# Men in Black

> 1997 science fiction film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

**Wikidata**: [Q51416](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51416)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_in_Black_(1997_film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/men-in-black

## Summary
Men in Black is a 1997 American science fiction film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and produced by Amblin Entertainment and Columbia Pictures. It serves as the inaugural installment in the Men in Black film series, blending elements of action, comedy, and buddy cop genres. The film achieved significant commercial success and critical acclaim, notably winning the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

## Key Facts
- **Director:** Barry Sonnenfeld
- **Release Date:** 1997 (specific dates include July 2, July 11, August 6, and September 11)
- **Production Companies:** Amblin Entertainment and Columbia Pictures
- **Country of Origin:** United States
- **Genres:** Science fiction, action, comedy, buddy film, buddy cop film
- **Runtime:** 94 minutes
- **Budget:** $90,000,000
- **Box Office Revenue:** $589,390,539 (total); $250,690,539 (United States)
- **Awards:** Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling; Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film
- **Sequel:** *Men in Black II* (2002)
- **Series:** Part of the *Men in Black* film series
- **Cast:** Rip Torn
- **IMDb ID:** tt0119654
- **Ratings:** 7.5/10, 91%, 72/100
- **Website:** http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/meninblack
- **Alias:** MIB

## FAQs
**What genre is Men in Black?**
Men in Black is a science fiction film that incorporates elements of action, comedy, and the buddy cop genre.

**Who produced and directed the film?**
The film was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and produced by Amblin Entertainment and Columbia Pictures.

**Did Men in Black win any major awards?**
Yes, the film won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film.

**How successful was the film financially?**
With a budget of $90 million, *Men in Black* grossed over $589 million worldwide, including approximately $250 million in the United States.

**Who acted in the film?**
The cast includes Rip Torn, an American actor known for his work in film, television, and stage.

**Is there a sequel to Men in Black?**
Yes, the film is followed by *Men in Black II*, released in 2002 and also directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.

## Why It Matters
Men in Black matters for its successful fusion of the science fiction and buddy cop genres, establishing a template for high-concept action-comedies. Its financial performance, grossing nearly six times its budget, demonstrated the massive commercial potential of genre-blending blockbusters in the late 1990s. The film's critical recognition, particularly the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, underscored the importance of practical effects and creature design in the era of emerging CGI. As the foundational entry in a major media franchise, it launched a series that has influenced pop culture globally. Additionally, it served as a significant platform for director Barry Sonnenfeld and highlighted the versatile career of actor Rip Torn.

## Notable For
- Winning the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
- Winning the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film.
- Grossing $589,390,539 worldwide against a $90 million budget.
- Achieving a runtime of exactly 94 minutes.
- Holding an IMDb ID of tt0119654.
- Being produced by both Amblin Entertainment and Columbia Pictures.
- Receiving high aggregate ratings of 91% and 72/100 alongside a 7.5/10 user score.
- Launching the *Men in Black* film series.
- Featuring Rip Torn in a notable role.

## Body

### Production and Direction
*Men in Black* is a 1997 film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. It was produced by two prominent American production companies: Amblin Entertainment, founded in 1981 and headquartered in Universal City, California, and Columbia Pictures, a company established in 1918 and headquartered in Culver City, California. The film is an instance of the broader class "film," defined as a sequence of images that give the impression of movement, traditionally stored on film stock. The country of origin for the production is the United States, a sovereign federal republic located primarily in North America.

### Genre and Narrative Style
The film is classified under multiple genres, including science fiction, action, and comedy. It specifically fits the sub-genres of buddy film and buddy cop film, which typically feature two protagonists—often police officers—with contrasting personalities paired together non-romantically. This blend of genres allows the film to explore sci-fi concepts within a humorous and action-oriented framework.

### Release and Commercial Performance
*Men in Black* was released in 1997, with various premiere dates including July 2, July 11, August 6, and September 11. The film had a production budget of $90,000,000. It proved to be a major financial success, grossing $250,690,539 in the United States and $589,390,539 worldwide at the box office.

### Critical Recognition and Awards
The film received significant recognition in the entertainment industry. It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, an entertainment award category established in 1981 in the United States. Additionally, it won the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film, a category of the American film and television award established in 1973. Critical ratings for the film include a 7.5/10 score, a 91% rating, and a 72/100 score.

### Franchise and Sequels
*Men in Black* functions as the parent entity to the *Men in Black* film series. It is directly followed by the sequel *Men in Black II*, a 2002 film also directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. The success of the original film established a franchise that continues to be referenced in popular culture.

### Cast and Personnel
The production features Rip Torn (1931–2019), an American actor whose career spanned film, television, and stage. Torn, who held citizenship in the United States, was known for his multifaceted work as an actor, film director, film producer, and voice actor. His involvement in *Men in Black* is cited as one of his most notable roles, alongside his performance in *DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story*.

### Technical Data and Identifiers
The film possesses a wide array of structured identifiers and technical specifications:
- **Runtime:** 94 minutes
- **IMDb ID:** tt0119654
- **MusicBrainz ID:** 1630
- **Freebase ID:** /m/016dj8
- **Rotten Tomatoes ID:** m/men_in_black
- **Crunchbase Topic ID:** topic/Men-in-Black
- **KOFIC ID:** 18804
- **Douban ID:** 60001650
- **Cineuropa ID:** 192
- **AllMovie ID:** 30258
- **Metacritic ID:** 172971
- **Box Office Mojo ID:** 83465
- **Wikimedia Commons Category:** 30399
- **BabelNet ID:** 150441588
- **ISNI:** 10.5240/363F-76F4-D9AB-85DE-F68B-Y
- **VIAF:** 91685
- **Bibsys ID:** 12887
- **National Library of Australia ID:** 507124
- **Library of Congress Control Number:** 587
- **National Library of Israel ID:** t0006760
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 118991
- **National Library of Spain ID:** tt16
- **NUKAT ID:** 62111
- **ORCID:** 0000-0000-F6A1-0000-3-0000-0000-S
- **OpenAlex ID:** 61055
- **Library Thing ID:** 132084
- **ACM Digital Library ID:** Men-in-Black
- **Goodreads ID:** 1312366
- **Korean Movie Database ID:** 53235
- **Swiss Film Archive ID:** 4001
- **Fandom Wiki ID:** film/meninblack
- **Deutsche Synchronkartei ID:** filme/men-in-black
- **ITV ID:** men_in_black
- **Amazon Standard Identification Number:** B0094LV1D6
- **YouTube IDs:** 270782729, 532568934, 396190740, 543006292
- **Spotify ID:** d6dZ8RXahC0
- **MusicBrainz Work ID:** works/86152
- **Letterboxd ID:** movies/men-in-black-1997
- **Wikipedia Title:** Men in Black (1997 film)
- **Alias:** MIB
- **Official Website:** http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/meninblack

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps
2. [Source](http://www.ofdb.de/film/1261,Men-in-Black)
3. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/men-in-black)
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5. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1409024/)
6. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=10700.html)
7. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119654/)
8. [Source](https://filmow.com/mib-homens-de-preto-t17/)
9. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/faceci-w-czerni)
10. [Source](http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Men-in-Black#tab=video-sales)
11. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119654/fullcredits)
12. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
13. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1998)
14. Virtual International Authority File
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18. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119654/releaseinfo)
19. [Source](http://www.kinokalender.com/film247_men-in-black.html)
20. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119654/releaseinfo)
21. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119654/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt)
22. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0119654/)
23. Box Office Mojo
24. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/men-in-black/)
25. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
26. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
27. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/91685)
28. [Source](http://portal.mj.gov.br/ClassificacaoIndicativa/jsps/DadosObraForm.do?select_action=&tbobra_codigo=465)
29. Brazilian Advisory Rating System
30. Bechdel Test Movie List
31. mymovies.it
32. Men in Black
33. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/363F-76F4-D9AB-85DE-F68B-Y)
34. Danish Film Database
35. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/86152)
36. TheTVDB
37. Trakt.tv
38. FilmVandaag.nl