Sunshine

R

Released Jul 27, 2007

1 hr. 47 min.

Sci-Fi

List

76%

169 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In the not-too-distant future, Earth's dying sun spells the end for humanity. In a last-ditch effort to save the planet, a crew of eight men and women ventures into space with a device that could revive the star. However, an accident, a grave mistake and a distress beacon from a long-lost spaceship throw the crew and its desperate mission into a tailspin.

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Critics Consensus

Danny Boyle continues his descent into mind-twisting sci-fi madness, taking us along for the ride. Sunshine fulfills the dual requisite necessary to become classic sci-fi: dazzling visuals with intelligent action.

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Rebekah P

Once watched this twice in two days. Long, long ago, we watched it when it first came out. We were in our 20s and didn't care for it. Now that we're old and jaded and aware of impending doom hanging over all our heads, we have rewatched, reconsidered, and realized IT IS AMAZING. One of Chris Evans' best roles. One of Cillian's. IT IS SO GOOD.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

Brownie S

A bit long and wish there was more the ending but enjoyable for an afternoon.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/13/24

Full Review

Aender S

A film perfectly encapsulating the claustrophobia of rather narrow rooms served with grandiose shots of the space station and outer space. Plus an excellent Cillian Murphy, who's not by coincidence one of the best actors nowadays.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/12/24

Full Review

Kevin L

This is a quality sci-fi romp to save Earth from its dying sun. Danny Boyle helms this film w/ its base story of attempting to take a space ship fronted with a mirrored stellar bomb designed to reignite the dying star. The screenplay was written by Alex Garland, showing his prowess with the genre and a sign of his potential as a filmmaker himself. The film works as comment on man's inherent desire to save Earth and its people, as well as a cautionary tale about the prolonged effects of space travel in the psyche of mere humans. Repeatedly the crew is faced with the hardest of questions and need in order to complete their mission. Was the PInbacker character just driven mad from the time in space, separated from his world and all he has known of existence before, or is this a case of religious zealotry as well? Seems Garland may have been commenting on the incompatibility of religion and science here, adding in the very real weakness and susceptiblity of man to succumb to the pull of some sense of a greater power with a 'great plan' for us all. As Pinbacker says, "For seven years I conversed with God. He wants me to take us all to Heaven". The cast is strong, with Rose Bryne, Chris Evans, Michelle Yeoh, and Curtis and Strong esp. good. But the visual effects here are every bit as key to the success of what works here as the acting. As Sean Axmaker put it, it represents "visionary odyssey with a grace and awe and visual scope that calls to mind Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey for a new millennium, with echoes of the industrial grunge and crew friction of Alien, the greenhouse ecology of Silent Running, even the unraveling sanity of Dark Star." Convincing and remorseless, the film is at its strongest point when it focuses on the sheer enormity of the mission and its consequences. Drawbacks- there was some confusion on first watch about the ending and the Pinbacker character. A lot happens very fast. But a synopsis cleared up such issues well enough. True science fiction- 3.8 stars

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/27/24

Full Review

Craig H

Visually stunning and ahead of it time in some ways and holds up very well and the ending is awesome and the cast where solid and Adagio D Minor, Wow. It just was abit boring in places and the horror element felt forced

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/27/24

Full Review

Patrick D

Captivating at times. A bit of a blend of Interstellar and Event Horizon minus the more abstract plot points. Real solid cast in this one - Byrne is always great when she shows up in movies whether comedic or dramatic. I'm still waiting for the Stanley Tucci and Mark String Jekyll & Hyde movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

Full Review

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Danny Boyle

Director

Cillian Murphy

Capa

Chris Evans

Mace

Rose Byrne

Cassie

Michelle Yeoh

Corazon

Hiroyuki Sanada

Kaneda

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Namrata Joshi

Outlook

The human interaction and tension works, how every single member can be sacrificed for the larger good of the humankind. But the acting is uniformly dull, the cast is deadpan, poker-faced and robotic at best.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 23, 2019

Full Review

David Fear

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Hank Sartin

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Sunshine is a film that is hit or miss and while your mileage may vary, one cannot deny the cinematic ambition of it all.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 4, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Seems to linger in the realm of horror at the most inappropriate times, while also stifling the sense of adventure at equally inopportune moments.

Rated: 6/10

Nov 28, 2020

Full Review

Ed Travis

Hollywood Jesus

Sunshine works on every level it strives for. If you come into the film looking for a thrill ride, the chances are good that you will be watching tensely with nothing less than the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

Apr 10, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

In the not-too-distant future, Earth's dying sun spells the end for humanity. In a last-ditch effort to save the planet, a crew of eight men and women ventures into space with a device that could revive the star. However, an accident, a grave mistake and a distress beacon from a long-lost spaceship throw the crew and its desperate mission into a tailspin.

Director: Danny Boyle
Screenwriter: Alex Garland
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: DNA Films, Moving Picture Company, Ingenious Film Partners
Rating: R (Violent Content|Language)
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 27, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M

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