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 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 1262 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 1262 Ratings

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ELYSIUM

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: August 9, 2013

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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Awards & Rankings

14	#14 Most Discussed Movie of 2013
12	#12 Most Shared Movie of 2013

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Chicago Sun-Times - 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

The New Yorker - 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

USA Today - Claudia Puig

Aug 8, 2013

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

Washington Post - 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

New Orleans Times-Picayune - 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

Time - 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

25 of 45 users found this helpful2520

Xon

Nov 18, 2013

Great visuals and pacing. Perhaps a little too preachy and pushing a liberal aganda. Cardboard cutout characters and lack of plot or character development made the film less gripping. But good pop-corn fare.

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

WheresTheBeef

Nov 27, 2013

This movie is predictable and the character development is weak, the action and stunning special effects should be enough to keep the audiences entertained, and the critics pleased. A good movie overall.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

AlienSpaceBats

Aug 30, 2013

Showcases a few cool setpieces but on the whole Elysium felt messy and predictable. Many plot points follow District 9's precisely and before the halfway mark, the film enters generic, heavy-handed action movie territory.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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 8 users found this helpful35

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 5 users found this helpful14

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