Arrival

A 2016 American science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve. The plot centers on the sudden arrival of twelve alien spacecraft at various locations around the world. The U.S. military enlists linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) to establish contact with the extraterrestrials, referred to as heptapods due to their seven-limbed appearance. Louise and Ian enter the spacecraft located in Montana and begin communication with two heptapods, nicknamed Abbott and Costello. As they gradually decipher the complex written language of the aliens, Louise discovers that mastering it alters one's perception of time, enabling visions of the past and future. When one of the aliens' messages is interpreted as "use weapon," it incites global panic and the threat of military conflict. However, Louise realizes that "weapon" refers to their language, which is a gift to humanity. Utilizing her newfound abilities, she prevents the conflict by contacting a Chinese general and persuading him to abort the attack. The film explores themes of communication, perception of time, and human unity in the face of the unknown.