"WAR OF THE WORLDS," WITH TOM CRUISE, DAKOTA FANNING, MIRANDA OTTO AND TIM ROBBINS, AIRS AS THE "ABC FRIDAY MOVIE OF THE WEEK," AUGUST 8

"War of the Worlds," the non-stop, action-packed sci-fi thriller starring Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto and Tim Robbins, airs as the "ABC Saturday Movie of the Week," AUGUST 8 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 2/2/08)

Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) is a divorced dock worker heading home after finishing his night shift. Soon after he gets home, his ex-wife (Miranda Otto) and her new husband (Tim Robbins) drop off his two kids -- young daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and teenage son Robbie -- for a rare weekend stay-over. Ray's life is mess: he has long been estranged from his family, and just can't seem to get things together. But that life is turned completely upside down when, moments later, a mysterious and powerful lightning storm touches down near his house, hailing the arrival of alien intruders who set fire to everything in sight. Their only objective seems to be to kill every living thing on Earth � human, plant or animal.

After witnessing horrors first hand and barely escaping from the large army of extraterrestrial tripods, Ray sets off across the ravaged countryside in search of some safety, but he soon realizes that, no matter where they run, there is no safety. The world and its inhabitants must fend for themselves, facing total obliteration -- unless Ray's determination and strength of will to save his family can also save humanity.

Starring are Tom Cruise ("Mission: Impossible III," "Lions for Lambs") as Ray Ferrier, Dakota Fanning ("Hide and Seek," "Charlotte's Web") as Rachel Ferrier, Miranda Otto (ABC's "Cashmere Mafia," "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King") as Mary Ann and Tim Robbins ("Mystic River") as Harlan Ogilvy.

The 2005 film was directed by Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg ("The Terminal," "Munich"). The screenplay was written by Josh Friedman ("The Black Dahlia") and David Koepp ("Secret Window"), from the novel by H. G. Wells. The movie is a production of Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Amblin Entertainment, and Cruise/Wagner Productions.

"THE WAR OF THE WORLDS" IN HDTV:
The ABC Television Network's HDTV broadcast of "The War of the Worlds" will air in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio.

This film carries a TV-14,L,V parental guideline. Due to violent content, viewer discretion is advised.