Battle Los Angeles (2011)

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman and written by Chris Bertolini, Battle: Los Angeles (2011) is an American military science-fiction action film set in a world where hostile alien spacecraft suddenly make landings off the coasts of major cities. As Los Angeles is evacuated, a group of Marines from Camp Pendleton, led by Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz, are called in. Despite his plans to retire, Nantz is assigned to the 1st Platoon, Echo Company, of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines under the command of 2nd Lieutenant William Martinez. The platoon sets up a forward operating base (FOB) at Santa Monica Airport and must act quickly as the alien ground forces have no known air support. To counteract this, the Air Force prepares for a carpet bombing of the Santa Monica area and gives the platoon a tight deadline of 3 hours to rescue civilians from a nearby police station.

As they continue their journey through Los Angeles, they are suddenly attacked and suffer heavy casualties. To locate the missing Lenihan, Nantz leads Marines Imlay and Harris on a search mission. After fending off an alien, they join forces with soldiers from the Army’s 40th Infantry Division and Air Force Technical Sergeant Elena Santos. While at the police station, the makeshift platoon comes across five civilians: veterinarian Michele, children Kirsten, Amy, and Hector, and Hector’s father Joe. Despite the arrival of a helicopter meant to evacuate injured Marines, it is unable to carry the extra weight of the civilians. Tragically, as it attempts to take off, it is destroyed by alien air units, resulting in the deaths of Grayston, Guerrero, Lenihan, and Simmons. In order to escape safely now, the Marines must commandeer an abandoned transit bus for their evacuation.