Nukie

{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}} {{Infobox film | name = | image = Nukie_1987_Release_Poster.jpg | alt = 1987 Release Poster | caption = Canadian VHS poster for ''Nukie'' | native_name = | director = Sias Odendaal Michael Pakleppa | producer = Gregory Cascante Joe Dreier Rolf Frederick Roy Sargeant Albie Venter Ian Walters Frederik Botha | screenplay = Sias Odendaal Ben Taylor | story = Sias Odendaal | starring = Anthony Morrison Steve Railsback Glynis Johns Ronald France | music = Nic Pickard | cinematography = Anthony Busbridge Horst Schier | editing = Avril Beukes Illo Endrulat Gaby Grausam Gisela Haugg Verena Neumann Roelf van Jaarsveld Scott Vickerby | studio = Lars International Pictures Overseas Film Communications Limited | distributor = Lars International Pictures | released = {{Film date|1987|07|01|South Africa|df=yes}} | runtime = 95 minutes | country = South Africa | language = English }}

'''''Nukie''''' is a 1987 South African science fiction film directed by Sias Odendaal and Michael Pakleppa, and based on an original story by Odendaal, who also wrote the screenplay with Ben Taylor. The film stars Anthony Morrison, Steve Railsback, Ronald France, and Glynis Johns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NUKIE |last1=Sauter |first1=Michael |url=https://ew.com/article/1993/12/03/nukie/|access-date=2021-05-21|website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref> The plot concerns an alien, Nukie, who crash lands on Earth and seeks help from two children to reunite with his brother, Miko, who has been captured by the US government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nukie|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/509168/nukie|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607082553/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/509168/Nukie/|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 June 2013|access-date=2021-05-21|website=Turner Classic Movies|language=en}}</ref>

The film was considered a knock-off of Steven Spielberg's 1982 film ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' and is also considered to be one of the worst films ever made.

== Plot ==

Two aliens, Nukie and Miko, crash on Earth and are separated. Nukie ends up in the African savanna while Miko falls into the hands of the Space Foundation in the United States. Miko reaches out to Nukie telepathically and informs him that he is being held captive. The head of the Space Foundation operation Dr. Glynn sends Dr. Eric Harvey to Nairobi to investigate the other crash site. During their experiments, the scientists discover that Miko is a being made of pure energy.

Nukie begins to explore his surroundings, coming across two children, Tiko and Toki, who can understand Nukie. He asks them for their help with finding America, but they run off vowing not to tell anybody about what has happened.

Sister Anne, the head of a Catholic mission, is contacted via radio to inform her that Dr. Harvey is on his way. Nukie comes across Charlie, a talking chimpanzee, who speaks to Nukie but he claims he does not know about America. The Corporal attempts to shoot Nukie, but he teleports out of harm's way and saves Tiko and Toki from a mountain lion. The boys then agree to help Nukie find America. Nukie attempts to commandeer Dr. Harvey's helicopter but crashes it.

At the Space Foundation, Miko has started to befriend the supercomputer, the Electronic Digital Data Intelligence computer (nicknamed E.D.D.I.), and convinces him to scan for Nukie. Dr. Harvey repairs the helicopter and takes off, tracking Nukie. Tiko and Toki are brought before the tribal chief Sangoma and are banished for bringing Nukie into their midst. The two later reunite with Nukie, who expresses disappointment over their banishment.

Tiko is bitten by a cobra and is taken back to the camp by Dr. Harvey while the Corporal arrives and shoots Nukie with tranquilizers. The tribe carries Nukie's unconscious body back to the village. Tiko tells Dr. Harvey and Sister Anne about Nukie's capture. E.D.D.I. attempts once more to scan for Nukie, and manages to lock in on Toki.

Toki discovers the tribe has Nukie imprisoned in a cage and sneaks into the Corporal's truck as he transports Nukie, later freeing him at a trading post with Charlie. The Corporal finds Toki and holds him at gunpoint as Nukie and Charlie escape. Sister Anne is alerted to the Corporal's presence and distracts him long enough to allow the pair to escape. Nukie finds Tiko at the infirmary and heals him as Toki and Charlie arrive. Toki and Nukie decide to leave Tiko to recover and set off to find America.

Sister Anne attempts to contact Dr. Harvey but finds out that he has left for America and that the Corporal has been trying to sell Nukie. E.D.D.I. attempts to free Miko, but cannot bypass the security system. Miko manages to escape with the help of Pamela Carter.

Nukie and Toki manage to evade the Corporal, who drives off the edge of a cliff into a river while attempting to run them down. Nukie ends up in the river too and goes over a waterfall, severely injuring him. Unable to contact Miko, Nukie suggests that the two of them try flying away. They manage to fly some of the way, but Nukie collapses from exhaustion and crashes.

Toki wishes for his family as well as Miko and Nukie to be with him. Following his wish, Tiko, their mother, and Sister Anne arrive. Tiko explains that Nukie is not a bad omen as the tribe claim, but a friend who is in need. Nukie then appears in his light form, and Dr. Harvey lands in his helicopter bringing Miko with him. Miko and Nukie greet each other and inform the humans that they have to leave. Charlie asks to join them, and the three turn into balls of light before flying away.

== Cast == {{cast list| * Anthony Morrison – Nukie & Miko * Siphiwe Mlangeni – Tiko * Sipho Mlangeni – Toki * Glynis Johns – Sister Anne * Steve Railsback – Dr. Eric Harvey * Ronald France – The Corporal * David Fox – Nukie * Sam Ntsinyi – Sangoma * Jabulile Phakane – Dube * Fats Dibeco (as Fats Dibeko) – Mpefu * Reed Evans – Dr. Barbara Rhinestone * Carin C. Tietze – Pamela Carter * Lester C. Muller – Dr. Norman Glynn * Marcel Schneider – Officer Connally * Calvin Burke (as Calvin E. Burke) – Dr. Bradley * Nghaupe Pheto – Hunter * Meshak Dlamini – Hunter * Siphiwe Nyaosi – Mpadi * Charlie the Chimpanzee (uncredited) – Charlie the Chimpanzee }}

==Production== Michael Pakleppa, a distributor of films in Germany, optioned ''Nukie'' long before it was shot and without reading the script but was impressed by the poster which gave the impression of ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' but in an African setting.<ref name="NukieProd">{{cite web|title='The worst film ever': the story behind Nukie, the forgotten ET knock-off|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/article/58061/1/nukie-the-et-knock-off-film-awful-alien-vhs-interview|website=Dazed Digital|date=26 August 2023}}</ref> Upon seeing the film, Pakleppa expressed surprise at the final product and commented on the viewing experience:

{{blockquote|We thought we'd all die. There was no South Africa. There were hardly any extraterrestrials. We basically just saw discussions between a nun and a helicopter pilot, who were going on and on about how stupid Black people are, or something. Imagine that again and again and again, at extreme length, and nothing else.<ref name="NukieProd"/>}}

After discussing the film with executive producer Gregory Cascante, the two attempted to create a new edit intended to remove material they considered racist; however, the effort resulted in only about 40 minutes of usable footage. Pakleppa subsequently made several trips to South Africa with a small crew and collaborated with the film’s writer and director, Sias Odendaal, in an attempt to salvage the project. During production, the crew encountered numerous technical difficulties, particularly with the alien animatronics, which were reportedly poorly constructed and designed to be operated by children. As a result, performers could only wear the suits for three to four minutes at a time before experiencing breathing difficulties. Following an extended post-production process, Pakleppa’s company declined to release the film theatrically, and it was instead distributed via television, with the foreign rights sold to various distributors.<ref name="NukieProd"/>

== Reception == Witney Seibold of ''/Film'' writes that "''Nukie'' is only remarkable for how undeniably terrible it is", noting that it appears on lists of the worst films ever made.<ref name="slash"/> Critic Brad Jones, the creator and star of the web series ''The Cinema Snob'', selected ''Nukie'' as the worst film he has ever seen.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Phalin |first1=Mike |title=Schlock and the Snob: An Interview With Brad Jones |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/185215/schlock-snob-interview-brad-jones/ |website=Dread Central |access-date=1 January 2023 |date=26 August 2016}}</ref> British film magazine ''Total Film'' described ''Nukie'' as an "atrocity heralded by some as the 'most painful movie ever made{{'"}}.<ref name="kidsmovies"/> ''Total Film'' listed it in separate articles as the worst kids movie ever made and one of the worst science-fiction films ever made.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/25-worst-science-fiction-films/|title=25 Worst Science-Fiction Films|last=Winning|first=Joshua|work=Total Film|publisher=GamesRadar+|date=30 June 2014|accessdate=2 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="kidsmovies">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/50-worst-kids-movies/|title=50 Worst Kids Movies|last=Winning|first=Joshua|work=Total Film|publisher=GamesRadar+|date=8 November 2011|accessdate=2 July 2017 }}</ref> ''HUMO'' also included it on a list of the worst science-fiction movies ever made, while AlloCiné listed it as one of the worst films of the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stockman |first1=Erik |title=De beste, de slechtste en de heetste: Humo selecteert de sciencefiction-films die u moet hebben gezien |url=https://www.humo.be/tv/de-beste-de-slechtste-en-de-heetste-humo-selecteert-de-sciencefiction-films-die-u-moet-hebben-gezien~bd4b75a6/ |website=HUMO |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 January 2023 |language=nl-NL |date=4 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Palanchini |first1=Corentin |title=Nos pires films des années 80, de Mac et moi aux Crados |url=https://www.allocine.fr/diaporamas/cinema/diaporama-18700218/ |website=AlloCiné |date=24 July 2021 |access-date=6 January 2023 |language=fr}}</ref> An article by ''Screen Rant'' argued that ''Nukie'' should be "in the conversation" regarding what is the worst movie ever made, but that its relative obscurity to other contenders hinders it from being designated as such.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moser |first1=Zachary |title=Is Nukie Really The Worst Movie Ever Made? The Controversy & Charity Explained |url=https://screenrant.com/nukie-worst-movie-ever-made-controversy-charity/ |website=Screen Rant |access-date=29 March 2024 |language=en |date=20 March 2024}}</ref>

Simon Abrams of Politico compared ''Nukie'' to another film influenced by ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'', ''Mac and Me''. Abrams wrote that ''Nukie'' was worse than ''Mac and Me'', adding that it was "probably the most incompetent ''E.T.'' ripoff of any time period ... While ''Mac and Me'' was just rotten and ill-conceived, ''Nukie'' is uniquely perplexing."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2011/10/in-the-year-of-spielberg-a-reminder-of-his-most-shameless-imitators-067306|title=In the year of Spielberg, a reminder of his most shameless imitators|last=Abrams|first=Simon|publisher=Politico|date=1 October 2011|access-date=2 July 2017}}</ref> ''Comic Book Resources'' described it as ''E.T.''{{'}}s "most infamous imitator" and reported that it is "regarded as one of the worst movies ever made".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Trinos |first1=Angelo Delos |title=10 Copycat Films That Are Worse Than What They're Ripping Off |url=https://www.cbr.com/copycat-films-worse-than-original/ |website=Comic Book Resources |date=15 August 2022 |access-date=1 January 2023}}</ref>

== VHS auction == The Milwaukee-based production company Red Letter Media spent nearly a decade collecting ''Nukie'' VHS tapes after fans began mailing them copies of the film.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bergeson |first1=Samantha |title=Red Letter Media YouTubers Raise $80K for Charity Selling Sealed Cult Sci-Fi Movie 'Nukie' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2023/01/red-letter-media-raises-80k-nukie-1234799387/ |website=IndieWire |language=en |date=13 January 2023 |access-date=14 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="slash">{{cite web |last1=Seibold |first1=Witney |title=The Nukie Controversy Explained: Destroying Crappy Movies For Charity |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1167319/the-nukie-controversy-explained-destroying-crappy-movies-for-charity/ |website=/Film |access-date=14 January 2023 |date=13 January 2023}}</ref> Despite this, they never watched the film until December 2022, when they released a special episode about the practice of grading VHS tapes following a VHS copy of ''Back to the Future'' auctioning for $75,000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Julia |title=YouTubers 'Red Letter Media' donate $80K to St. Jude's Hospital, Wisconsin Humane Society |url=https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/local-youtubers-red-letter-media-donate-80k-to-st-judes-hospital-wisconsin-humane-society |website=TMJ4 |access-date=14 January 2023 |language=en |date=13 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lloyd |first1=Andrew |title=YouTubers said they destroyed over 100 VHS tapes of an obscure 1987 movie to increase the value of their final copy. They sold it on eBay for $80,600. |url=https://www.insider.com/youtubers-destroy-nukie-vhs-tape-collectable-ebay-sale-redlettermedia-2023-1 |website=Insider |access-date=11 January 2023}}</ref> The group had one copy of the movie professionally graded, while the others were destroyed using a woodchipper to inflate the graded tape's value. The graded tape was then auctioned off on eBay with proceeds going to charity, selling for $80,600.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Newgent |first1=Sean |title=VHS copy of forgotten 'E.T.' knock-off 'Nukie' sells for $80,600 |url=https://www.kgun9.com/entertainment/vhs-copy-of-forgotten-e-t-knock-off-nukie-sells-for-80-600 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111230814/https://www.kgun9.com/entertainment/vhs-copy-of-forgotten-e-t-knock-off-nukie-sells-for-80-600 |publisher=KGUN-TV |access-date=11 January 2023 |language=en |date=10 January 2023 |archive-date=11 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Snellgrove |first=Chris |date=January 7, 2023 |title=VHS Tape Sells For $80,000 After YouTubers Destroy All Other Copies In A Wood Chipper |url=https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/vhs-tape-sells-80000-youtubers-destroy.html |access-date=January 9, 2023 |website=GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT |language=en-US}}</ref> The results of the auction made ''Nukie'' the most expensive VHS tape in history.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Possa |first1=Julia |title=VHS de filme trash é leiloado por US$ 80 mil – o maior valor da história |url=https://gizmodo.uol.com.br/vhs-de-filme-trash-e-leiloado-por-us-80-mil-o-maior-valor-da-historia/ |website=Giz Brasil |access-date=12 January 2023 |language=pt-BR |date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

==See also== * List of 20th century films considered the worst * Mockbuster * ''Extra Terrestrial Visitors'', also known as ''Pod People'', an early ''E.T.'' imitation from 1983

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb title|0107715}} * [http://www.allmovie.com/movie/nukie-v81523 ''Nukie''] at AllMovie * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4M1JjYlhVA Trailer]

Category:1987 films Category:1987 independent films Category:1980s adventure comedy films Category:1980s science fiction comedy films Category:Films about alien visitations Category:E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Category:1987 English-language films Category:Films about NASA Category:Films set in Nairobi Category:Foreign films set in the United States Category:Films shot in Germany Category:Mockbuster films Category:Trimark Pictures films Category:South African adventure comedy films Category:South African science fiction comedy films Category:English-language South African films Category:1987 science fiction films Category:English-language science fiction comedy films Category:English-language independent films Category:English-language adventure comedy films Category:1987 German films Category:1980s South African films