Christian Bale‘s forgotten dystopian thriller Equilibrium had been missing from streaming platforms for years. That is, until now. The 2002 film has just been added to the Paramount+ library as part of its January lineup. The story is set in a futuristic city-state called Libria, ruled by a totalitarian regime. War has been completely eliminated, but it came at a huge cost. The government makes everyone take a mind-altering drug called Prozium to wipe out all emotions, so people can’t feel anything at all. Books, art, and music are banned, and the smallest sign of feeling is considered a crime punishable by death.
The film very much feels like the oppressive world of George Orwell’s 1984 meets the aesthetics of The Matrix. Just like Big Brother in 1984, Libria is ruled by an anonymous figure known only as Father, whose face looms on massive screens everywhere. The streets are monochrome, and characters wear long black trench coats that look like they were ripped straight out of The Matrix. The film also features a unique martial arts style called Gun Kata, which combines guns with hand-to-hand combat, and also feels heavily influenced by the stylized action sequences of The Matrix.
Equilibrium stars Bale as Cleric John Preston, a top-ranking government agent tasked with destroying anyone who defies Libria’s rules. But when he misses a dose of Prozium, he starts to feel emotions for the first time. These feelings inspire him to question the regime and ultimately lead him to revolt.
‘Equilibrium’ Was Bashed for Being Derivative When It Came Out
When it was released, Equilibrium faced heavy criticism for borrowing too heavily from classic sci-fi like Fahrenheit 451, 1984, and The Matrix movies. The film still holds a 39% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also grossed just over $5 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, which crushed any hopes of a sequel. Yet over time, the movie has earned a cult following and is now seen as one of Bale’s most underrated films. In contrast to the critics’ score, the film has garnered an impressive 81% audience score on RT over time.
The film’s themes of surveillance, control, and emotional repression feel even more relevant today than they did in 2002. It’s the kind of dark, high-concept sci-fi that would make waves if it premiered today as a Black Mirror episode. Streaming on Paramount+ now gives the movie a chance to reach new audiences and earn the kind of mainstream love and attention it deserves.
Equilibrium is available to stream on Paramount+. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.