Arrival (film)#Music and soundtrack

Linguist Louise Banks's daughter Hannah dies at the age of twelve from an incurable illness.

Twelve extraterrestrial spacecraft hover over various locations around the Earth. In the ensuing widespread panic, affected nations send military and scientific experts to monitor and study them. In the United States, US Army Colonel Weber recruits Banks and physicist Ian Donnelly to study the craft above Montana. On board, Banks and Donnelly make contact with two cephalopod-like, seven-limbed aliens, whom they call "heptapods"; Donnelly nicknames them Abbott and Costello. Banks and Donnelly research the complex written language of the heptapods, consisting of palindromic phrases written with circular symbols, and share the results with other nations. As Banks studies the language, she starts to have flashback-like visions of her daughter.

When Banks is able to establish sufficient shared vocabulary to ask why the heptapods have come, they answer with a statement that could be translated as "offer weapon". China interprets this as "use weapon", prompting them to break off communications, and other nations follow. Banks argues that the symbol interpreted as "weapon" can be more abstractly related to the concepts of "means" or "tool"; China's translation likely results from interacting with the heptapods using mahjong, a highly competitive game.

Rogue soldiers plant a bomb in the Montana craft. Unaware, Banks and Donnelly reenter the alien vessel, and the aliens give them a more complex message. Just before the bomb explodes, one of the aliens ejects Donnelly and Banks from the vessel, knocking them unconscious. When they wake, the heptapod craft has moved beyond reach and the US military is preparing to evacuate in case of retaliation.

General Shang of China issues an ultimatum to the alien craft in China, demanding that it leave within 24 hours. Russia, Pakistan, and Sudan follow suit; communications between the international research teams are terminated as worldwide panic sets in.

Donnelly discovers that the symbol for time is present throughout the message and that the writing occupies exactly one-twelfth of the 3D space into which it is projected. Banks suggests that the full message is split between the twelve craft and that the heptapods want all the nations to collaborate in order to decipher it.

Banks goes alone to the Montana craft, which sends down a transport pod. Abbott has been mortally injured as a result of the explosion. Costello explains that they have come to help humanity, because in 3,000 years' time they will need humanity's help in return. Banks realizes the "weapon" is their language. Learning the language alters humans' linear perception of time, allowing them to experience memories of future events. Banks's visions of her daughter are revealed to be premonitions; her daughter will not be born until sometime in the future.

Banks returns to the camp as it is being evacuated and tells Donnelly that the aliens' language is the "tool" that was meant by the word "weapon". She has a premonition of a United Nations event celebrating global unity achieved by deciphering the heptapods' language. At the event, General Shang thanks Banks for persuading him to stop the attack when she called his private number and recited his wife's dying words.{{efn|In the film, this line is spoken in Mandarin without English subtitles. According to screenwriter Eric Heisserer, it translates to "War doesn't make winners, only widows".{{Cite web |last=Patches |first=Matt |date=November 13, 2016 |title=The Mystery Line in 'Arrival,' Revealed |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/arrival-chinese-line-ending |access-date=February 20, 2023 |website=Thrillist}}}} He then shows her his private number and whispers his wife's words into her ear.

In the present, Banks takes CIA agent Halpern's satellite phone from a table and calls Shang's private number to recite the words. The Chinese announce that they are standing down and releasing their twelfth of the message. The other countries follow suit, and the twelve spacecraft depart.

From what she has learned, Banks writes and publishes a book called The Universal Language, a guide to the heptapod language, which will eventually teach humanity to perceive time the same way as the heptapods.

During the evacuation, Donnelly expresses his love for Banks. They talk about their life choices and whether he would change them if he could see his life from beginning to end. Banks knows that she will agree to have a child with him despite knowing their fate: that Hannah will die from an incurable disease and that Donnelly will leave them both as a result of her revealing that she knew this.

{{Castlist|

• Amy Adams as Louise Banks
• Jeremy Renner as Ian Donnelly
• Forest Whitaker as Colonel G. T. Weber
• Michael Stuhlbarg as Agent Halpern
• Mark O'Brien as Captain Marks
• Tzi Ma as General Shang
• Abigail Pniowsky as 8-year-old Hannah
• Julia Scarlett Dan as 12-year-old Hannah
• Jadyn Malone as 6-year-old Hannah

}}

File:Denis Villeneuve Cannes 2018.jpg had been seeking out a science fiction film to make prior to being approached to direct.]]

Arrival is based on the Nebula-winning 1998 science fiction novella "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang. The novella involves Earth's first communication with heptapods who speak in a cryptic language. Screenwriter Eric Heisserer had been introduced to the story through another of Chiang's stories, "Understand", and had begun reading Chiang's collected works when "Story of Your Life" had a "profound emotional effect" on him. As a result, he tried to adapt the story into a film script as he wanted to share it with a wider audience.{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2016/11/arrival-eric-heisserer-denis-villeneuve-paramount-pictures-oscars-interview-1201859018/ | title = 'Arrival' Scribe Eric Heisserer Digs Into Process Of Adapting Ted Chiang's Short Story, 'Story Of Your Life' | first = Matt | last = Grobar | date = November 30, 2016 | access-date = March 3, 2020 | work = Deadline Hollywood | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200304015214/https://deadline.com/2016/11/arrival-eric-heisserer-denis-villeneuve-paramount-pictures-oscars-interview-1201859018/ | archive-date = March 4, 2020 | url-status = live }} After writing an initial spec script, Heisserer pitched it to production companies for several years without receiving any interest and nearly gave up on the project.{{cite news |last=Calia |first=Michael |title=A New Story in Sci-Fi Writer Ted Chiang's Life: Hollywood |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-story-in-sci-fi-writer-ted-chiangs-life-hollywood-1478015805 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=November 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108095318/http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-story-in-sci-fi-writer-ted-chiangs-life-hollywood-1478015805 |archive-date=November 8, 2016 |url-status=live }} Heisserer believes it was not until he had successfully completed and produced 2013's Hours that others took interest in his work, he having proved himself capable. Eventually, Dan Levine and Dan Cohen of 21 Laps Entertainment expressed interest in Heisserer's script. Shawn Levy of 21 Laps said they had become aware of "Story of Your Life" around 2011 and considered it a powerful work; when they learned of Heisserer's script adaptation, they started working closely with him, helping him refine the script before they began seeking a director and distribution studio.{{Cite web|url=https://www.awardsdaily.com/2016/11/29/interview-shawn-levy-dan-levine-dan-cohen-team-21-laps-talk-arrival-stranger-things/|title=Interview: Shawn Levy, Dan Levine and Dan Cohen - The Team at 21 Laps Talk Arrival and Stranger Things|date=November 29, 2016|website=Awards Daily|language=en-US|access-date=March 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304003030/https://www.awardsdaily.com/2016/11/29/interview-shawn-levy-dan-levine-dan-cohen-team-21-laps-talk-arrival-stranger-things/|archive-date=March 4, 2020|url-status=live}}

One of the directors that 21 Laps approached was Denis Villeneuve. Villeneuve had wanted to make a science fiction film for some time, although he "never found the right thing".{{cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |title=Denis Villeneuve Talks 'Arrival', "A Vacation From Darkness" & The "Berserk" Risk Of 'Blade Runner' Sequel – Venice Q&A |url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/arrival-movie-denis-villeneuve-interview-reactions-blade-runner-sequel-venice-film-festival-2016-1201811771/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=September 2016 |access-date=November 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105223524/http://deadline.com/2016/09/arrival-movie-denis-villeneuve-interview-reactions-blade-runner-sequel-venice-film-festival-2016-1201811771/ |archive-date=November 5, 2016 |url-status=live }} Cohen and Levine introduced Villeneuve to the novella, which he immediately took to, although his work on Prisoners meant that he did not have the time to properly adapt it into a screenplay with Heisserer. Heisserer completed a first draft, which he and Villeneuve reworked into the final script. Villeneuve changed the title, as he felt the original sounded like a romantic comedy and that the script had become very different from the short story. While Villeneuve went through "hundreds" of possible titles, Arrival was the first one his team of producers and writers had suggested.

Heisserer made several changes to "Story of Your Life" between writing his original screenplays and the final script, the main one being that the heptapods actually arrived on Earth in a type of first contact situation, as he felt this helped to create the tension and conflict needed for a film. Heisserer said that earlier versions of the script had a different ending: the gift from the heptapods was to have been "blueprints to an interstellar ship, like an ark of sorts", to enable humanity to help them in 3,000 years. But after the release of Interstellar in 2014, Heisserer and Villeneuve agreed that this would not work, and decided that the heptapods' gift would be what was "there in front of us ... the power of their language".{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/arrival-ending-interstellar/ |title=How 'Interstellar' Changed the Ending of 'Arrival' |website=/Film |first=Angie |last=Han |date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218184255/http://www.slashfilm.com/arrival-ending-interstellar |archive-date=February 18, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Amy Adams entered negotiations to star in the film in April 2014,{{cite web |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |title=Amy Adams in Talks to Star in 'Story of Your Life' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/amy-adams-talks-star-story-693001 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 2, 2014 |access-date=April 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102112131/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/amy-adams-talks-star-story-693001 |archive-date=November 2, 2015 |url-status=live }} and was confirmed by the time Jeremy Renner joined the film in March 2015.{{cite news |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |title=Jeremy Renner Joins Amy Adams in Sci-Fi 'Story of Your Life' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jeremy-renner-joins-amy-adams-779876 |access-date=March 8, 2015 |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150206/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jeremy-renner-joins-amy-adams-779876 |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |url-status=live }} Forest Whitaker signed on in April, with Michael Stuhlbarg joining in June.{{cite magazine |last=Kroll |first=Justin |title=Forest Whitaker Eyes 'Story of Your Life' With Amy Adams |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/story-of-your-life-forest-whitaker-cast-amy-adams-1201464488/ |access-date=June 9, 2015 |magazine=Variety |date=April 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616133558/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/story-of-your-life-forest-whitaker-cast-amy-adams-1201464488/ |archive-date=June 16, 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=White |first=James |title=Michael Stuhlbarg Joins Story Of Your Life |url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=44642 |access-date=June 20, 2015 |magazine=Empire |date=June 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618100233/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=44642 |archive-date=June 18, 2015 |url-status=live }} Adams consulted with linguist Jessica Coon to prepare for her role.{{cite web |url=http://scienceandfilm.org/articles/2802/alien-speak-linguist-dr-jessica-coon-on-villeneuves-arrival |title=Alien Speak: Linguist Dr. Jessica Coon on Villeneuve's "Arrival" |first=Jessica |last=Coon |date=November 11, 2016 |website=Sloan Science & Film |access-date=November 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112040351/http://scienceandfilm.org/articles/2802/alien-speak-linguist-dr-jessica-coon-on-villeneuves-arrival |archive-date=November 12, 2016 |url-status=live }}

File:Paysage maritime Saint-Fabien, Bas St-Laurent Québec.jpg doubled for the state of Montana.]]

Principal photography lasted for 56 days, beginning on June 7, 2015, after Renner had fulfilled his obligations to Captain America: Civil War. Filming was done mainly in and around Montreal, Quebec, with Saint-Fabien serving as Montana.{{cite web |url=https://www.macleans.ca/culture/movies/the-arrival-of-denis-villeneuve/ |title=The arrival of Denis Villeneuve |last=Johnson |first=Brian D. |website=Maclean's |date=November 8, 2016 |access-date=September 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822181944/https://www.macleans.ca/culture/movies/the-arrival-of-denis-villeneuve/ |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.laterre.ca/actualites/vie-rurale/terre-bas-saint-laurent-coeur-film-arrival |title=Une terre du Bas-Saint-Laurent au cœur du film Arrival |last=Desrochers |first=Ariane |website=La Terre de chez nous |language=fr |date=March 6, 2017 |access-date=September 18, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421155136/https://www.laterre.ca/actualites/vie-rurale/terre-bas-saint-laurent-coeur-film-arrival |url-status=live }} The team took some time to find the right site to represent the landing of the spacecraft because producers wanted to avoid a mountainous site that might dwarf the scale of the ship, but thought a barren location would be cliché.{{cite web |url=https://britishcinematographer.co.uk/bradford-young-asc-arrival/ |title=Close Encounter |website=British Cinematographer |date=November 15, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318173037/https://britishcinematographer.co.uk/bradford-young-asc-arrival/ |archive-date=March 18, 2017 |url-status=live }} Most of the filming that did not involve the exterior of a ship was done indoors on sound stages, although a real house in Chemin de l'Île, Vaudreuil-Dorion, was used as Banks's home.{{Cite web|url=https://moviemaps.org/locations/aap|title=Movies Filmed at 31 Chemin de l'Île — Movie Maps|website=moviemaps.org|access-date=March 4, 2020|archive-date=April 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421155133/https://moviemaps.org/locations/aap|url-status=live}} The scenes of the university where Banks teaches were shot on the main campus of Université de Montréal, including HEC Montréal's auditorium and cafeteria.{{cite news |url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movies/oscars-give-denis-villeneuves-crew-members-their-time-of-arrival |title=Oscars give Denis Villeneuve's crew members their time of Arrival |access-date=April 1, 2017 |newspaper=Montreal Gazette |date=February 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401232909/http://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movies/oscars-give-denis-villeneuves-crew-members-their-time-of-arrival |archive-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live }} Bradford Young was sought out by Villeneuve as he was looking for a cinematographer with a sensibility toward natural lighting. Said Villeneuve: "I wanted the movie to have strong roots in realism. I wanted a cinematographer who would not be afraid to deal with intimacy. It's a very specific sensibility that I felt in Bradford's previous work."{{cite magazine |last1=Laurent |first1=Olivier |title=Inside the Cinematography of the Oscar-Nominated Movie Arrival |url=https://time.com/4677598/arrival-oscar-cinematography/ |magazine=Time |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513200057/http://time.com/4677598/arrival-oscar-cinematography/ |archive-date=May 13, 2019 |url-status=live }} Color timing was used as a means of matching Louise's state of mind at a given moment. Young said, "I went for cooler colors when I wanted Amy to feel worn down. We tried to pull back on that a little bit, but then Denis stopped me in the [color timing] and told me not to be so concerned about skin tone and let her be pasty, let her exist in that melancholy space, let us feel that visually."{{cite web |last1=Desowitz |first1=Bill |title=How 'Arrival' Cinematographer Bradford Young Transcends Sci-Fi with Poetry |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/arrival-cinematographer-bradford-young-sci-fi-oscars-1201745522/ |website=IndieWire |date=November 11, 2016 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309105509/https://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/arrival-cinematographer-bradford-young-sci-fi-oscars-1201745522/ |archive-date=March 9, 2020 |url-status=live }} When discussing the film with Villeneuve, Young described the director's goal of making a "dirty" science fiction film by making it look more grounded and "slightly boring", as Villeneuve put it. Young also used the book Speedway by photographer Martina Hoogland Ivanow as a reference for the film's look.{{cite web |last1=Tobias |first1=Scott |title=Bradford Young Breaks Color Barrier With Oscar Nomination for 'Arrival' |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/awards/bradford-young-arrival-oscar-han-solo-1201988626/ |website=Variety |date=February 15, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217093007/https://variety.com/2017/film/awards/bradford-young-arrival-oscar-han-solo-1201988626/ |archive-date=December 17, 2019 |url-status=live }}

Production designer Patrice Vermette discussed the film in a February 2017 interview with Popular Mechanics, saying that a big influence on the film's look was the works of James Turrell, particularly the design of the meeting room aboard the alien craft. "I wanted the simplicity and the sensorial experience you feel in a room like that. That big screen was always there in the script, and I used it as an element to unite Louise's world. For me, that big screen is more than a screen—that room, which they called in the script 'the interview room,' is a classroom. That big white screen, [you see it] represented in Louise's house with the big window. You also see it in her school, in her classroom."{{cite web |last1=Grierson |first1=Tim |title='Arrival' Production Designer Explains the Film's Most Stunning Effects |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/movies/a25305/arrival-visual-effects/ |website=Popular Mechanics |date=February 21, 2017 |access-date=April 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926112645/https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/movies/a25305/arrival-visual-effects/ |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Rodeo FX completed 60 visual shots for the film, and said that its biggest challenge was the sequence in which Louise and Ian first enter the alien craft.{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Miriam |title=Arrival VFX: Rodeo FX shows how it turned gravity upside down |url=https://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/motion-graphics/arrival-vfx-rodeo-fx-shows-how-it-turned-gravity-upside-down/ |website=Digital Arts |access-date=April 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002102434/http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/motion-graphics/arrival-vfx-rodeo-fx-shows-how-it-turned-gravity-upside-down/ |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |url-status=live }}

The asteroid 15 Eunomia is the inspiration for the look of the heptapod ships.{{Cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/arrival-production-designer-reveals-how-create-an-new-type-flying-saucer-945155 | title=Arrival: Production Designer Reveals How to Create an Entirely New Type of Flying Saucer | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=November 10, 2016 | access-date=March 1, 2021 | archive-date=February 11, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211083847/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/arrival-production-designer-reveals-how-create-an-new-type-flying-saucer-945155 | url-status=live }}

{{main|Heptapod languages}}

Both the book and the screenwriting required the invention of a form of alien linguistics which recurs in the plot. The film uses a script designed by the artist Martine Bertrand (wife of the production designer Patrice Vermette), based on scriptwriter Heisserer's original concept. Computer scientists Stephen and Christopher Wolfram analyzed it to provide the basis for Banks's work in the film.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/11/arrivals-designers-crafted-mesmerizing-alien-alphabet/#slide-1 |title=How Arrival's Designers Crafted a Mesmerizing Alien Alphabet |first=Margaret |last=Rhodes |date=December 11, 2016 |magazine=Wired |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116230232/https://www.wired.com/2016/11/arrivals-designers-crafted-mesmerizing-alien-alphabet/#slide-1 |archive-date=November 16, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/11/22/a_linguist_on_arrival_s_alien_language.html |title=How Realistic Is the Way Amy Adams' Character Hacks the Alien Language In Arrival? We Asked a Linguist |first=Marissa |last=Martinelli |date=November 22, 2016 |website=Slate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302181327/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/11/22/a_linguist_on_arrival_s_alien_language.html |archive-date=March 2, 2017 |url-status=live }} Their works are summarized in a GitHub repository.{{Cite web|title=GitHub - WolframResearch/Arrival-Movie-Live-Coding: Documents from a live coding session by Christopher Wolfram related to content from the 2016 film Arrival|url=https://github.com/WolframResearch/Arrival-Movie-Live-Coding|access-date=September 5, 2021|website=GitHub|language=en}} Three linguists from McGill University were consulted. The sound files for the alien language were created with consultation from Morgan Sonderegger, a phonetics expert. Lisa Travis was consulted for set design during the construction of the scientist's workplaces. Jessica Coon, a Canada Research Chair in Syntax and Indigenous Languages, was consulted for her linguistics expertise during the review of the script.{{Cite news |url=https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/watchwords-denis-villeneuves-new-film-arrival-gets-to-the-heart-of-language |title=Watchwords: Denis Villeneuve's new film, Arrival, gets to the heart of language |last=Abley |first=Mark |date=November 4, 2016 |newspaper=Montreal Gazette |language=en-CA |access-date=January 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106011350/http://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/watchwords-denis-villeneuves-new-film-arrival-gets-to-the-heart-of-language |archive-date=January 6, 2017 |url-status=live }} Heisserer said at the Alamo Drafthouse's Fantastic Fest premiere of Arrival at the end of September 2016{{cite web |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/2016-best-horror-sci-fi-movies-fantastic-fest |title=Aliens, Mosh Pits, and Satanic Rituals: 72 Hours at America's Wildest Film Festival |website=Thrillist |first=Matt |last=Patches |date=September 30, 2016 |access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219012213/https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/2016-best-horror-sci-fi-movies-fantastic-fest |archive-date=February 19, 2017 |url-status=live }} that Shang's wife's last words, translated into English, were "In war, there are no winners, only widows".{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1626170/arrival-ending-one-exciting-mystery-has-now-been-solved |title=Arrival Ending: One Exciting Mystery Has Now Been Solved |website=CinemaBlend |first=Dirk |last=Libbey |date=February 17, 2017 |access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219013902/http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1626170/arrival-ending-one-exciting-mystery-has-now-been-solved |archive-date=February 19, 2017 |url-status=live }} Villeneuve decided not to include subtitles for the line; Heisserer said he would have preferred it not be kept secret, and was happy to reveal the translation.{{cite web |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/arrival-chinese-line-ending |title=The Mystery Line in 'Arrival,' Revealed |website=Thrillist |first=Matt |last=Patches |date=November 13, 2016 |access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219010740/https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/arrival-chinese-line-ending |archive-date=February 19, 2017 |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Arrival (soundtrack)}}

Jóhann Jóhannsson began writing the score as the shooting started, drawing on the screenplay and concept art for inspiration. He developed one of the main themes in the first week using vocals and experimental piano loops.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/johann-johannsson-arrival-blade-runner-2-interview/#inspiration |title=Composer Jóhann Jóhannsson on 'Arrival' |first=Steve |last=Weintraub |date=October 26, 2016 |website=Collider (Complex Media) |access-date=October 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027123528/http://collider.com/johann-johannsson-arrival-blade-runner-2-interview/#inspiration |archive-date=October 27, 2016 |url-status=live }} The original soundtrack was released by Deutsche Grammophon on November 11, 2016.{{cite web |first=Rob |last=Wacey |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/arrival-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0002985531 |title=Jóhann Jóhannsson – Arrival (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |website=AllMusic |access-date=November 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022055/https://www.allmusic.com/album/arrival-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0002985531 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Max Richter's preexisting piece "On the Nature of Daylight" is featured in the film's opening and closing scenes. Due to the prominent use of Richter's music, which had also featured in Martin Scorsese's film Shutter Island, Jóhann's score was deemed ineligible for the Academy Award for Best Original Score, the rationale being that voters would be influenced by the use of preexisting music when judging its merits.{{cite magazine |last=Tapley |first=Kristopher |title=Oscars: Academy Disqualifies 'Arrival,' 'Silence,' 'Manchester' Original Scores |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/in-contention/oscars-academy-disqualifies-arrival-manchester-by-the-sea-silence-1201941479/ |magazine=Variety |access-date=February 26, 2017 |date=December 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217134817/http://variety.com/2016/film/in-contention/oscars-academy-disqualifies-arrival-manchester-by-the-sea-silence-1201941479/ |archive-date=February 17, 2017 |url-status=live }}

A teaser trailer was released in August 2016, followed the next week by the first official trailer.{{cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |title='Arrival' Official Trailer: Amy Adams and Denis Villeneuve Make Alien Contact In Ambitious Sci-Fi Drama |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/arrival-trailer-amy-adams-denis-villeneuve-jeremy-renner-oscars-1201716795/ |website=IndieWire |date=August 16, 2016 |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819010020/http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/arrival-trailer-amy-adams-denis-villeneuve-jeremy-renner-oscars-1201716795/ |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |url-status=live }} Paramount Pictures released a series of promotional posters, with one showing a UFO hovering above a Hong Kong skyline that included Shanghai's Oriental Pearl Tower. The inaccuracy angered Hong Kong social media users. The posters were withdrawn and a statement attributed the inaccuracy to a third-party vendor.{{cite news |title=Hong Kong outrage at 'Arrival' poster skyline blunder |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37127909 |date=August 19, 2016 |website=BBC News Online |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820001245/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37127909 |archive-date=August 20, 2016 |url-status=live }}

In May 2014, while titled Story of Your Life, Paramount Pictures acquired US, Canadian and Chinese distribution rights.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/05/cannes-wild-auction-on-story-of-your-life-should-lead-to-record-deal-729990/ |title=Cannes: Paramount Confirms 'Story Of Your Life' Acquisition; $20 Million Is Fest Record Deal |first=Mike |last=Fleming |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 14, 2014 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811154902/http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/cannes-wild-auction-on-story-of-your-life-should-lead-to-record-deal/ |archive-date=August 11, 2014 |url-status=live }} Shortly after, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions acquired international distribution rights excluding the UK, Australia, China, Greece, India, the Middle East, Turkey and Israel. Entertainment One acquired UK distribution rights while Roadshow Films acquired Australian distribution rights, Reliance Entertainment for India (ultimately it was MVP Entertainment that released it there),{{cite web|title=Sci-fi thriller 'Arrival' attempts to understand alien concepts|website=The Times of India|date=November 25, 2016|access-date=February 23, 2023|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/hollywood/news/sci-fi-thriller-arrival-attempts-to-understand-alien-concepts/articleshow/55601605.cms}} Lev Cinemas for Israel, Italia Film for the Middle East, Turkey and Greece, licensing rights to Chantier Films for Turkey and Spentzos Films for Greece.{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/cannes-amy-adams-sci-fier-story-of-your-life-sold-to-sony-for-most-territories-1201185164/ |title=Cannes: Amy Adams Sci-Fier 'Story of Your Life' Sold to Sony for Most Territories |magazine=Variety |first=Dave |last=McNary |date=May 18, 2014 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012233014/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/cannes-amy-adams-sci-fier-story-of-your-life-sold-to-sony-for-most-territories-1201185164/ |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |url-status=live }} The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2016.{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/global/tom-fords-nocturnal-animals-villeneuves-arrival-new-kusturica-headed-for-venice-fest-exclusive-1201819284/ |title=Tom Ford's 'Nocturnal Animals,' Villeneuve's 'Arrival,' new Kusturica Headed for Venice |magazine=Variety |first=Nick |last=Vivarelli |date=July 21, 2016 |access-date=July 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724222713/http://variety.com/2016/film/global/tom-fords-nocturnal-animals-villeneuves-arrival-new-kusturica-headed-for-venice-fest-exclusive-1201819284/ |archive-date=July 24, 2016 |url-status=live }} It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival,{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/07/toronto-international-film-festival-tiff-lineup-full-list-1201709592/ |title=TIFF Reveals First Slate of 2016 Titles, Including 'Magnificent Seven,' 'American Honey,' 'La La Land' and 'Birth of A Nation' |website=IndieWire |first=Kate |last=Erbland |date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=August 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808111547/http://www.indiewire.com/2016/07/toronto-international-film-festival-tiff-lineup-full-list-1201709592/ |archive-date=August 8, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://tiff.net/films/arrival/ |title=Arrival |website=Toronto International Film Festival |access-date=August 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815105915/http://tiff.net/films/arrival/ |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |url-status=live }} the Telluride Film Festival,{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/telluride-film-festival-2016-lineup-full-list-1201811906/ |title=Telluride Film Festival Lineup: 'Sully', 'La La Land', 'Arrival', 'Bleed For This' & More |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Pete |last=Hammond |date=September 1, 2016 |access-date=September 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902002928/http://deadline.com/2016/09/telluride-film-festival-2016-lineup-full-list-1201811906/ |archive-date=September 2, 2016 |url-status=live }} and the BFI London Film Festival.{{cite web |url=https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=arrival |title=Arrival |website=BFI London Film Festival |access-date=September 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925004951/https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=arrival |archive-date=September 25, 2016 |url-status=dead }} The film was released on November 11, 2016.{{cite news |title=Denis Villeneuve's 'Story of Your Life' Gets Possible New Title, UK Release Date |first=Chris |last=Cabin |date=June 15, 2016 |url=https://collider.com/denis-villeneuve-story-of-your-life-arrival/ |website=Collider |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223193448/https://collider.com/denis-villeneuve-story-of-your-life-arrival/ |archive-date=February 23, 2020 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/arrival-release-date-amy-adams-sci-fi-movie-story-of-your-life-1201774351/ |title=Paramount Dates Its Splashy Amy Adams Sci-Fi Tale 'Arrival' For Awards Season |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Patrick |last=Hipes |date=June 16, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618145520/http://deadline.com/2016/06/arrival-release-date-amy-adams-sci-fi-movie-story-of-your-life-1201774351/ |archive-date=June 18, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Arrival was released on Digital HD on January 31, 2017,{{cite web |title=Arrival (2016) |url=http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/7558/arrival |website=DVDs Release Dates |access-date=January 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113125214/http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/7558/arrival |archive-date=January 13, 2017 |url-status=live }} and on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on February 14 the same year.{{cite web |last=Hunt |first=Bill |title=Arrival official, plus Manchester by the Sea, Trolls, Jackie, Heat, Speed Racer update & more |url=http://www.thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/011017_1715 |website=The Digital Bits |access-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113140152/http://www.thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/011017_1715 |archive-date=January 13, 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Brennan |title=Amy Adams alien flick Arrival descends onto 4K Ultra HD this Valentine's Day |url=https://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/amy-adams-alien-flick-arrival-descends-onto-blu-ray-this-valentines-day-612 |website=JoBlo.com |date=January 10, 2017 |access-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111142600/http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/amy-adams-alien-flick-arrival-descends-onto-blu-ray-this-valentines-day-612 |archive-date=January 11, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Arrival grossed $100.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $102.8 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $203.4 million, against a production budget of $47 million.

In the United States and Canada, Arrival was released alongside Almost Christmas and Shut In, and was originally expected to gross around $17 million from 2,317 theaters in its opening weekend, with the studio projecting a more conservative debut of $12–15 million.{{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-movie-projector-20161107-story.html |title='Doctor Strange' to hold off 'Arrival' and 'Almost Christmas' at the box office |first=Ryan |last=Faughnder |date=November 8, 2016 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url-access=limited |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507143610/https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-movie-projector-20161107-story.html |archive-date=May 7, 2019 |url-status=live }} The film made $1.4 million from Thursday night previews at 1,944 theaters and $9.4 million on its first day, pushing projections up to $24 million. It ended up grossing $24.1 million over the weekend, finishing third at the box office.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4241&p=.htm |title='Doctor Strange' Repeats at #1 as 'Arrival', 'Almost Christmas' & 'Shut In' Hit Theaters |first=Brad |last=Brevet |date=November 13, 2016 |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106222157/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4241&p=.htm |archive-date=November 6, 2018 |url-status=live }} In its second weekend, the film grossed $12.1 million (a drop of 49.6%), and in its third made $11.5 million (dropping just 5.6%).{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/moana-fantastic-beasts-tuesday-box-office-thanksgiving-1201859220/ |title='Moana' Rings Up $81M+ & Ranks As 2nd Best Thanksgiving Debut After 'Frozen' |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=November 24, 2016 |access-date=November 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820201918/http://deadline.com/2016/11/moana-fantastic-beasts-tuesday-box-office-thanksgiving-1201859220/ |archive-date=August 20, 2017 |url-status=live }} Following its eight Oscar nominations, the film returned to 1,221 theaters on January 27, 2017 (an increase of 1,041 from the week before) and grossed $1.5 million (up 357.4% from its previous week's $321,411).{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/dogs-purpose-split-resident-evil-gold-box-office-1201895463/ |title=Is Controversy Impacting 'A Dog's Purpose' At The Box Office? |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=January 29, 2017 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207003138/https://deadline.com/2017/01/dogs-purpose-split-resident-evil-gold-box-office-1201895463/ |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |url-status=live }}

File:Amy_Adams_UK_Nocturnal_Animals_Premiere_(cropped).jpg's performance as Louise Banks garnered widespread critical acclaim.]]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 94% based on 439 reviews, with an average rating of 8.40/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Arrival delivers a must-see experience for fans of thinking person's sci-fi that anchors its heady themes with genuinely affecting emotion and a terrific performance from Amy Adams."{{cite web |title=Arrival (2016) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/arrival_2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122033411/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/arrival_2016 |archive-date=November 22, 2019 |access-date=September 6, 2022 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango}} On Metacritic, the film has a score of 81 out of 100, based on 52 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".{{cite web |title= Arrival Reviews |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/arrival |work= Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date= January 4, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170110211854/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/arrival |archive-date= January 10, 2017 |url-status= live}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.

Robbie Collin of The Telegraph praised the film, calling it "introspective, philosophical and existentially inclined—yet [it] unfolds in an unwavering tenor of chest-tightening excitement. And there is a mid-film revelation—less a sudden twist than sleek unwinding of everything you think you know—that feels, when it hits you, like your seat is tipping back."{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/arrival-review-dazzling-science-fiction-that-will-leave-you-spee/ |title=Arrival review: dazzling science-fiction that will leave you speechless |first=Robbie |last= Collin |date=November 10, 2016 |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph |access-date= November 11, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161111011258/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/arrival-review-dazzling-science-fiction-that-will-leave-you-spee/ |archive-date= November 11, 2016 |url-status= live}} Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the film three out of four: "It's a movie designed to simultaneously challenge viewers, move them and get them talking. For the most part, it succeeds."{{cite web |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/arrival-2016 |title=Arrival Movie Review & Film Summary (2016) |website=Roger Ebert.com |access-date=November 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112030709/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/arrival-2016 |archive-date= November 12, 2016 |url-status= live}} For Time, Sam Lansky called it "sophisticated, grownup sci-fi: a movie about aliens for people who don't like movies about aliens".{{cite magazine |url= https://time.com/4565975/amy-adams-arrival/ |title=In "Arrival", Amy Adams Takes a Listening Tour of the Universe |magazine= Time |first= Sam |last= Lansky |date=November 10, 2016 |access-date= February 20, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010125/http://time.com/4565975/amy-adams-arrival/ |archive-date=February 21, 2017 |url-status= live}} IGN reviewer Chris Tilly gave it a score of 8.5 out of 10, saying: "Arrival is a language lesson masquerading as a blockbuster, though much more entertaining than that sounds... it's smart, sophisticated sci-fi that asks big questions, and does a pretty good job of answering them".{{cite web |url= https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/09/26/arrival-review |title=Arrival Review |website=IGN |first=Chris |last= Tilly |date=September 26, 2016 |access-date= November 13, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161113163042/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/09/26/arrival-review |archive-date= November 13, 2016 |url-status= live}} Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times praised Adams's performance, writing, "Arrival is really Adams' film, a showcase for her ability to quietly and effectively meld intelligence, empathy, and reserve".{{cite web |last= Turan |first= Kenneth |title= Review: 'Arrival' is deeply human, expertly realized science fiction |url= https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-arrival-review-20161107-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date= November 10, 2016 |url-access=limited |access-date= April 24, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191230145832/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-arrival-review-20161107-story.html |archive-date= December 30, 2019 |url-status=live}} Writing for USA Today, Brian Truitt called Adams a "definite contender" for the Oscar for Best Actress, saying she was "spectacular in giving Louise the right emotional balance".{{cite web |last= Truitt |first= Brian |title= Review: 'Arrival' and Amy Adams are out-of-this-world amazing |website= USA Today |url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/11/08/review-arrival-movie-amy-adams-alien-invasion/93451272/ |access-date= April 24, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200220052817/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/11/08/review-arrival-movie-amy-adams-alien-invasion/93451272/ |archive-date= February 20, 2020 |url-status= live}}

Conversely, Forrest Wickman of Slate had a more mixed opinion of the film, praising the cinematography and musical score, but writing that he thought it was similar to Christopher Nolan's "only intermittently stellar" Interstellar, and criticizing the dialogue as "clunky".{{cite web |last1=Wickman |first1=Forrest |title= Arrival |url= https://slate.com/culture/2016/11/arrival-starring-amy-adams-and-jeremy-renner-reviewed.html |website=Slate |date=November 11, 2016 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190804233700/https://slate.com/culture/2016/11/arrival-starring-amy-adams-and-jeremy-renner-reviewed.html |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}

Rex Reed, writing for the New York Observer, gave the film one out of four, calling it Villeneuve's "latest exercise in pretentious poopery"[http://observer.com/2016/11/arrival-is-a-waste-of-space/ 'Arrival' Is a Waste of Space] and referring to a lack of action in the storyline.

The Guardian rated it the third-best film of 2016.{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/29/the-50-best-uk-films-of-2016-full-list |title=The 50 best films of 2016 in the UK: the full list |date=November 29, 2016 |access-date=December 16, 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161216022913/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/29/the-50-best-uk-films-of-2016-full-list |archive-date=December 16, 2016 |url-status= live}} Critic Catherine Shoard said that it "amounts to something transcendent; something to reignite your excitement for cinema, for life".{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/dec/14/the-50-best-uk-films-of-2016-no-3-arrival |title=The 50 best films of 2016 in the UK: No 3 Arrival |date= December 14, 2016 |access-date=December 16, 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161215214717/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/dec/14/the-50-best-uk-films-of-2016-no-3-arrival |archive-date= December 15, 2016 |url-status=live}} Numerous other publications and websites, including io9,{{cite web |url= http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-10-best-and-five-worst-genre-movies-of-2016-1790058830 |title=The 10 Best (and Five Worst) Genre Movies of 2016 |first= Germain |last=Lussier |website=io9 |date=December 14, 2016 | publisher = Gizmodo |access-date=June 6, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170512103025/http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-10-best-and-five-worst-genre-movies-of-2016-1790058830 |archive-date=May 12, 2017 |url-status=live}} Den of Geek,{{cite web |url= https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/arrival/46146/den-of-geek-films-of-the-year-arrival |title=Den Of Geek films of the year: Arrival |first=Ryan |last= Lambie |date=December 28, 2016 |website= Den of Geek |access-date=June 7, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170606033604/http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/arrival/46146/den-of-geek-films-of-the-year-arrival |archive-date=June 6, 2017 |url-status=live }} Mir Fantastiki,{{cite web |url= http://www.mirf.ru/kino/luchshie-fantasticheskie-filmy-2016 |title=2016: 10 лучших фильмов года |trans-title=2016: 10 Best Movies of the Year |first= Alexander |last=Gaginsky |date=December 30, 2016 |website= Мир фантастики Fantastiki |language= ru |access-date= January 6, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170102203658/http://www.mirf.ru/kino/luchshie-fantasticheskie-filmy-2016 |archive-date= January 2, 2017 |url-status=live}} The Atlantic,{{cite web |url= https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/12/the-best-movies-of-2016/511049/ |title=The Best Movies of 2016 |first= Christopher |last=Orr |date= December 19, 2016 |website=The Atlantic |access-date=January 6, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170107095957/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/12/the-best-movies-of-2016/511049/ |archive-date=January 7, 2017 |url-status= live}} Blastr,{{cite web |url= http://www.blastr.com/2017-1-2/our-top-10-movies-2016 |title=Our Top 10 Movies of 2016 |website=Blastr |date= January 2, 2017 |access-date=January 6, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170107005107/http://www.blastr.com/2017-1-2/our-top-10-movies-2016 |archive-date= January 7, 2017 |url-status=live}} and Digital Trends{{cite web |url= http://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/best-movies-of-2016/ |title=Best Movies of 2016 |first=Rick |last=Marshall |date= December 29, 2016 |website=Digital Trends |access-date= January 6, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170107004404/http://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/best-movies-of-2016/ |archive-date=January 7, 2017 |url-status=live}} named Arrival the best film of 2016.

{{Anchor|Response from linguistic experts}}

David Adger, Professor of linguistics at Queen Mary University of London, had a favorable view of the accuracy of the linguistics in Arrival, saying, "the portrayal of trying different hypotheses about the language, coming up with generalizations, and testing them out was spot on."{{Cite web|url= https://www.science.org/content/article/linguists-new-sci-fi-film-arrival-cant-come-soon-enough|title=For linguists, Arrival can't come soon enough|date= November 11, 2016|website=Science | publisher = AAAS |access-date= March 3, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200303184732/https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/11/linguists-new-sci-fi-film-arrival-cant-come-soon-enough|archive-date=March 3, 2020 |url-status= live}}

Similarly, Jessica Coon, a linguistics professor who teaches at McGill University and helped with the film's linguistics, said, "what the film gets exactly right is both the interactive nature but also that you really have to start small." She noted that the creators had not invented a complete language.{{Cite web|url= https://www.businessinsider.com/alien-language-in-arrival-linguist-2016-11 |title= 'Arrival' nails how humans might actually talk to aliens, a linguist says|last=Lubin|first=Gus|website=Business Insider |access-date=March 3, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190806025720/https://www.businessinsider.com/alien-language-in-arrival-linguist-2016-11 |archive-date=August 6, 2019|url-status= live}}

Linguistics professor Betty Birner, who teaches at Northern Illinois University, said that the film's use of the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis went "beyond anything that is plausible". She also felt the film oversimplified the process of translating the aliens' language, skipping straight from Banks establishing the basic vocabulary of the language to her being able to understand abstract concepts such as "weapon".{{Cite web |url= https://slate.com/culture/2016/11/a-linguist-on-arrival-s-alien-language.html |title= How Realistic Is the Way Amy Adams' Character Hacks the Alien Language In Arrival? We Asked a Linguist |last= Martinelli |first=Marissa |date= November 22, 2016 |website=Slate Magazine |access-date= March 3, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191220022807/https://slate.com/culture/2016/11/a-linguist-on-arrival-s-alien-language.html |archive-date= December 20, 2019 |url-status= live}}

{{main|List of accolades received by Arrival{{!}}List of accolades received by Arrival}}

For the Academy Awards, Arrival was nominated for Best Picture; Best Director; Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Cinematography; Best Production Design; Best Film Editing; Best Sound Mixing; and the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing, which it won.{{cite magazine |url= https://variety.com/2017/film/news/2017-oscar-nominations-academy-awards-nominees-1201968107/ |title=Oscar Nominations: Complete List |magazine=Variety |date=January 24, 2017 |access-date=January 24, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170124150844/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/2017-oscar-nominations-academy-awards-nominees-1201968107/ |archive-date=January 24, 2017 |url-status= live}}

Adams was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama; AACTA International Award for Best Actress; BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role; Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role; and the National Board of Review Award for Best Actress, which she won. Composer Jóhann Jóhannsson was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/dec/12/2017-golden-globes-full-list-of-nominations |title=2017 Golden Globes: full list of nominations|date=December 12, 2016 |work=The Guardian |access-date= December 13, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200301204350/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/dec/12/2017-golden-globes-full-list-of-nominations |archive-date= March 1, 2020 |url-status= live}}

• Alien language in science fiction
• List of films featuring extraterrestrials

{{notelist|30em}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite journal |last=Zanchi |first=Luca |year=2020 |url=https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol24/iss1/56 |title=The Moving Image and the Time of Prophecy: Trauma and Precognition in L. Von Trier's Melancholia (2011) and D. Villeneuve's Arrival (2016) |journal=Journal of Religion & Film |volume=24 |issue=1}}

{{wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|http://www.arrivalmovie.com/}}
• {{IMDb title|2543164}}
• {{TCMDb title|id=2065196}}
• {{AFI film|70894}}
• {{rotten-tomatoes|arrival_2016}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161209073228/http://www.paramountguilds.com/pdf/arrival.pdf Official screenplay]

{{Denis Villeneuve}}

{{Ted Chiang}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for Arrival

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{{Academy Award Best Sound Editing}}

{{Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie}}

{{Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form}}

{{Nebula Award for Best Script/Bradbury Award}}

}}

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