Elysium (2013) | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

64% Tomatometer 266 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings

In 2154, the wealthy live in comfort and luxury aboard a space station, while the poor have a hardscrabble existence on the overpopulated and ruined Earth.

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Elysium

Elysium

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Critics Consensus

After the heady sci-fi thrills of District 9, Elysium is a bit of a comedown for director Neill Blomkamp, but on its own terms, it delivers just often enough to satisfy.

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Critics Reviews

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Elysium (2013) | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Kevin Maher Times (UK) [T]he visuals are breathtaking and there's a mid-movie shoot'em-up that's one of the best in the genre. Rated: 4/5 Feb 6, 2021 Full Review Elysium (2013) | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Jessie-Lane Metz Bitch Media Hollywood loves a white saviour. Jan 20, 2021 Full Review Elysium (2013) | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Wesley Morris Grantland Any thematic audacity is snuffed out by action sequences that you can now buy at Dollar General. Jan 3, 2014 Full Review Elysium (2013) | Rotten Tomatoes (4) JD Duran InSession Film This is Damon’s film from a performance perspective. Rated: B Aug 16, 2024 Full Review Elysium (2013) | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Paul Klein FILMHOUNDS Magazine The film isn’t a failure, the evocation of the squalid livings of those on earth is an interesting one, and the gulf between health care and general life for those who are poor vs those who are wealthy is ample fodder for a science fiction film to draw on Rated: 2.5/5 Jul 4, 2024 Full Review Elysium (2013) | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Ray Pride Newcity A dystopian hero’s journey that could well have been adapted freely from Naomi Klein’s “The Shock Doctrine.” But like better science fiction, it’s an allegory that lines up parallels to the present moment, but doesn’t fuss so much over extended metaphor. Rated: 6/10 Jul 2, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Blu B This should really be called District 9 - The Bourne Hybrid because that's basically what this is. It's ok all around but has quite a few issues. First off Max is an interesting character but they don't give him any interesting supporting cast. Everyone else is very one dimensional and gets forgotten about for long stretches so there really isn't any investment in anyone for sustained periods. The villians aren't that good especially Foster with the weird accent and honestly her character felt completely pointless in a sense because her & Damon don't even meet once in the film. You could've just had one scene with her killed and that's it. Her whole sideplot of wanting a coup feels unneeded and you could've found a much less complicated way to set up the data McGuffin. Second, and arguably the biggest problem is there is not enough substance and too much action. This is filled in the middle and end especialy with action scenes that are fast edited with shaky cam that feels like I'm watching a Borune movie. There isn't any substance and we really never explore Elysium on a deep level like seeing regular people or the way of life on there for more than a second really and is a huge letdown. It's arguably the most interesting part and really is never explored. What is explored is a earth that is almost an EXACT copy of District 9 so much so that if you told me this was a sequel to it, I'd 100% believe it. And the problem is the Borune style fights, and the district 9 asetics never really meld into anything unique or solid. This can get boring to look at points despite looking pretty cool in the first third. But the shaky cam, fast editing, dull lifeless lighting at points just doesn't work at points. Sometimes the action is cool but it just either drags on or becomes inconsistent to look at. This really is a Action Movie first and a Sci-Fi movie second it feels like. But it follows the core setup of District 9 almost to a tee so much so it's almost impossible not to compare the two and wonder why am I not watching that one instead. This needed to be it's own thing without copying District 9 too much, have more interesting side characters, and have a lot more slow moments to explore the world of Elysium and not the slums. After all Elysium is the main draw here and what sets this apart. Unless your a big Matt Damon fan who is alright here and doesn't have much character development in the second half, I can't recommend this to many. Just watch District 9 instead or a better Sci-Fi action flick like Edge of Tomorrow. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/13/24 Full Review Chris R When I first saw it, I really did not understand or appreciate what the movie was going for. After watching it again, I think this will go down in history as the most misunderstood and undervalued sci-fi epic since the OG Blade Runner. Blomkamp is a visionary and the production value + story is insanely good once you get on its wavelength. An all-time classic for me. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/12/24 Full Review Nate J Not godawful, but nothing great. District 9 was better, maybe even Chappie. It’s script is cheesy and predictable as if written as a straight to Sci-Fi channel movie (with a Large budget.) It’s a passable watch with decent special effects. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/18/24 Full Review Stefan S Finally someone did the unthinkable and cast Matt Damon in a roll that required him to pretend to be fluent in spanish Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/08/24 Full Review James S Great realistic Sci fi movie Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/22/24 Full Review KB B This was such an enjoyable film with great acting, storyline and plenty of action. I'd forgotten just how good it was. It's definitely worth the watch. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/13/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Neill Blomkamp Director Matt Damon Max Jodie Foster Delacourt Sharlto Copley Kruger Alice Braga Frey Diego Luna Julio
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Elysium

Elysium: Official Clip - Doomed to Die Elysium: Official Clip - Doomed to Die 2:57 Elysium: Official Clip - I Will Hunt You Down Elysium: Official Clip - I Will Hunt You Down 2:44 Elysium: Official Clip - No Coming Back Elysium: Official Clip - No Coming Back 2:29 Elysium: Official Clip - Kruger's Kill Elysium: Official Clip - Kruger's Kill 3:23 Elysium: Official Clip - Bot Combat Elysium: Official Clip - Bot Combat 2:02 Elysium: Official Clip - Exoskeleton Surgery Elysium: Official Clip - Exoskeleton Surgery 2:58 Elysium: Official Clip - Facial Reconstruction Elysium: Official Clip - Facial Reconstruction 2:28 Elysium: Official Clip - Max's Destiny Elysium: Official Clip - Max's Destiny 3:08 Elysium: Official Clip - Crash Landing Elysium: Official Clip - Crash Landing 1:59 Elysium: Official Clip - Max vs. Kruger Elysium: Official Clip - Max vs. Kruger 3:02 View more videos

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Elysium

(L-R) Alice Braga as Frey, Emma Tremblay and Josh Blacker as Crowe in "Elysium." Wagner Moura as Spider in "Elysium." (L-R) Wagner Moura as Spider and Matt Damon as Max De Costa in "Elysium." Matt Damon (right) as Max De Costa in "Elysium." Matt Damon as Max De Costa in "Elysium." (L-R) Brandon Auret as Drake, Sharlto Copley as Kruger and Josh Blacker as Crowe in "Elysium." (L-R) Matt Damon as Max De Costa and Jose Pablo Cantillo as Sandro in "Elysium." Jodie Foster as Secretary Rhodes in "Elysium." Wagner Moura as Spider in "Elysium." Sharlto Copley as Kruger and Alice Braga as Frey in "Elysium." View more photos

Synopsis In 2154, the wealthy live in comfort and luxury aboard a space station, while the poor have a hardscrabble existence on the overpopulated and ruined Earth.

Director
Neill Blomkamp

Producer
Bill Block, Neill Blomkamp, Simon Kinberg

Screenwriter
Neill Blomkamp

Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment

Production Co
QED International, Kinberg Genre, Alphacore

Rating
R (Strong Bloody Violence|Language Throughout)

Genre
Sci-Fi, Action, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 9, 2013, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 26, 2013

Box Office (Gross USA)
$93.1M

Runtime
1h 49m

Sound Mix
Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Atmos
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