IO

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2:06

IO

2019

1h 36m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

33%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

19%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In a post-apocalyptic time, Earth has been rendered toxic, and most of humanity has abandoned the planet and colonized one of Jupiter's moons, IO. But young scientist Sam Walden has stayed behind and dedicated herself to finding a way for human beings to survive on Earth. After sending out a radio transmission to see if she can locate anyone else, a man named Micah arrives. He believes there is no hope of survival and intends to take the final shuttle to IO in 48 hours.

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Critics Consensus

IO has some big ideas but little idea of how to effectively convey them, leaving viewers with a sci-fi drama whose attractive packaging can't cover its enervating core.

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Brad Newsome

Sydney Morning Herald

It's still watchable enough, thanks to an unsettlingly ambiguous performance by Margaret Qualley...and a spot of clanging contemporary relevance.

Feb 7, 2019

Full Review

Scott Tobias

New York Times

A film more interested in symbols of human resilience than in the flesh-and-blood passions that animate it.

Jan 24, 2019

Full Review

Keith Uhlich

The Hollywood Reporter

It's not a good sign... when a movie ostensibly meant to rekindle one's faith in mankind makes you long instead for permanent apocalypse.

Jan 18, 2019

Full Review

Aaron Charles

InSession Film

A jumbled mess that never really presents a cohesive narrative.

Rated: D

May 10, 2024

Full Review

Lonita Cook

KCTV5 News at 9

It's an interesting, compelling idea, but it's a little bit low-key.

Oct 1, 2021

Full Review

Dan Ashby

Cultured Vultures

The handful of twists, a little world context and the unique visual style make for an intriguing watch, it's just a shame that the film is a little too much of a slow burn.

Aug 17, 2019

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Mark Staff B

Actually not a Sci-Fi movie at all, although it is packaged that way. Yes, the “situation” is a dystopian climate-destroyed Earth, but it is really a rather subtle meditation on responsibility, to the Earth, to family, to loved ones, to other humans. Almost an “art” film. I enjoyed the acting and the minimalistic setting, and cinematography. Not for Sci-Fi, but for artistic drama, I recommend.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

Full Review

pedro l

nothing happens. dour, extremely boring. not compelling. i’m tired of hearing this girl talk about nothing.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

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Adam A

All IO felt like an hour and half of plot development with no definitive climax or conclusion. As if when they got to end, they lost the plot in exchange for some cheap and vague existential crisis with literally no cliff hanger. They could have explored the plot more by delving into Micahs character showing his journey to IO.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/08/25

Full Review

Brad E

I know that a lot of people obviously hate this movie but I thought that it was really good. Not an action based sci-fi post apocalyptic film. It’s definitely slow paced but I found it a thoughtful and beautiful movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/30/24

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Grayson S

An extremely slow and uneventful movie

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/12/24

Full Review

Mathijs V

Ik denk persoonlijk dat de film geen knhoud heeft en anderhalf uur van u leven verkloot! Wa ne kut film

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/12/24

Full Review

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Jonathan Helpert

Director

Margaret Qualley

Sam Walden

Anthony Mackie

Micah

Danny Huston

Henry

Clay Jeter

Screenwriter

Charles Spano

Screenwriter

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IO: Trailer 1

2:06

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Synopsis

In a post-apocalyptic time, Earth has been rendered toxic, and most of humanity has abandoned the planet and colonized one of Jupiter's moons, IO. But young scientist Sam Walden has stayed behind and dedicated herself to finding a way for human beings to survive on Earth. After sending out a radio transmission to see if she can locate anyone else, a man named Micah arrives. He believes there is no hope of survival and intends to take the final shuttle to IO in 48 hours.

Director: Jonathan Helpert
Producer: Jason Michael Berman, Laura Rister
Screenwriter: Clay Jeter, Charles Spano, Will Basanta
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Mandalay Pictures
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 18, 2019
Runtime: 1h 36m

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