‘XENO’: The Bond Between a Teen and an Alien Will Melt Your Heart

An amalgamation of past favorites results in an instant classic that is also family safe.

Renee (Lulu Wilson, L) meets an extraterrestrial friend, in "XENO." Blue Fox Entertainment

PG-13 | 1h 43m | Drama, Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller | 2025

If based solely on originality, the new sci-fi action thriller “XENO” is a bust. It’s a straight-up hybrid of “Starman,” “The Iron Giant,” and “E.T.” In this particular case, that isn’t a bad thing. If you view it through an “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” lens, the movie more than makes up for its lack of new ideas with a lot of grit, pluck, and a huge heart.