Pitch Black

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Pitch Black

R

Released Feb 18, 2000

1h 48m

Sci-Fi

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

113 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

When their ship crashes on an unexplored planet, the survivors of the crash soon discover that this planet that is normally always day is going to soon be in a state of eclipse that will bring out deadly nocturnal creatures. Will a prison convict (Vin Diesel) being transported on the ship end up being the one man who can lead the survivors off the planet?

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Critics Consensus

Despite an interesting premise (and a starmaking turn from Vin Diesel), Pitch Black is too derivative and formulaic to fully recommend to sci-fi or action fans.

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Nathan Rabin

AV Club

Pitch Black falters a bit in its last half-hour-the film's darkest moment reduces Diesel to delivering a pithy one-liner-but for the most part, it's terrific.

Oct 17, 2018

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

David Twohy's film undoubtedly has something interesting about it, and that something can be summarised in two words: Vin Diesel.

Oct 17, 2018

Full Review

Derek Adams

Time Out

A smart, suspenseful sci-fi movie from director Twohy, whose underrated 1996 film, The Arrival, also brought visual imagination and intelligence to the genre.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

A small creature feature with a pair of great lead performances from Mitchell and Diesel. The visual effects are dodgy at times, but the concept and Twohy's execution, as well as plus unexpected narrative subversions, make this an underrated classic.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 25, 2025

Full Review

Alan Jones

Radio Times

With its first half sporting a brilliant desert surrealism and the second loaded with stylised gore, director David Twohy's futuristic frightener is a vivid, pulse-pounding achievement.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 16, 2024

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Yet another insecure hissy fit of a movie — a thriller without enough confidence in itself or its characters to calm down for two seconds and let the actors speak to each other like human beings.

Rated: C-

Sep 2, 2022

Full Review

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Brad S. R

Pretty good sci-fi horror, though with more substance and a little less style it could've been much better.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/27/25

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Harold S

Great film. Certainly one you can keep in the proverbial rotation. Really underrated and will get its recognition in time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/15/24

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William B

One of the best sci-fi action flicks I've ever seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/11/24

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Craig B

The first of the Riddick movies... and the best, mostly due to its simplicity.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/08/24

Full Review

This Old G

If you want to watch a great Riddick movie that best utilizes Vin Diesel this is the one to watch, this is the only one to watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/02/24

Full Review

Alex M

One of the best sci-fi suspense movies out there. Vin Diesel crafts a unique character which plays perfectly in the alien world our adventure takes place. A character which would go on to inspire two more movies after this one, but neither of those is as good as the first. I am given goosebumps every time I watch this classic survival story, and it will always have a permanent place in my collection.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/18/24

Full Review

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David Twohy

Director

Radha Mitchell

Fry

Vin Diesel

Riddick

Cole Hauser

Johns

Keith David

Imam

Lewis Fitz-Gerald

Paris

Pitch Black: Official Clip - Found Something Worse Than Me?

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Pitch Black: Official Clip - They're All Dead

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Pitch Black: Official Clip - Don't Stray From the Light

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Pitch Black: Official Clip - Monster Meets Monster

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Pitch Black: Official Clip - Rescuing Riddick

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Pitch Black: Official Clip - Would You Die for Them?

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Pitch Black: Official Clip - How Do I Get Eyes Like That?

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Pitch Black: Official Clip - Murderer vs. Merc

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Pitch Black: Official Clip - Dislocated Escape

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Synopsis

When their ship crashes on an unexplored planet, the survivors of the crash soon discover that this planet that is normally always day is going to soon be in a state of eclipse that will bring out deadly nocturnal creatures. Will a prison convict (Vin Diesel) being transported on the ship end up being the one man who can lead the survivors off the planet?

Director: David Twohy
Producer: Tom Engelman
Screenwriter: Jim Wheat, Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat, Ken Wheat, David Twohy
Distributor: USA Films
Production Co: Gramercy Pictures, Interscope Communications, Intrepid Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Gore|Sci-Fi Violence)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 22, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $39.2M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1

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