It’s not often that Matt Damon appears in the sci-fi genre, but when he does, the results have been mixed. While films like The Martian and Interstellar found great success, others such as Titan A.E. and Downsizing floundered at the box office. Now, 13 years after its release, another of Damon’s sci-fi thrillers is back and looking for redemption on a new streaming home.
Hitting theaters on Aug. 9, 2013, the film is set in a dystopian future where Earth has become overcrowded, polluted, and impoverished (not unlike today, really). Damon stars as Max Da Costa, a factory worker who suffers a life-threatening accident and is desperate for a better life. As such, he embarks on a dangerous mission to reach a luxurious space station where the wealthy live in comfort and have access to advanced medical technology. As Max fights to get there, he becomes entangled in a conflict that could reshape the divide between the rich and the poor.
Matt Damon Shines in a “Predictable” Sci-Fi Thriller
Matt Damon in ElysiumSony Pictures Releasing
Directed by Neill Blomkamp and also starring Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura, and William Fichtner, Elysium was the director’s follow-up to his debut smash, District 9. However, where that sci-fi thriller received overwhelming praise, his 2013 movie wasn’t exactly met with a warm welcome. While it did turn a small profit, it wasn’t the smash hit Sony Pictures was hoping for, as it only made $285 million against a budget of $115 million.
Holding just a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes compared to District 9’s Certified Fresh score of 90%, Elysium was called everything from “disappointing” to “predictable” by critics. Viewers were also not impressed with the sci-fi outing, as they only gave it a 58% score, and called it “sluggish,” “nothing great,” and “pathetic.”
All that being said, there’s no denying that Damon gave it his best in Elysium. His performance was top-notch, and brought an air of humanity and vulnerability to Max that made him a relatable protagonist rather than a larger-than-life hero. He was an everyman, and when placed up against Copley’s psychopathic villain, Agent M. Krueger, it made people root for him all the more.
‘Elysium’ Returns to Free Streaming Next Month
Currently only available to watch in the United States with a subscription to Sony Pictures Core, Elysium will be making its way back to free streaming next month. The dystopian sci-fi thriller is all set to land on Tubi on July 1, meaning it won’t cost you anything but some ad breaks to watch what is easily one of Damon’s most divisive movies.
Next up for the star is a leading role in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which is slated to hit theaters on July 17. Damon stars in the adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic as Odysseus. Also along for the ride are Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, and Zendaya as Athena.
It’s already shaping up to be one of the biggest movies of the year, as it’s projected to make anywhere between $110 million and $140 million domestically during its opening weekend. As we await to find out the final numbers for The Odyssey, be sure to catch Elysium when it lands on Tubi starting July 1.