Science Fiction, Action, Drama, Thriller
6.7 (162 votes)
1h 49min 
Streaming Rank Today: 360
(94)
In the year 2159, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes, a hard line government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that, if successful, will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.
future rich poor radiation capitalism dystopia space station class conflict late stage capitalism health inequality social inequality wealth inequality
Nate H. reviewed Elysium (2013)
Review from the comment
Elysium is another notch on Neil Blomcamp's belt at giving us pictures of bleak futures where the class divide has become a chasm that seems insurmountable. Here the haves have moved off of Earth onto a space station utopia called Elysium where they seem to enjoy relaxing all day while owning personal medbays that can cure any ailment in two shakes of a martini mixer. Meanwhile back on Earth, everyone else works shit jobs where your boss doesn't care if you die on shift and robot police act like many of the real police we know of now.
Matt Damon plays Max, a rough and tumble factory worker who gets radiation poisoning and needs to find a way to Elysium to be saved. So he joins up with Spider (Wagner Moira) who leads a rebel group trying to get undocumented immigrants to Elysium for a better life.
Its a good set up. Blomcamp has a lot to say here on immigration, healthcare, classism, colonialism, etc. And he has done in it a pretty interesting world full of gadgets both helpful and deadly that geeks all over will fawn over. But there are so many glaring plot holes and cliches throughout the run that prevent Elysium from being very good unfortunately. Even a great performance from Sharlto Copley playing a black-hearted mercenary working for Elysium's nefarious Secretary of Defense Jodie Foster can't buoy this up past average. Maybe rewatch District 9 instead.
A private user reviewed Elysium (2013)
Review from the comment
Neill Blomkamp's follow up to his amazing 2009 District 9 has it's flaws, but it is still an enjoyable sci-fi film that is better than most. It's 2154, the wealthy and elite inhabit a man made space station known as Elysium. The remaining poor and underprivileged are forced to live on an Earth that is overpopulated, over polluted and strictly monitored by droids. When Matt Damon's character comes down with a lethal dose of radiation, he takes a suicide mission to attempt to get to Elysium to not only save his life, but the sick on Earth.
OR
Enter your username and email (the password will be emailed to you):
