Mars Attacks! (1996) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A failed first contact escalates into global destruction before an absurdly unexpected weakness saves the surviving humans.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Visitors From Mars

A massive Martian fleet approaches Earth and triggers a highly publicized first-contact effort. The apparent promise of peace collapses when the Nevada delegation is massacred.

Key Events

• Martian Fleet Leaves Mars — Hundreds of Martian ships gather and travel toward Earth. Location: Mars
• Earth Learns of Contact — Government aides address the nation about the approaching Martian fleet. Characters: Barbara Land, Donald Kessler Location: Washington, D.C.
• Nevada Contact Meeting — Officials and civilians gather for the first formal meeting with the Martians. Characters: Donald Kessler, General Casey, Jason Stone, Nathalie Lake, Byron Williams Location: Pahrump, Nevada
• Peace Gesture Becomes Massacre — A dove is shot, after which the Martians massacre attendees and capture Nathalie. Characters: General Casey, Jason Stone, Nathalie Lake, Byron Williams Location: Pahrump, Nevada

Diplomacy Under Siege

Attempts to repair communication fail as the Martians destroy Congress and capture human subjects for experimentation. A failed assassination attempt confirms that the threat is expanding.

Key Events

• Diplomatic Renegotiation — Kessler is directed to renegotiate after the first contact collapses. Characters: Donald Kessler Location: Washington, D.C.
• Congress Is Destroyed — The Martians address Congress, annihilate most members, and take Kessler aboard their ship. Characters: Donald Kessler Location: United States Capitol
• Martian Experiments Begin — Kessler and Nathalie undergo grotesque bodily experiments aboard the mothership. Characters: Donald Kessler, Nathalie Lake Location: Martian mothership
• Assassination Attempt Fails — A disguised Martian attempts to assassinate the president but fails. Characters: Barbara Land, General Decker Location: White House

Earth In Flames

The Martians launch a global invasion, devastate landmarks, and defeat a nuclear response. Government defenses collapse as the bunker is breached and a peace appeal ends in betrayal.

Key Events

• War Spreads Across Earth — The Martians declare war and invade Washington before spreading globally. Characters: Barbara Land, General Decker Location: Washington, D.C.
• White House Evacuation — Secret Service personnel evacuate the presidential household during the attack. Characters: Barbara Land Location: White House
• Global Landmarks Fall — The invading Martians destroy and vandalize major landmarks around the world. Location: Worldwide landmarks
• Nuclear Strike Fails — A nuclear attack against the mothership proves ineffective. Characters: General Decker Location: Earth and Martian mothership
• Bunker Is Breached — Martians breach the bunker and reduce Decker to insect size. Characters: Barbara Land, General Decker Location: Government bunker
• Peace Appeal Betrayed — A peace appeal appears successful before a concealed device assassinates the speaker. Characters: Barbara Land, General Decker Location: Government bunker

The Last Human Escape

Survivors attempt to flee Las Vegas while Byron confronts the Martians in a physical diversion. Meanwhile, a seemingly trivial song reveals the invaders' fatal weakness.

Key Events

• Las Vegas Ravaged — Byron organizes civilians to escape the devastated casino district. Characters: Byron Williams, Barbara Land, Cindy, Rude Gambler Location: Las Vegas
• Plane Escape Ambush — The survivors discover Martians stationed at the plane and attempt to escape. Characters: Byron Williams, Barbara Land, Cindy, Rude Gambler Location: Las Vegas airfield
• Byron Challenges the Invaders — Byron creates a diversion by challenging the Martians to a fistfight. Characters: Byron Williams, Barbara Land, Cindy Location: Las Vegas airfield
• The Alien Weakness Revealed — A country song is discovered to be lethal to the Martians and is broadcast widely. Location: Local town and radio station

A Strange Victory

The song is broadcast around the globe, killing the Martian leadership and destroying the motherships. Survivors reunite as Earth begins recovering from the invasion.

Key Events

• Motherships Collapse — The song kills the Martian leadership and causes the mothership carrying Kessler and Nathalie to crash. Characters: Donald Kessler, Nathalie Lake Location: Ocean and Martian mothership
• Survivors Reunite — Survivors emerge, Byron reunites with his sons, and the devastation begins cleanup. Characters: Byron Williams, Barbara Land, Cindy, Cedric, Neville Location: Washington, D.C. and Lake Tahoe

Story Breakdown

• Martian Arrival — The approaching fleet transforms curiosity into a planetary crisis.
  • Fleet Leaves Mars — Hundreds of ships travel toward Earth.
  • Earth Watches — Government aides address the public about the historic approach.
• Broken First Contact — A symbolic gesture is misread and turns diplomacy into slaughter.
  • Nevada Meeting — Officials and civilians attend the first contact event.
  • Dove Is Shot — The peace symbol precedes the massacre.
• Diplomacy Collapses — Human attempts to negotiate are answered with attacks and abductions.
  • Congress Attacked — The Martians annihilate most of Congress.
  • Human Experiments — Kessler and Nathalie become experimental subjects.
• Global Invasion — The Martians move from isolated attacks to worldwide conquest.
  • White House Assault — The presidential complex comes under attack.
  • Nuclear Failure — A nuclear strike cannot stop the mothership.
• Civilian Resistance — Small groups of survivors improvise escapes and confront the invaders.
  • Las Vegas Escape — Byron leads survivors toward a turboprop plane.
  • Fistfight Diversion — Byron challenges the Martians to buy time.
• Unexpected Victory — A discovered broadcast weapon ends the invasion and begins recovery.
  • Song Reveals Weakness — A recording proves lethal to the Martians.
  • Survivors Reunite — The surviving humans witness the aftermath and reunite.

Directed by

Tim Burton

Key Cast

• Jack Nicholson — President Dale / Art Land
• Glenn Close — Marsha Dale
• Annette Bening — Barbara Land
• Pierce Brosnan — Donald Kessler
• Danny DeVito — Rude Gambler