The Netflix Sci-Fi Blockbuster Is All About The Fans
The 2018 sci-fi film Ready Player One is streaming on Netflix. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie is based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Ernest Cline, who adapted the story for the screen with Zak Penn. It stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance.
Ready Player One In 2045
Ready Player One is set in 2045, where people use a virtual reality system called the Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation (OAISIS) to escape their real-world problems.
When its creator, James Halliday (Mark Rylance), dies, he leaves behind a cryptic message about a hidden Easter egg within the OASIS that grants ownership to its finder.
Wade Watts And Future Challenges
Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan), a teenage orphan and passionate Egg Hunter, embarks on the quest alongside his friends Aech (Lena Waithe), Art3mis (Olivia Cooke), Daito (Win Morisaki), and Sho (Philip Zhao).
The challenges are complex, and the competition is fierce, with the villainous CEO Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) of Innovative Online Industries seeking to exploit OASIS for intrusive advertising.
A Sci-Fi Race Against Time
Parzival, Wade’s avatar, takes center stage in Ready Player One as he finds the first key in an unbeatable race by cleverly driving backward. Alongside Art3mis, Aech, and others, they form the High-5, climbing the OASIS scoreboard.
As Sorrento intensifies his efforts, Wade discovers a connection between Halliday and Morrow’s past, igniting a deeper quest for the elusive Easter egg.
Ready Player One Production
Warner Bros. acquired the film rights to Ready Player One in June 2010, a year ahead of the book’s publication. Village Roadshow Pictures later joined the project, with Steven Spielberg agreeing to direct and produce the film.
Kristie Macosko Krieger, Dan Farah, and Donald De Line were also involved in the production. Throughout the adaptation process, Cline and Penn made various revisions.
Many of these changes were aimed at removing scenes that might not translate well to the visual format of Ready Player One, such as instances where Wade achieves a high score in Pac-Man or recites all the lines from the movie War Games.
In 2016, musician Moby revealed that he had attempted to adapt the book into a film but found that Spielberg had already secured the role.
At The Box Office
Ready Player One performed well at the box office, earning $137.7 million in the United States and Canada and an impressive $469.5 million in other territories, resulting in a global total of $607 million.
The film also surpassed first-day earnings expectations by raking in $12.1 million, including $3.75 million from Wednesday night previews.
Ready Player One debuted at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, in March 2018 and hit theaters later that month. The film was praised by critics who lauded Spielberg’s masterful direction, impressive visual effects, lively pacing, and commendable performances by Sheridan and Rylance.
Ready Player One On Netflix
The film also features numerous references to ’80s pop culture, including video games, movies, and music, staying true to the novel’s spirit.
The soundtrack includes classic ’80s songs and an original score composed by Alan Silvestri. Overall, Ready Player One cemented its place as an entertaining sci-fi adventure, with its success attributed to the nostalgic appeal and Spielberg’s directorial flair.
