitz , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: My Stepmother Is an Alien
Quick Plot Summary: My Stepmother Is an Alien is a Comedy, Science Fiction film that brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. Trying to rescue her home planet from destruction, a gorgeous extraterrestrial named Celeste arrives on Earth and begins her scientific research. She woos quirky scientist Dr. Steve Mills, a widower with a young daughter. Before long, Celeste finds herself in love with Steve and her new life on Earth, where she experiences true intimacy for the first time. But when she loses sight of her mission, she begins to question where she belongs. The film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Ending Explained: My Stepmother Is an Alien
Ending Breakdown: My Stepmother Is an Alien attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of My Stepmother Is an Alien reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch My Stepmother Is an Alien?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Comedy films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: My Stepmother Is an Alien
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $20.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $13.9M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
My Stepmother Is an Alien Budget
The estimated production budget for My Stepmother Is an Alien is $20.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: My Stepmother Is an Alien
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Where to Watch My Stepmother Is an Alien Online?
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Amazon VideoApple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At HomeMy Stepmother Is an Alien Parents Guide & Age Rating
1988 AdvisoryWondering about My Stepmother Is an Alien age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of My Stepmother Is an Alien is 108 minutes (1h 48m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 5.7/10, and global performance metrics, My Stepmother Is an Alien is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1988 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is My Stepmother Is an Alien worth watching?
My Stepmother Is an Alien is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 5.7/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find My Stepmother Is an Alien parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for My Stepmother Is an Alien identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of My Stepmother Is an Alien?
The total duration of My Stepmother Is an Alien is 108 minutes, which is approximately 1h 48m long.
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How My Stepmother Is an Alien Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for My Stepmother Is an Alien
_**Weird 80’s comedy in the silly mold of “Earth Girls are Easy” and “Coneheads”**_ A low-paid widowed scientist (Dan Aykroyd) makes contact with aliens and they send an agent (Kim Basinger) to meet him. She has a one-eyed serpentine counselor in her purse and ends up marrying the physicist, even though the counselor’s intention is to destroy the planet (!). Alyson Hannigan plays the winsome daughter while Jon Lovitz is on hand as the researcher’s annoying brother. “My Stepmother Is an Alien” (1988) is cut from the same cloth as the contemporaneous “Earth Girls are Easy.” Although it’s not as good and has a strange off-kilter vibe, it’s vastly superior to future duds "2001: A Space Travesty" and "What Planet Are You From?" (both from 2000). While I’m not a fan of Basinger (I don’t NOT like her either), she does comedy surprisingly well, better than you would expect. This was the feature film debut of future “stars” Alyson Hannigan and Juliette Lewis, as well as one of Seth Green’s early movies. The roles of the latter two are almost unnoticeable. Meanwhile, whoever wrote the script loves Jimmy Durante. There’s a surprising scene involving porn that, while it doesn’t get outrageously out of hand (and I could care less about its inclusion), it seems out of place for a warm-hearted family flick. The film is considerably overlong at 1 hour, 47 minutes. It was shot at Studio City and points nearby in the Los Angeles area. GRADE: B-/C+
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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