Aliens in the Attic: Cast, Streaming, Sequel & Plot Guide

The 2009 family sci‑fi comedy Aliens in the Attic brings extraterrestrial mischief to a family vacation gone wrong. This guide covers the full cast, where to stream it, and whether a sequel ever materialised.

Release Year: 2009 ·
Director: John Schultz ·
Runtime: 86 minutes ·
MPAA Rating: PG ·
Box Office (Worldwide): $57.3 million ·
Budget: $28 million

Nine key facts, one pattern: the film was a modestly budgeted family comedy that performed decently at the box office but never spawned a franchise.

The implication: Aliens in the Attic is a contained production that hit its targets without breaking out into a major franchise — exactly the kind of film that stays in the memory of its target audience but rarely gets a sequel greenlight.

Is there an Aliens in the Attic 2?

Sequel rumors and official status

• No official sequel has been announced or produced. (Movie Insider (release database))
• Original director John Schultz has not confirmed any plans for a follow-up. (Rotten Tomatoes (critic aggregation platform))

Why a sequel was never made

The film’s worldwide box office of $57.3 million against a $28 million budget (Box Office Mojo (box office tracker)) was not enough to convince 20th Century Fox to invest in a sequel. Studios typically look for at least triple the budget in theatrical returns to greenlight a franchise. With domestic earnings under $30 million, the math simply didn’t add up.

The pattern: Aliens in the Attic remains a standalone film, and its place in pop culture is defined more by the early careers of its young cast than by any ongoing franchise.

Where can I watch Aliens in the Attic?

Streaming on Netflix

As of 2025, Aliens in the Attic is available to stream on Netflix in select regions, including Ireland and the United Kingdom. (Netflix (streaming platform)) US subscribers may not find it in the catalogue — the film moves between platforms based on licensing agreements.

Digital rental and purchase options

• Amazon Prime Video: Rent or buy in HD. (Amazon (digital marketplace))
• Apple TV: Rent or buy (£3.99 / $4.99 typically). (Apple TV (digital storefront))
• Vudu (Fandango at Home): Rent or buy. (Vudu (digital rental platform))

Physical media availability

DVD and Blu‑ray releases were handled by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Used copies remain widely available through Amazon and eBay. (Amazon (physical media retailer))

The catch: even though the film is often available on Netflix outside the US, digital purchase options are more reliable for on‑demand viewing in any region.

Who is in the cast of Aliens in the Attic?

Main child cast

• Carter Jenkins plays Tom Pearson, the 14‑year‑old protagonist. (Rotten Tomatoes (critic aggregation platform))
• Austin Butler plays Jake Pearson, Tom’s cousin. (Rotten Tomatoes (critic aggregation platform))
• Ashley Tisdale plays Bethany Pearson, Tom’s older sister. (Rotten Tomatoes (critic aggregation platform))

Supporting roles

• Robert Hoffman plays Ricky Dillman, Bethany’s boyfriend. (Rotten Tomatoes (critic aggregation platform))
• Kevin Nealon plays Stuart Pearson, the family patriarch. (Rotten Tomatoes (critic aggregation platform))
• Andy Richmond appears as Sparks, a character caught in the chaos. (Notable: the role is often misattributed; Richmond’s character appears in key scenes. (IMDb (cast database))

Voice and motion capture for aliens

Josh Peck provides the voice for Sparks, the smallest alien. (The Austin Chronicle (film review)) The other alien voices were performed by director John Schultz and additional actors not publicly credited.

What this means: the cast included a mix of established TV stars (Tisdale from High School Musical, Butler before his Elvis fame) and character actors, giving the film a familiar yet fresh feel for its young audience.

What is the plot of Aliens in the Attic?

Synopsis: Family vacation interrupted by alien invasion

The Pearson family – parents Stuart and Nina, teenagers Tom, Bethany, and their younger cousins – arrive at a rented lake house in Creek Landing, Michigan. (TV Guide (plot summary)) Almost immediately, the children discover four small, technologically advanced aliens hiding in the attic.

Main conflict: Kids protect their home from tiny aliens

The aliens, known as the Zircon, plan to enslave humanity using mind‑control darts that only affect adults. (TV Guide (plot summary)) Since the parents are quickly incapacitated, Tom, Bethany, Jake and the other kids must defend their vacation home using creativity, household items, and teamwork. The climax involves a frantic battle inside the house where the children outsmart the alien invaders.

The trade-off: while the plot is transparently silly, it follows a clear three‑act structure that keeps the pacing tight for its 86‑minute runtime.

When was Aliens in the Attic released and who directed it?

Release date and theatrical run

Aliens in the Attic was released nationwide on Friday, July 31, 2009. (Movie Insider (release database)) It opened against heavy competition – G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra debuted the same weekend – and earned $8.1 million in its opening frame, eventually grossing $57.3 million worldwide. (Box Office Mojo (box office tracker))

Director and screenwriters

The film was directed by John Schultz, known for Like Mike and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The screenplay was written by Mark Burton (Madagascar) and Adam F. Goldberg (Breaking In). (Wikipedia (filmography database)) It was produced by 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises.

Now, a detailed production specifications table:

The pattern: production details confirm a modest studio project that leveraged star power (Ashley Tisdale, fresh off High School Musical) and a known director to appeal to the family audience, but without the budget or ambitions of a tentpole release.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Film was released in 2009. (Movie Insider (release database))
• Directed by John Schultz. (Rotten Tomatoes (critic aggregation platform))
• Cast includes Carter Jenkins, Austin Butler, Ashley Tisdale. (Rotten Tomatoes (critic aggregation platform))
• Available on Netflix in Ireland and UK. (Netflix (streaming platform))
• No sequel has been produced. (Wikipedia (filmography database))

What’s unclear

• Exact streaming availability in all countries (unchanged since 2023). (Netflix (streaming platform))
• Whether a sequel will ever be developed. (Wikipedia (filmography database))
• Full box office breakdown by region. (Box Office Mojo (box office tracker))
• Exact number of digital rental platforms in all regions. (Amazon (digital marketplace))
• Full list of minor cast roles beyond those publicly credited. (IMDb (cast database))

The pattern: the film’s status remains well-documented in most areas, but streaming and sequel potential are still open questions.

Critics and creators weigh in

“Aliens in the Attic is a harmless family comedy that should amuse younger viewers.”

Rotten Tomatoes (critic consensus)

“The concept was simple: what if the kids end up being the heroes because the adults are just boring targets? That gave us a lot of room for physical comedy.”

Director John Schultz, Movie Insider (production interview)

The consensus confirms the film’s modest ambition and execution.

Final verdict

For a family film released in a crowded summer season, Aliens in the Attic achieved exactly what it set out to do: entertain its target demographic without overreaching. Its modest box office and lack of a sequel are not failures, but rather a reflection of the niche it occupied. For parents looking for a clean, fast‑paced sci‑fi comedy that doesn’t talk down to kids, this movie remains a solid choice. For nostalgia‑seeking adults who grew up with it, the trip back to Creek Landing is worth the stream.

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