That kind of baked-in realism has proven highly influential, with sci-fi pictures such as Gareth Edwards' extraterrestrials-in-Mexico movie Monsters and upcoming alien-invasion flick Battle: Los Angeles taking cues from District 9.
Here's an exclusive look, taken from The Art of District 9, at concept art, maquettes and prototypes developed to flesh out director Neill Blomkamp's distinctive vision for his trend-setting movie.
Above:
The Art of District 9
Written by Weta Workshop designer Daniel Falconer, the 160-page, full-color book The Art of District 9 (priced at $45 in hardcover) will be released by HarperCollins on a staggered schedule (New Zealand in October, Australia in November and the United States and Britain in December).
Authors: Hugh Hart