At the Mexico–United States border, two men in black suits, Agent K and Agent D, interrupt a border patrol sting. They take one of the men attempting to cross the border, who is actually an extraterrestrial in disguise. K is forced to shoot it when it tries to attack a presumptuous border patrol agent. As D believes to be rather weakened by the years he decides it's time to retire.
NYPD officer James Darrell Edwards III catches an unnaturally agile fleeing criminal and sees his eyes blink in an unusual manner before he leaps from the roof of the Guggenheim museum. During his interrogation, K arrives and scouts James as a potential new partner, impressed by his ability to chase down an alien. K explains to James that their organization, the Men in Black, was founded after first contact was made with aliens in 1961; at this time Earth was established as a politically neutral zone for alien refugees.
The MIB is a secret organization that monitors and polices these aliens, and use neuralyzers to erase the memories of anyone who witnesses alien activities. James agrees to join and he is renamed Agent J, and his civilian identity is erased from government records.
Meanwhile an alien crash-lands in upstate New York, and kills a farmer named Edgar and begins wearing his skin as a disguise. J and K investigate the crash site and discover this alien is a "bug", a species of cockroach-like alien that are extremely dangerous. The bug kills two disguised aliens that are sent to a police morgue overseen by coroner Laurel Weaver. J and K inspect the bodies and J and Laurel accidentally open the head of one, revealing a small, dying alien in a control cockpit. The alien tells them "To prevent war, the galaxy is on Orion's belt" before dying.
K neuralyzes Laurel, telling J that this man was Rosenberg, an Arquillian and one of their royal family. They question an informant, Frank the Pug, who explains that Rosenberg was the guardian of a galaxy that is a precious source of sub-atomic energy; the bug killed Rosenberg to acquire it so the bugs may destroy the Arquillians. Frank also tells them that the galaxy is on Earth and is actually very small. An Arquillian warship enters Earth's orbit, issuing an ultimatum to MIB to give them the galaxy.
J deduces the galaxy is in a jewel on the collar of Rosenberg's cat Orion, hence Rosenberg was trying to say "bell", which is in Laurel's care now. The bug has made the same deduction and arrived at the morgue first, and takes the galaxy and flees with Laurel, swallowing the galaxy. The Arquillians, who are willing to destroy the galaxy rather than let the bugs have it, warn MIB that they have one hour to recover the galaxy or they will destroy Earth.
With all other transports locked down, J realizes the bug's only escape is the observation towers of the New York State Pavilion at Flushing Meadows, which was built for the 1964 New York World's Fair to disguise two real flying saucers. The bug attempts to take off but J and K shoot down the ship, and the bug sheds Edgar's skin and reveals its true form. It swallows J and K's guns, and K goads it to swallow him as well. The bug begins to board the second ship and J steps on cockroaches from a dumpster to antagonize it, stalling until K finds his gun in its stomach and shoots it from inside. The remains of the bug attack the two, but Laurel destroys it with J's gun.
With the galaxy secure, K admits to J that he has not been training a partner, but a replacement; he is ready for retirement. J neuralyzes K, creating a cover story that he was in a coma for thirty-five years. Laurel joins MIB as J's new partner, Agent L. Meanwhile out in the universe an Arquillian is playing with some Galaxy jewels like marbles.
Cast[edit]
- Tommy Lee Jones as Kevin Brown / Agent K: J's grizzled and humorless mentor. Clint Eastwood turned down the part, while Jones only accepted the role after Steven Spielberg promised the script would improve, based on his respect for Spielberg's track record. He had been disappointed with the first draft, which he reportedly said "stank", feeling it did not capture the tone of the comic.[2]
- Will Smith as James Darrell Edwards III / Agent J: A former NYPD detective, newly recruited to the MIB. Smith was cast because Barry Sonnenfeld's wife was a fan of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Sonnenfeld also liked his performance in Six Degrees of Separation.[2] Chris O'Donnell turned down the role because he found the role of a new recruit too similar to Dick Grayson, whom he played in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin.[3] David Schwimmer also turned down the part.[2] Like Jones, Smith said he accepted the role after meeting with Spielberg and cited his success as a producer.
- Linda Fiorentino as Dr. Laurel Weaver / Agent L: A deputy medical examiner, and later J's partner.
- Vincent D'Onofrio as the Bug: A giant alien insect who comes to earth to kidnap the Galaxy and use it to destroy the Arquillians. He conceals his identity underneath the skin of a farmer he killed. John Turturro and Bruce Campbell were both offered the role, but they turned it down due to scheduling conflicts.[2] D'Onofrio also portrays Edgar, the farmer killed by the bug.
- Rip Torn as Chief Zed: The head of the MIB.
- Tony Shalhoub as Jack Jeebs: An alien arms dealer who runs a pawn shop as a front.
- Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Beatrice: Edgar's abused wife.
- Mike Nussbaum as Gentle Rosenberg: An Arquillian jeweler who is the guardian of "the Galaxy".
- Jon Gries as Nick the van driver: the American smuggler who unknowingly carries a literal alien among his posse.
- Sergio Calderón as Jose
- John Alexander as Mikey: An alien who poses as a Mexican being snuck across the border.
- Patrick Breen as Mr. Redgick
- Becky Ann Baker as Mrs. Redgick
- Carel Struycken as Arquillian
- Fredric Lehne as Agent Janus
- Kent Faulcon as Jake Jensen
- Richard Hamilton as Agent D: K's former partner who retires after deciding he is too old for the job.
- David Cross as Newton, Morgue Attendant
- Sean Whalen as Passport Officer
Voices/Puppeteers[edit]
- Tim Blaney as Frank the Pug: A smart-talking pug-like alien.
- Mark Setrakian as Rosenberg Alien
- Brad Abrell, Thom Fountain, Carl J. Johnson and Drew Massey as the Worm Guys: A quartet of worm-like aliens that work for Men in Black.
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