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Sunshine

Sunshine

2007
Sci-fi
Suspense/Thriller
1h 47m
The Sun is being destroyed from inside out by a type of highly stable form of matter that renders nuclear fusion impossible, by turning common matter on its own kind. The only hope is to send a team of astronauts to detonate a massive, highly energetic bomb, able to destroy this strange matter and restore Sun's natural state. (imdb)
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Sunshine

2007
Sci-fi
Suspense/Thriller
1h 47m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 54.38% from 6144 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(6143)
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Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
85th
The first 2/3rds of this film was fantastic. The last 1/3rd I'm still on the fence about, but it's still a great movie. Definitely worth seeing, especially if you're into sci fi movies. It certainly adds something new to the genre. [Second Viewing] The last third is totally great, and completely justified. There's enough going on in this movie to make a second viewing very rewarding. Where I was confused the first time around, I was completely on board this time. Bumping from 8 to 9.
Rated 04 Aug 2007
78
81st
I just rewatched this, and even though the third act is definitely flawed in a big big way (it's just kind of a stupid plot twist/transition/tonal shift), the first two acts are really absolutely phenomenal, so I'm gonna have to up it's rating a bit. The ending keeps it from being a great movie, but it's definitely really really good. Some people have called this slow, but I would disagree, and say that it starts out intense, and stays intense the entire way through. Very rewatchable.
Rated 28 Aug 2009
80
40th
Initially gripping, the movie starts to waver towards the end as the plot heads in a ridiculous direction. Visually the movie is engrossing throughout. The spaceship they live on is gritty enough to be believable but still keeps true to the science fiction we are used to. As the movie goes on the stunning images of space are not enough to make up for the plot. Sometimes it felt like Danny Boyle got too excited and rushed the ending, erasing much of the meaning from the film.
Rated 10 Oct 2010
17
6th
For the best viewing experience, I recommend watching the first 2/3 or so of the movie, and then taking an intermission to go outside and stare directly into the sun for an hour before continuing the movie. It will help you understand the sense of awe the characters in the movie feel, and most importantly, you'll be permanently unable to see the last 1/3 of the movie.
Rated 09 Apr 2007
40
26th
The weaknesses of this film include: abundant scientific and logical implausibilities; poor and unnecessary use of plot devices; overly derivative of numerous precursors; unconvincing astronautical personalities.
Rated 08 Oct 2007
82
89th
9/10 each for the first two acts, 5/10 for the third act. Beautiful, but flawed movie with a very unnecessary plot device.
Rated 25 Apr 2008
84
83rd
Visually arresting. Thematically the entire conflict of the film centers on "sticking with the mission" vs. giving yourself another chance, and if you follow this theme through to its implications on the plot, the third act is not out of place at all (it's also very much in line with Serl and Kaneda's character arcs). The cast is great and the special effects can't get enough praise. The camera tricks in the third act can be a bit much, but this is an otherwise excellent sci-fi film.
Rated 10 Sep 2008
91
90th
I'll go out on a limb here and defend the third act - Cliff Curtis' character foreshadows Burn Man (so it's not completely out of nowhere), and the film is less "man vs nature" than "man vs man" - we are our own worst enemy. I think this film asks all the right questions with its politics: if the sun is God, then religious fanaticism is represented; as is a humanist, a green thumb, a soldier, a leader, a coward, an engineer: truly a microcosm of contemporary society. Whose politics wins out?
Rated 06 May 2007
50
48th
A tense, thoughtful first half that doesn't strain itself going for epiphanies is eventually usurped by an utterly stupid second half that introduces a typical madman bogey. Worthwhile overall, but disappointing considering what could have been.
Rated 30 Jul 2007
78
41st
This flick has a tonal shift in the third act that's kind of bizarre, like Boyle got bored with the film he was making and then decided to veer off into something else. But for an hour and ten minutes, this is a hell of a film, beautiful and riveting, despite the questionable science at play, and is still worth watching despite the third-act crazies.
Rated 31 Jul 2007
65
30th
It all looks very pretty and most of the time it is entertaining, but the story is formulaic and the last third or so of the film seems unbelievable and underdeveloped.
Rated 20 Sep 2007
92
94th
Brilliant look, a great cast and a good story..in that order.
Rated 04 Mar 2011
65
51st
Disregarding the usual unbelievable premise, Sunshine manages to capture the audience through its great soundtrack, great imagery and excellent performances by the cast, most notably by Murphy. It did drag terribly at the start though to the point where I was actually switching off from time to time, but once you battle through that, it's pretty great.
Rated 14 Jun 2011
59
63rd
I have no idea what compelled Danny Boyle to throw an Alien homage into his 2001/Solaris homage. It's not that it's completely unjustified plot-wise. But thematically it comes out of nowhere, and the execution and predictibility of the last third is so disappointing, especially in the context of the film's early brilliance.
Rated 19 Dec 2010
100
98th
The most stunning Sci-Fi film ever made. Visually stunning and conceptually horrifying, solid cast and great directing, this film does not get the praise and glory it deserves.
Rated 22 Oct 2018
66
50th
I liked the Solaris parts a lot more than the Alien parts.
Rated 14 Jul 2014
97
91st
Detractors of this movie: all I can say is boo to you. there are obvious plot holes, lets not forget what this is though. Looking for the trees and you're missing the forest. This movie is Epic. It plays off of so many psychological conundrums! I am honestly horrified that this movie doesn't get more acclaim! Its beautifully acted, the story is nothing but intense, I put myself in each characters shoes and often found myself agreeing with them all. Its a glorious trip about the Human condition.
Rated 24 Feb 2012
95
98th
I watched this before and didn't particularly like it. I don't know what the fuck I was thinking. The movie is like a mix between 2001 and Alien, except in my opinion, better then both. The score is incredible, maybe even the best I've ever heard. The cinematography is amazing. There are so many shots that are fucking beautiful. I didn't even mind the references to God, or some of the spirituality of it. The movie is intense and very epic, in scale and feeling. I love this movie so much!
Rated 01 May 2007
80
77th
Although its origin consists of so many sci-fi clichés, Danny Boyle managed to turn the structure into a massive brilliance.
Rated 11 Feb 2012
80
80th
'Sunshine' is not without clichés or flaws. But it is very beautiful and stylish. I understand the general concerns with the third act, but can't say that I really share them. I thought it to be rather metaphysical. Either way one stands, it says something remarkable about the film, that it will never once dawn upon the viewer, that they basically stole the premise from 'The Core'.
Rated 15 Jun 2011
65
41st
Starts out as a promising hard sci-fi thriller, but completely loses its mind in the third act. Event Horizon did it better a decade earlier.
Rated 06 Feb 2011
74
77th
This ethereal sci-fi starts as a space adventure and ends beautifully, with hypnotizing imagery and a great number of chills. I loved it.
Rated 16 Jun 2009
55
14th
First 30 minutes were good . Then the movie happened
Rated 02 Jan 2008
77
87th
I'm usually really bored while watching sci-fi movies, but this one kept me on the edge of my seat. The Visuals were absolute quality. The last part didn't bother me at all, it was nice to have something surprising and bizarre happening. A lot of the story was nothing special, but Danny Boyle and the actors really made it into a great piece to watch.
Rated 18 May 2010
58
40th
Very pretty, and it's genuinely good most of the way through, but then someone decided a villain was necessary. There are a few good ideas and honest attempts at depth, but they are left half developed and not sufficiently explored.
Rated 15 Sep 2010
5
69th
Well that certainly got retarded.
Rated 19 Jul 2014
86
89th
I can't force myself to ignore the masterful first hour, even though the finale is trite. Sunshine is every bit a wonderful addition to the sci-fi genre as it is a beautifully shot and scored piece of art from Boyle. No one will ever fully forgive his lapse in its conclusion, but give the film praise where it deserves.
Rated 15 Apr 2011
75
51st
Very exciting, entertaining and interesting throughout. The acting was great and the direction was top notch. And then the third act - everything goes to shit! Needless villian is inserted and is lazily developed and frankly not exciting enough for a big finale. Quite beautiful too, some amazing scenery and special effects. As serious Sci-fi goes though, you could do a lot worse, especially so these days.
Rated 04 Jan 2013
86
69th
Psychologically-minded science fiction makes me happy when skies are gray.
Rated 26 Oct 2010
85
76th
Perfect up until the ending. It's almost so disappointing that I want to give this movie a bad score... but the rest is so good that it's worth watching. Just don't get your hopes up.
Rated 11 Apr 2007
50
35th
Nice to look at but not a lot else.
Rated 25 Apr 2007
80
75th
British director Danny Boyle creates a poetic journey to the celestial object that makes Earth the beautiful place full of life it is, and even though (or because) he doesn't fall back on pseudo-scientific mumbo-jumbo and techno-babble to try to make the ridiculously impossible mission believable, the combination of awesome production design, music and beautiful photography does just that.
Rated 27 Sep 2010
41
3rd
A great premise for a film turned into a bad slasher. I always wonder if Boyle knows what he is doing (save 28 Days Later which works very well)?
Rated 04 Jun 2007
63
45th
It's like I was watching Event Horizon stripped of any remotely interesting characters. The delusions element is very nice but doesn't hold up the 3rd act well enough.
Rated 29 Feb 2016
74
57th
"I fucked up, OK??" "Well, actually, no, it's not OK, we send you 93m miles and you forget something that basic?" Boyle knows how to make a beautiful film, the cast (particularly Bryne) give good performances, and the tension is palpable, but ultimately, this is pretty daft and like Gravity and many others, completely fails the "Science" test in Sci- Fi. When are directors going to realise that the only time you can suspend "reality" is in a completely alien environment? Good for an hour.
Rated 01 Apr 2015
83
79th
Is there a movie more in line with Prometheus? Its faults are almost daring you to give up on it entirely. Every thought you have about it afterwards is focused on the reasoning behind things that seem to be purposely written poorly. And it takes about three weeks before you want to see that beautiful mess all over again.
Rated 03 Aug 2018
82
73rd
Sunshine has a very interesting plot and is very effective in its execution for the first 2/3 of the film. The final act, however, throws a completely unnecessary corkscrew into the film and is in itself a ridiculous genre shift. Despite this flaw, there are some absolutely spectacular shots that create something truly beautiful when combined with the score.
Rated 28 Feb 2009
70
17th
Not enough pretty to make up for the stupid.
Rated 28 Aug 2007
83
71st
As you can read in every other review - the last part was disappointing, but everything before is fantastic. Overally, this is definitely worth seeing.
Rated 30 Aug 2007
100
94th
my favorite movie of all time. The visuals are beautiful. And the acting is incredible. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I have not been affeceted by a film in such a way ever.
Rated 03 Sep 2007
70
52nd
It starts awesome. A 'hard-scifi' film that can be compared to 2001 and Solaris...at last! Then, it falls apart one by one: Hard-science turns into pseudo-jumble, caharacters turn into cartoons, plot genre-ocides, cinematography fails... What a wasted promise; it was 'that' close :\ But I still think Boyle has it in him, maybe next time...
Rated 04 Sep 2007
65
20th
No humour or chemistry between the cast. Horrible action elements. Strange pointless fascination with staring at the sun. Needs to look at the first 10 minutes of "Alien" to see how to develop characters and relationships between crew members. A lot of people say the first-half, or the first two-thirds were excellent, but unfortunately they were merely average.
Rated 19 Jul 2009
66
13th
Had potential but then turned into a typical Hollywood movie
Rated 26 Apr 2014
69
69th
Captivating throughout the whole movie, only the end is rather disappointing with an unnecessary horror plot. Great visual style though.
Rated 02 Jan 2012
4
74th
An abrupt tonal shift really brings this down a few pegs, undermining what was an intense psychological thriller with an inappropriate and frankly unbelievable plot device. Still, its overall thematic weight is strong. Danny Boyle realizes the inherently ambitious setting of space with an effective mix of great sets and modest effects. It doesn't look so artificial like many big budget effects flicks generally do.
Rated 23 Feb 2009
40
11th
It looks very nice and the acting is decent, but this is why space movies have failed for many years. They all suffer from 2001: A Space Odyssey complex. Everything has to be grand, awe-inspiring, wide-eyed wonder, wow, larger than life, majestic, and also overblown, melodramatic, ridiculous. I'd rather just have a movie about people, human beings, characters, who happen to be in space. Instead we get "my god it's full of stars"
Rated 09 Nov 2013
30
0th
So, what's that about... a number of Big Brother contestants pretend they're astronauts on a spaceship on a last resort mission to save the world (how? but with a giant nuclear bomb -the cure to any problem). However they spend their time squabbling and fighting, making trivial mistakes (no computers aboard, apparently) and dealing with imaginary physics until they meet Freddy Krueger.
Rated 19 Feb 2012
78
45th
It starts strong, but then has a midlife crisis and decides that being a low-key space film isn't what it wanted to do with its life even if it's what it's good at, buys a motorcycle, and turns into a mediocre slasher for pretty much the rest of its runtime.
Rated 26 Jan 2011
68
34th
Could've been excellent. Wasn't
Rated 25 Mar 2017
50
29th
Looking at these reviews, i'm surprised i didn't find the same enjoyment that others did. Certainly, its an interesting script, but I think the execution is more flawed than most would say. It has some solid acting, and actually gets pretty tense for quite a while, but I think between the ending and some really rough visuals and editing, I can't give this the same pass others have.
Rated 16 Nov 2012
90
97th
Sunshine is, without question, a great film. It's thoughtful, evocative, smart, thrilling, and will make you feel something. It's one of those rare science fiction films that's interested in both the characters and the science that makes its plot possible. It'll give you something to think about once it's done playing, and might make you tear up while it's playing. It looks great as well, despite a relatively low budget. It deserves multiple viewings, and if you get the chance, watch it.
Rated 13 Sep 2015
82
53rd
Very interesting theme, inspired by previous scifi films like 2001 Space Oddyssey and Alien franchise in terms of plot ideas and props (space suits, analogue interface and air-lock systems, AI etc). Inciting incident is slightly clichetic but the pacing and execution is down to Earth. A must watch for space movie lovers.
Rated 09 May 2011
78
35th
A visually incredible sci-fi film with many cool ideas and moments and a great cast that leaves you disappointed when the third act becomes a generic horror film akin to Alien.
Rated 02 Nov 2019
80
78th
Top badass moment? This movie certainly puts into prospective the fact that my tablet’s Bluetooth has recently stopped working. So here we have Mother Nature providing her own cure for Climate Change, which we then feel obliged to try and bugger up again. And a spaceship with a computer that appears to've been programmed by Boeing. And a baddie that makes it clear that not packing any sun cream was a bit of an oversight. A great film until it gets religion. No cats, chainsaws or decapitations.
Rated 25 Apr 2013
5
0th
I never laughed so hard at a film that I wasn't supposed to be laughing at. This is what constitutes Science Fiction in a post-MTV, overly gratuitous CGI world of film making.
Rated 13 Mar 2012
80
46th
A movie that's actually kind of better once you know what's coming. It is vaguely disappointing when the hard scifi film (an extremely rare genre) turns into a slasher flick (one of the least rare genres) but it doesn't become a bad movie either. If you can get past the disappointment, there's a good movie here.
Rated 28 Apr 2009
84
62nd
Interesting and fun to watch but it devolves with the serial killer twist. It could very well have been the next great Sci-Fi movie but it went wrong somewhere.
Rated 18 Apr 2008
32
11th
I really wanted to like this, and I definitely have a soft spot for sci-fi. By the end, I felt like the screenwriter was just a sadist and this might as well be Final Destination 9: In Space. The story leaps out into the Land of No Logic at the end, and not even in a metaphorical 2001-type way, as far as I could tell. Maybe I didn't get it, or maybe it's that the advertising resembled the summary on this page, rather than "people die horribly for 90 minutes."
Rated 09 May 2008
81
86th
The scene with the planet passing in front of the sun is amazing. Watch it for that, if nothing else.
Rated 17 May 2008
80
74th
If this movie had some more meat to it, it could have been a great movie. The plot is fantastic, it's just that it isn't fleshed out and becomes somewhat bored.
Rated 26 May 2008
3
61st
A visual stunner reminiscent of (but inferior to) 2001. I really disliked the addition of "3rd degree burn man" and thought his presence sort of disrupted the "man-against-nature" plot which the film had already strongly developed.
Rated 25 Aug 2011
75
79th
Beautifully shot, amazing soundtrack and great acting. Everything is in place for an amazing piece of sci-fi cinema and for most of the movie that's what we get, a hauntingly beautiful journey of a small band of heroes on a possibly futile mission. Then someone flips a switch and it becomes a corridor chase with a serial killer. It's certainly a good corridor chase but it jars compared to the first half of the movie.
Rated 15 Jan 2010
80
84th
The first 45 minutes of this movie is perhaps the most beautiful out of any sci-fi film and rivals that of 2001. Even when the film takes an unusual left turn it still doesn't totally detract from the very powerful first half of the movie.
Rated 21 Aug 2009
95
96th
One of the movies that struck a cord in me, I don't know what exactly it is but it seems that it has a calming effect, an eerie feeling and a comforting one. You must see this movie.
Rated 04 Jul 2011
81
86th
"Sunshine" is a cracking piece of sci-fi, that touches on some fascinating concepts without ever going into any real depth. Not that that's a critisism, in fact it's a complement! Boyle is more than happy to let the viewer's imagination do much of the hard work in terms of the science, as along the way he produces a visually supurb & brilliantly scored thriller. Overall a tad predictable, with one odd, but not unwelcome twist, & starring a cast that do great with an average script. Underrated.
Rated 28 Jul 2011
65
43rd
sonlara dogru sicmasaydi guzel olacakti da sicti yani, onünü alamadik, öyle böyle degil.
Rated 01 Aug 2008
75
65th
As with all disaster films, the premise is pretty ridiculous. However, it pulls it off better than any other. I really liked it. Great special effects, and it knows just what makes Sci-Fi good. Recommended if you can overlook the fact that the plot makes no sense. Yeah, let us travel straight into the sun and make another one within it. That makes sense. Cillian Murphy is excellent. Just ride with it and you'll be glad you did.
Rated 16 Jul 2012
44
16th
It seems, by 2057, the human race will have regressed so much intellectually, that even our scientists and astronauts will be complete fucktards. I expect so much more from Danny Boyle. Visually, stylistically and musically there are moments to savor here but It's impossible to redeem a film with such a ridiculous plot and idiotic characters. If this is our future, I vote we all become junkies and end it all having fun.
Rated 18 Aug 2009
45
85th
Very good sci-fi. Cillian Murphy does a very good job in his second Boyle film but the real star in this movie is... well it's the Sun. But it's also the incredibly lonesome atmosphere that follows the film. You can never shake the feeling that everyone on that ship is millions and millions of miles from home.
Rated 17 Jul 2011
60
16th
For the first two acts, Sunshine is pretty good. A tad clichéd and the acting isn't that hot but it's got an interesting premise, tense situations, stylish visuals, nice score... it's an engaging watch, it's fun. And then came the third act. Messy, confusing, stupid clusterfuck. Except for the fact it kind of became a slasher flick, most of the time I didn't know what the hell was going on. It sucked to have my enthusiasm dashed like that. Very good for about 75 minutes, pretty lame after that.
Rated 18 Aug 2009
93
96th
Blockbuster sci-fi film leagues above the rest (which would explain why it didn't make any money). B-movie storyline is excellently handled through a clear understanding of not just scientific logics, but the logics of mission objectives and what/who is expendable. A top-notch sci-fi film in every department.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
69
73rd
Interesting if not flawed script. I still enjoyed it and some of the visuals are stunning.
Rated 19 Nov 2008
85
84th
The word "epic" is overused in criticism, but it's hard to describe Sunshine's best qualities in any other way. I'm definitely more into large objects floating in space than the average moviegoer, but it's that beautiful imagery coupled with the psychological weight of saving life on Earth that make it uniquely compelling.
Rated 08 May 2007
68
44th
I like the bleakly optimistic vibe that radiates from the picture but I wanted to like itmore and wasn't crazy about how it sort of devolved into an Event Horizon/ Supernova/ The Abyss style story where the pressure and the environment and shit drive you mad.
Rated 30 Jun 2014
8
60th
Truly epic in some places and thrillingly suspenseful in others. Great stuff. The ending left me particularly awed
Rated 18 Aug 2009
90
78th
One of the better Sci-fi movies to come out lately
Rated 28 Jul 2007
96
92nd
See stardust before you see this movie - totally clears up Pinbacker's motivation.
Rated 18 Jun 2012
77
64th
I unintentionally watched this straight after watching 'The Beach', another Danny Boyle movie. Like the Beach, it is also strange, and moody. I liked the tone, and the movie, even though sometimes I really didn't know what was going on. I think I might come back to this movie in 10 years.
Rated 24 Aug 2007
71
71st
Good
Rated 27 Mar 2011
60
35th
the first 60% is great, the last 40% is awful.
Rated 12 Sep 2007
64
24th
The idea is interresting, there are some very beautiful 'shots' of the sun and I liked the cast. The movie it self really didn't work, the editing jumped around too much and the ending was very unclear, what happened there, where are they, what's going on ??
Rated 05 Feb 2011
70
41st
I loved everything technical about this movie. However, the story just couldn't hold my interest.
Rated 23 Oct 2007
7
57th
Decent but rips off so much shit...
Rated 14 Jun 2009
70
44th
Good first act, then it falls to cliche.
Rated 05 Jun 2024
57
39th
Plot 10/20 Fiction 8/20 Casting/Acting 13/20 Worldbuilding 15/20 Entertainment 11/20
Rated 03 Nov 2013
100
99th
Mein Gott. What an achievement.
Rated 06 Sep 2009
52
9th
Could have been quite nice. But the last third totally kills it. At least it's visually interesting.
Rated 14 Apr 2024
74
64th
Better than that other movie about Cillian Murphy delivering a giant bomb on a tight deadline
Rated 02 Sep 2011
85
73rd
Stunningly beautiful, smart sci fi. You're the only one who can save the world... what if the task demands not only your life but your humanity?
Rated 30 Jan 2009
30
6th
Let's take an interesting premise and ruin it by adding a stock horror movie deranged killer!
Rated 31 Oct 2022
70
42nd
It turns into a completely different film in the last act. I don't object to the shift into being something-kind-of-like-a-horror-film, but I object to the terrible visual ideas that render the action incomprehensible. Given that Boyle robbed himself of the ability to convey things visually, he needed to slow down a bit and sign post where he was going. For the most part, I think it's a great film ... and one that you can turn off 20 minutes early if you feel like it.
Rated 21 Jan 2013
70
42nd
A gorgeous sci-fi that holds a great amount of tension. Sadly, the shift in tone late in the film seems weak. Nevertheless, worth a watch for some of the beautiful shots and solid art direction.
Rated 04 Oct 2016
69
74th
How does a movie this good end so bad? It's absolute hard sf perfection until the second half of the third act, when it ends in the laziest, film-schooliest way possible.
Rated 31 Mar 2009
92
70th
interesting.
Rated 28 Jul 2021
80
87th
the score was perfect. john murphy slamming it out the park again. the story was great with a nonsensual moment making it less impresive, but the idea is a great original
Rated 22 Nov 2017
44
22nd
So disappointed.
Rated 24 Jan 2015
80
61st
Solid movie, must watch.
Rated 01 Jan 2010
73
20th
interesting scenery and spaceships. story gets more and more stupid as the film moves on...
Rated 17 Nov 2008
70
48th
I really really liked this movie up to the whole slasher part with the burned astronaut. Loved the last scene though.
Rated 25 Nov 2012
90
90th
This just goes to show you how versatile Danny Boyle is as a director. Yet another film that makes me believe in the magic of Sci-Fi . Parts of the third act are a little underdeveloped, but the whole film was so emotionally poignant that all is forgiven. The CGI, cast, basically everything about this film is great. Must see for Sci-Fi fans.

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