Most sci-fi movies focus on the latter term (fiction). But, in 2015, Alien director, Ridley Scott, made his triumphant return to the genre. However, the director decided to put the science back into science fiction. With realism and accuracy in movies becoming increasingly scrutinized, Scott’s 2015 sci-fi film has been hailed as one of the most scientifically accurate movies ever. Although, given that the entire film is about the minutia of space travel and surviving on a hostile planet, you’d expect nothing less. The above clues should be a dead giveaway, because we’re talking about The Martian, and it’s about to land on a brand new streaming home.
Ridley Scott’s The Martian will soon stream on Netflix. The movie will touch down on the streamer on October 1. Based on the novel by Project Hail Mary author Andy Weir, The Martian stars Matt Damon as Mark Watney, the greatest botanist on Mars… literally, because he’s the only person on Mars after he was stranded there during a NASA mission. While his crew thinks he’s dead, Mark manages to re-establish contact with NASA, and must survive on the red planet until a rescue mission can be launched. The official synopsis reads:
“When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney, presumed dead after a fierce storm. With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home, while his crew mates hatch their own plan for a daring rescue mission.”
Like many of Scott’s movies, The Martian was a massive hit when it opened in theaters in 2015. The film grossed a whopping $630 million, against a budget of $108 million. It is Ridley Scott’s most profitable movie so far. Critics and audiences also adored the science-focused adventure. It holds an incredible 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were equally smitten with the film, as it boasts a 91% audience rating, as well.
Is ‘The Martian’ Scientifically Accurate?
Let’s get one thing out of the way first: of course, The Martian isn’t 100% accurate. The story is set on Mars, after all. But, the way in which Mark Whatney survives, and the science behind how NASA completes its rescue mission has been given the intergalactic seal of approval by Neil deGrasse Tyson himself.
As the astrophysicist so often does, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to share several posts about the film’s scientific inaccuracies and the things it got right after watching the movie. While some of the science in the film is pure fiction, the film nails some crucial aspects of space travel and the importance of a scientific education. It might not be 100% accurate like some people believe, especially during the storm on Mars scene. But the film apparently gets more right than it does wrong.
- Release Date
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October 2, 2015
- Runtime
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2h 24m
