For questions about "Men in Black", originally a comic book by Lowell Cunningham, the 1997 Men In Black film starring Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones blossomed into a multi-movie franchise and also spun off into an animated television series. For use when referring to the first film in the franchise, the comic book and the franchise generally. Use in conjunction with a specific work tag where appropriate.
The organisation
The Men in Black is a non-government organisation tasked with the responsibility of monitoring and regulating paranormal and alien activity on Earth. They are also tasked with keeping such activities unknown to Earth civilians (source). They were founded in the 1950s as a government organisation with the purpose of contacting extraterrestrials, which was accomplished in 1961. Subsequently, the Men in Black removed their government ties and became a self-funded organisation with their new purpose of regulation (source).
1997 film
The 1997 film starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones is based upon the original comic book series by Lowell Cunningham. It deals with the introduction of a new agent to the Men in Black organisation and solving a mystery to prevent the destruction of Earth.
This tag is to be used when referring to the franchise generally, the comic book series and the original 1997 film.
