War of the Worlds is a live action science fiction film adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel of the same name, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp. It stars Tom Cruise as Ray Ferrier, a dock worker estranged from his wife and children and living separately from them. As his wife gives their children to him to take care of for a few days, the Earth is invaded by aliens in Tripod form. Ray protects his children and tries to go to Boston to rejoin his wife.

War of the Worlds marks Spielberg and Cruise's second collaboration, after Minority Report. Cruise admired Spielberg and planned to collaborate with Spielberg again. Cruise visited Spielberg during the filming of Catch Me If You Can. After discussions, Cruise and Spielberg chose to develop The War of the Worlds into a film adaptation. Filming locations were at Connecticut, New York, California, Virginia and New Jersey. Several scenes were filmed at studios of 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios.