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Coneheads

Coneheads is a 1993 American science-fiction comedy film based on the recurring "Saturday Night Live" sketches about a family of cone-headed aliens from the planet Remulak who try to live as suburban humans on Earth.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Coneheads is a 1993 American science-fiction comedy film based on the recurring Saturday Night Live sketches about a family of cone-headed aliens from the planet Remulak who try to live as suburban humans on Earth. The film was directed by Steve Barron and starred Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Michelle Burke. It received mixed-to-negative reviews and was a box-office failure.

Premise

The film follows cone-headed aliens from Remulak who become stranded on Earth and attempt to live as an ordinary American family while avoiding immigration authorities and other complications. Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin reprise their roles as Beldar and Prymaat Conehead, and Michelle Burke plays their daughter Connie. The story focuses on their efforts to blend into suburban life after being stranded on Earth.

Production and cast

Coneheads was directed by Steve Barron and produced by Lorne Michaels. The film stars Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Michelle Burke, with Aykroyd and Curtin reprising their roles from the original Saturday Night Live sketches. The production company was Paramount Pictures.

Release and reception

The film was released on July 23, 1993, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It earned about US$21 million against a reported US$30 million budget, making it a commercial failure. Contemporary coverage described the film as receiving mixed-to-negative reviews.

Cultural context

The Coneheads characters were created for recurring Saturday Night Live sketches in the 1970s before being adapted into a feature film. The story has been interpreted as a satire of immigrant assimilation and American bureaucracy.

Key facts

  • The film is based on the Coneheads characters first introduced on Saturday Night Live.
  • Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin reprise their roles as Beldar and Prymaat Conehead.
  • Michelle Burke plays Connie Conehead in the film version.
  • The story follows the family after they are stranded on Earth and try to blend into suburban life.
  • The film was released in 1993 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
  • It was a commercial failure and received mixed-to-negative reviews.

Frequently asked questions

What is Coneheads?
Coneheads is a 1993 American science-fiction comedy film based on recurring Saturday Night Live sketches about alien suburbanites from Remulak.
Who directed Coneheads?
Steve Barron directed the film.
Who stars in Coneheads?
The film stars Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Michelle Burke.
When was Coneheads released?
It was released on July 23, 1993.
Was Coneheads a box-office success?
No. It earned about US$21 million on a reported US$30 million budget.
What is Coneheads based on?
It is based on the Coneheads characters from Saturday Night Live.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coneheads_(film)
    Supports: Film identity, release year, director, cast, plot premise, budget and box office, reception
  2. AllMovie — https://www.allmovie.com/movie/coneheads-am20393
    Supports: Director, producer, cast, basis on Saturday Night Live sketches
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/coneheads
    Supports: Release date, runtime, genre, cast, synopsis, director, production company, box office
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/coneheads-1993
    Supports: Plot description, cast, release context, critical reception
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106598/
    Supports: Release date, cast, plot summary, genre