Elysium

Name: Elysium
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller
Released: August 9, 2013
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Alice Braga, Jodie Foster, Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 47 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 1445 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 1445 Ratings

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Elysium

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: August 9, 2013 | R

Starring: Alice Braga, Jodie Foster, Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley

Summary: In the year 2154, the very wealthy live on a man-made space station called Elysium while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth. The only man with the chance to bring equality to these worlds is Max, an ordinary guy in desperate need to get to Elysium. With his life hanging in the balance, he reluctantly takes on a dangerousIn the year 2154, the very wealthy live on a man-made space station called Elysium while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth. The only man with the chance to bring equality to these worlds is Max, an ordinary guy in desperate need to get to Elysium. With his life hanging in the balance, he reluctantly takes on a dangerous mission that could save his life and the lives of millions on Earth.… Expand

Director: Neill Blomkamp

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 109 min

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Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper

Aug 8, 2013

Damon’s everyman workhorse is tragically sympathetic, plodding ahead against all odds. Copley is brilliant as the sadistic villain. Foster is … well, you gotta see it to believe it. In the meantime, you’ll be treated to one of the most entertaining action films of the year. Read full review

Anthony Lane

Aug 5, 2013

At last, a good big film. The legacy of the summer, thus far, has been jetsam: moribund movies that lie there, bloated and beached, gasping to break even. But here is something angry and alive: Elysium. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Aug 8, 2013

Decidedly more thought-provoking than most big-studio summer fare. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Aug 8, 2013

A high-low tension runs through Elysium, not only in the narrative itself, but in Blomkamp’s own cinematic language, which can be lofty one moment and gleefully pulpy the next. Read full review

Time Out London Tom Huddleston

Aug 8, 2013

This is a messy, poorly structured film, riddled with plot holes and lacking any kind of satisfying conclusion. Read full review

Mike Scott

Aug 6, 2013

Granted, Elysium could be more clever as it goes about its business. This is smart sci-fi, but it's not as smart as it could have been -- or as many "District 9" fans were probably hoping it would be. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Aug 8, 2013

The result is a grim and predictable adventure saga that is not nimble but leaden. Dystopia has rarely been so dysto-pointing. Read full review

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User Reviews

GEARHEAD

Aug 9, 2013

Just caught the matinee and feel a little guilty this one deserved a full price! No soph0more slump for Blomkamp I loved District 9 this to me even surpasses it.We get developed characters that we actually care about the performances by all were stellar,especially Damon as the guy we canJust caught the matinee and feel a little guilty this one deserved a full price! No soph0more slump for Blomkamp I loved District 9 this to me even surpasses it.We get developed characters that we actually care about the performances by all were stellar,especially Damon as the guy we can relate to and Copley in a scene chewing performance delivering one of the best villains in recent memory,Foster was the too as the cutthroat politician .Blomkamp has balls and his vision of two separate societies one of the diseased, overpopulated planet and Elysium where the rich flourish disease free was richly brought to life truly a beautiful the effects by Weca are amazing! I bought in to this future world and the plot actually had a purpose with something to say about our modern society while still being balls to the wall entertaining and affecting its audience. Blomkamp delivers another classic go check it out i can't recommend enough … Expand

50 of 71 users found this helpful5021

dougrees

Aug 27, 2013

I was not permitted to rate this film; rather, when I DID rate it "3" and pressed "submit", it automatically rated it a "9". So now I'm rating it a ONE, regardless of what they try force me to rate it. THIS FILM IS RATED "ONE", NOT "NINE; ONE.

4 of 22 users found this helpful418

theoffice

Aug 18, 2013

Overall a very solid movie with great si-fi action, a cool/interesting story, and believable characters. The only reason I don't go higher is because I sort of left the movie wanting to know more about the backstory, details during the movie, and ending. Just wished parts were a little moreOverall a very solid movie with great si-fi action, a cool/interesting story, and believable characters. The only reason I don't go higher is because I sort of left the movie wanting to know more about the backstory, details during the movie, and ending. Just wished parts were a little more fleshed out. Otherwise though it was great and I recommend it.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

MattG_123

Jan 1, 2014

It isn't as good as District 9, but that doesn't mean it isn't good at all, it's actually a very good action film. The story is pretty good, the performances aren't great, but what shines are the visual effects and just the slow motion moments are exhillerating.

Elysium gets a 7.3/10

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

Knicksfan7

Aug 21, 2013

Good acting by most, great story, good action. Some action scenes were a bit excessive with the blood and carnage, and there were a few corny moments but overall it was a good film. Nowhere's near perfect but that's never expected in a movie these days. I give Blomkamp props though, he's gotGood acting by most, great story, good action. Some action scenes were a bit excessive with the blood and carnage, and there were a few corny moments but overall it was a good film. Nowhere's near perfect but that's never expected in a movie these days. I give Blomkamp props though, he's got some stones for the topics and issues he touched in this film. Definitely not as good as Blomkamps other sci-fi flick District 9 but it was still a good film overall. I enjoyed myself. Give it a shot if you enjoy sci-fi with a good story and good acting. 6.5/10… Expand

0 of 12 users found this helpful012

ScrawnyPunk

Aug 11, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A swing and a miss...

This movie had a ton of potential (social commentary action superawesome!), but it's just a mess from frame one. In trying to be many things, it fails as social commentary (greed is bad I get it), an action movie (terribly boring), and sci-fi (turbulence on a space station? facial re-construction gets the beard right? the entire population of earth can be healed of all sickness with two shuttles and no one crowding a queue? what?).

The biggest miss here is probably the social commentary. Aside from a few Silkwood-like workers' rights abuses, the portrayal of most Earth citizens is basically drug addicted, cursing, fighting, stealing bums. It's hard to cheer for the whole human race if you don't show their nobility. It's equally hard to cheer against the citizens of Elysium if we don't see any other than the tyrannical defense minister and a calloused (and failed) business owner. All I know is that the rest of the people are in good shape and like to have parties is that evil? Do I hate them for that? I almost think Blomkamp could have lifted some lines from Roger and Me to at least make me dislike the rich folks a little.

I did not expect this to happen, but I believe both Oblivion and After Earth are better than this movie and neither one of those is special.… Expand

3 of 13 users found this helpful310

bertito

Dec 17, 2013

This movie criticises current world politics and society on such blatant level that it makes me puke. Like I am some kind of ignorant retard who doesnt know that children in Africa don't receive the same medical treatments as in western world...Oh well, besides, the director still livesThis movie criticises current world politics and society on such blatant level that it makes me puke. Like I am some kind of ignorant retard who doesnt know that children in Africa don't receive the same medical treatments as in western world...Oh well, besides, the director still lives mentally in the pre Nelson Mandela and never learned that medics have improved on a huge scale the last years in Africa.… Expand

1 of 30 users found this helpful129

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