Pixels is a 2015 science fiction comedy film directed by Chris Columbus, written by Tim Herlihy and Timothy Dowling, and produced by Columbus, Adam Sandler, Allen Covert, and Mark Radcliffe. Based on the 2010 short film of the same name by Patrick Jean, the film stars Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, and Brian Cox. Combining computer-animated video game characters and visual effects, the film follows an alien race misinterpreting video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, resulting in them invading Earth using technology inspired by 1980s games such as Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Arkanoid, Galaga, Centipede and Donkey Kong. To counter the invasion, the United States hires former arcade champions to lead the planet's defense. Principal photography on the film began on May 28, 2014, in Toronto; filming was completed in three months.
Release dateJuly 24, 2015 (USA)
Content ratingPG-13 · TV-PG · TV-14
GenreAction · Comedy · Fantasy · Sci-Fi
Written byTim Herlihy · Timothy Dowling · Patrick Jean Music byHenry Jackman Produced byMichael Barnathan · Allen Covert · Mark Radcliffe · Adam Sandler · Chris Columbus Production companyColumbia Pictures · LStar Capital · China Film Group Corporation (CFGC) · Happy Madison Productions · 1492 Pictures · Film Croppers Entertainment · Prime Focus