Elysium

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.

Critics found the film visually accomplished and action-packed, with timely dystopian ideas, but less cohesive and less incisive than Neill Blomkamp's earlier work.

• The split between impoverished Earth and the privileged Elysium station directly critiques capitalism, immigration control, and unequal access to healthcare.
• The pristine Stanford torus above ruined Earth makes social hierarchy physically visible throughout the film.
• Max's failing health and dependence on advanced medical technology connect personal survival to the struggle over who controls healthcare.
• Elysium's clean luxury is set against overcrowded Earth, scavenged technology, armed raids, and decaying infrastructure.

• District 9shared dystopian science fiction, class conflict, militarized inequality, and visceral action
• Snowpiercershared cyberpunk world-building, anti-capitalist themes, and a protagonist fighting an oppressive system
• In Timeshared near-future social stratification, health inequality, and high-concept action thriller structure
• Children of Menshared bleak future setting, revolutionary resistance, and critique of authoritarian control

Director

Neill Blomkamp

Release Date

2013-08-07

Runtime

109 min

Rating

6.5 / 10 (9926)

What is Elysium about?

A desperate laborer launches a violent mission from ruined Earth to breach an orbital paradise and challenge its system of class-based survival.

What is Elysium like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Elysium as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Elysium violent?

Yes. Ember rates the violence in Elysium as brutal.

What did critics think of Elysium?

Critics found the film visually accomplished and action-packed, with timely dystopian ideas, but less cohesive and less incisive than Neill Blomkamp's earlier work.

Which films are like Elysium?

Films with a similar feel include District 9, Snowpiercer, In Time, and Children of Men.

How long is Elysium?

Elysium runs 109 minutes.

Where can I watch Elysium?

In United States, Elysium streams on Netflix.