Although the bulk of the film was shot in Germany, writer-director Roland Emmerich set it in the United States and shot it in English so that the film could be marketed worldwide.
[2021] Featured movie of the touring stage production "Mystery Science Theater 3000 LIVE: Time Bubble Tour" starring Emily Marsh.
During a few scenes shot in Virginia Beach, the star was not available on set so the son of an Emmerich family owned business employee sat in as a double. Just a few scenes driving through a Virginia Beach Neighborhood.
The movie began shooting in the summer of 1984 but once school resumed the children were only allowed to work three hours per day. Scenes with the adults were shot in the morning and those with children had to be shot after school let out in the afternoon, which stretched the production into October.