District 9, abbreviated D-9, is a 2009 science fiction film directed by Neill Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson. Released August 13, 2009 internationally and August 14, 2009 in North America, the film is set in a near-future Johannesburg, South Africa, several decades after an insectlike alien race arrives in the city. Apparently leaderless and unable to leave, the creatures are confined to a squalid shanty town known as District 9, secured by private military contractors working for the MNU corporation. Told partly in the "found footage" format, the film follows an MNU bureaucrat (Sharlto Copley) as he is tasked with evicting the creatures to a new settlement outside of Johannesburg. During the course of his job, he is accidentally infused with the DNA of the aliens, leading him to slowly transform and become something less than human. District 9 was based on Alive in Joburg, a short film by also by Blomkamp featuring Sharlto Copley, Simon Hansen and Shanon Worley in acting roles.
IMFDB would like to thank the film's armorer, Olly Steele, for his contributions to the page.
See the Discussion Page for a listing of the alien weapons used in the film.
The following weapons were used in the film District 9:
Multi-National United (MNU) soldiers guarding the District 9 internment camp carry Vektor CR-21 rifles with white stocks and what appear to be Leupold CQ/T optical sights.
There is also the 1st prototype for the CR21 in the movie for the first time on screen. It is used by the Nigerians and has a lot of dressing draped on it.
This is called the BW90 after Bruce Wentzel who designed it in 1990 - Olly Steele.
Full-stocked Vektor R1 rifles, equipped with shell deflectors, and scopes are carried by snipers aboard the helicopters circling District 9. This is an early model R1 which uses the wooden stock with metal ferrule.
An Kalashnikov-style rifle of unknown make is used by several mercenaries, with 5.56x45mm magazines, a 45 degree gas block and a shortened barrel. The front sight block is close to the gas block much like the Hungarian AMD-65 rifle, but the weapon differs in having a AK-74 style muzzle brake and black polymer furniture. Closer Inspection of the receiver and magazine show it to be a Vektor R4/R5 mocked up as some kind of AK-47 type rifle.
Several of the Nigerians and a PMC carry a Rifle that at first glance looks like a Norinco Type 84 or an AKM. However closer inspection of the receiver and magazine shows that in all likeliness it is a member of the Vector R4/R5 family made to look like a Type 84/AKM.
One mercenary sniper uses a Heckler & Koch G3 rifle modified by Hire Arms to look like a G3SG/1 or a SR9-type rifle, to shoot at the alien mech in the final battle sequence. The rifle also has what looks like a modified or mocked up U.S. Optics rifle scope.
MNU guard Thomas (Kenneth Nkosi) uses a Remington 870 with a South African made tactical light during the alien evictions. Another 870 is used by a mercenary during the shootout at MNU headquarters.
A Nigerian which is shot by a mercenary after the rebels catch Wikus fires a Armsel Striker shotgun, which according to armorer Olly Steele has a long barrel and was fitted with various extras (such as an Imatronic LS45 Laser Sight).
One of the mercenaries holds Christopher prisoner with what appears to be a Beretta 92SB-C shortly before the Casspir they are riding in is attacked by the Nigerians.
A Nigerian gangster threatens Wikus with a Star Model BS pistol when he goes to see Obesandjo. According to the movie's armorer Olly Steele, the pistol is a Star Model BS, which differs from the Star Model B due to the addition of a magazine safety.
A Nigerian gangster can be seen briefly armed with a Walther P38. The Walther P38 was the standard police sidearm in South Africa before being replaced.
One Nigerian fires what appears to be a RPK light machine gun when the gangsters attack the MNU convoy; Closer inspection of the receiver reveals that it is actually a Vektor R4 mockup.
Koobus uses a Denel PAW-20 grenade launcher during the final action sequence to disable the alien mech. This is the first appearance of this weapon in a film.
Carried by MNU soldiers who burn down an alien hive. Unless proven otherwise, this weapon is probably a fictional model like countless other film productions. In a deleted scene in which Wikus steals an AFV, a canister that is attached to the flamethrower hose and nozzle is thrown from the vehicle before being driven off. The canister appears to be similar to a gas tank, much like that of a propane tank.
