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The Discovery

Play trailer 1:35 Poster for The Discovery 2017 1h 50m Romance Sci-Fi Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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48% Tomatometer 64 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In the near future, due to a breakthrough scientific discovery by Dr. Thomas Harbor, there is now definitive proof of an afterlife. While countless people have chosen suicide to reset their existence, others try to decide what it all means. Among them is Dr. Harbor's son Will, who has arrived at his father's isolated compound with a mysterious young woman named Isla. There, they discover the strange acolytes who help Dr. Harbor with his experiments.
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The Discovery

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Critics Consensus

The Discovery looks fascinating on paper, but in spite of its thought-provoking premise and starry ensemble, it's a disappointing case of untapped potential.

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Critics Reviews

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Clarisse Loughrey Independent (UK) The Discovery is a film which poses far too many questions, but with no heart to search for the answers. Rated: 2/5 Apr 5, 2017 Full Review Tom Huddleston Time Out More interested in metaphysical ponderings and so-called 'human truths' than in telling a convincing story. Rated: 2/5 Apr 3, 2017 Full Review David Sims The Atlantic The Discovery poses a fascinating existential question to its audience, but doesn't quite manage to fill in a plot around it. Mar 31, 2017 Full Review Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film It helps if you regard The Discovery as a peculiar, low-key movie, and concentrate on Redford’s screen-presence and the ending. Rated: 3/5 Aug 9, 2024 Full Review Jamie Healy Radio Times A noteworthy cast elevates this low-key sci-fi tale, which begins with the intriguing idea that life after death has been proved, with Robert Redford having made "the discovery". Rated: 3/5 May 2, 2024 Full Review Nathan Mattise Ars Technica ...luckily-unlike prior Netflix original films with stars like Paul Rudd and Ellen Page-this one merits watching... Jul 27, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mayur T The film was never meant to be a sci-fi spectacle like Inception or Interstellar where the mystery gets unraveled through big revelations or epic scale. It’s a philosophical drama cloaked in science fiction. That “what if” is the heart of grief, regret, second chances — and most of all, the struggle to live with our choices when the past can’t be changed and the future is unknown. It explores the emotional weight behind people wanting to escape this life — not just to see what’s next, but because they’re unable to cope with the life they’re in. Why some people found it boring or underdeveloped: A lot of viewers expected it to "solve" the afterlife mystery, to go deeper into world-building or explain the metaphysical stuff in detail. When it didn’t deliver that, they felt let down. But the film never promised that. It used the concept of an afterlife discovery as a mirror, not a door — a way to reflect on how we’re living now and what drives our decisions. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/03/25 Full Review Naveed I Well, from Adam to all the messengers we have had like Ibrahim, Moses, Messeh, Mohammad, and even in India side every messenger told us that we will have after life, so what's new that they had to make a movie on it? and surprisingly people gave it 60+% rating too Don't we know concept of Heaven and Hell, don't we agree that those who suicides' (cross the religions) are all going to hell, as killing someone or yourself is the biggest sin in the eyes of God (no matter if you are Hindu, Christian, Jew, Muslim or whatever, in most religions it is forbidden because the God is one and he sent all of his messengers here). I am sorry I put such words, but I am still not able to get it that why they need to make a movie on this topic and linked this so called "discovery" with suicide? Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/29/25 Full Review Esai N …I expected much more from this movie as it was touted as being a Sundance movie but I was disappointed with the plot and the poor acting, especially from Rooney and Jason. Absolutely no chemistry there. Sad 😞 Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/25 Full Review Phillip D Charlie McDowell seems to only score. I’m a fan. Total mind F. I was hooked the whole time. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/25 Full Review Jacob B The general critique and rating does The Discovery an injustice when viewed too narrowly. This is something I refer to others when appropriate for them. Critics lament the lack of definition and answers only to see it as failure. This is art dedicated to the question. It is exploration of belief and spiritualism that is birthed, lived and closed inside that question. I loved it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/06/24 Full Review Jeffrey P Dark and gloomy dystopian dreariness. The Discovery had some things to say, but it said none of them... other than reinforcing the belief that the only reason we cannot have proof of an afterlife is because suicide would become too prevalent, progress would stop, and death would win. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/27/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis In the near future, due to a breakthrough scientific discovery by Dr. Thomas Harbor, there is now definitive proof of an afterlife. While countless people have chosen suicide to reset their existence, others try to decide what it all means. Among them is Dr. Harbor's son Will, who has arrived at his father's isolated compound with a mysterious young woman named Isla. There, they discover the strange acolytes who help Dr. Harbor with his experiments.
Director
Charlie McDowell
Producer
Alex Orlovsky, James D. Stern, Hunter Gray
Screenwriter
Justin Lader, Charlie McDowell
Production Co
Endgame Entertainment, Netflix, Verisimilitude
Genre
Romance, Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2017
Runtime
1h 50m
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