A Terrifying Natalie Portman Science Fiction Film Is Now Free Streaming
Annihilation starring Natalie Portman, is streaming for free on Freevee.
One of the most innovative movies of the 2010s is the Alex Garland-directed science fiction thriller Annihilation. Starring Natalie Portman, who recently teamed up with James Cameron for the upcoming documentary titled Secrets of the Elephants, Annihilation is an audacious and visually stunning thriller that was criminally overlooked when it arrived in theaters back in 2018. Now that the thought-provoking genre feature is streaming at no cost on Freevee, hopefully, it’s able to attract more eyeballs than ever before.
The film is based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer. When Paramount Pictures acquired the motion picture rights for Annihilation, the novel, which is the first installment in VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy, had not been published yet. The trilogy takes its name from the secret agency that is central to the plot.
The movie follows Lena (Natalie Portman), a biologist and former soldier, who joins a mission to uncover what happened to her husband inside Area X. In addition to Lena, the expedition team is made up of an anthropologist, a psychologist, a surveyor, and a linguist. Once inside the sinister region, the expedition discovers a world of mutated landscapes and creatures, as dangerous as it is beautiful, that threaten both their lives and their sanity.
Along with Natalie Portman, Annihilation features a stellar cast of talented actors. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Benedict Wong, Sonoya Mizuno, David Gyasi, Oscar Isaac, John Schwab, Gina Rodriguez, Tuva Novotny, Sammy Hayman, and Josh Danford all have prominent roles in the sci-fi feature. Alex Garland directed the film from his own script.
Annihilation was released in theaters on February 23, 2018, and the film received strong reviews from both critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a fresh score of 88 percent from professional critics and a score of 66 percent from everyday viewers. In addition to recognizing the compelling performances turned in by cast members Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, critics praised the film’s mind-bending visuals and refreshing storyline.
Unfortunately, despite strong reviews, Annihilation struggled at the box office. The film managed to earn just a little over $11 million in its debut weekend, and it finished its theatrical run with a mere $43 million globally. With a production budget of $40 million, which doesn’t include the millions Paramount spent on marketing, Annihilation was considered a flop.
The good news is that in the years since the film was released, several of the film’s stars have gone on to appear in bigger and more recognized projects. For example, Natalie Portman recently reprised her role as Jane Foster in last year’s Thor: Love and Thunder, alongside Tessa Thompson, who returned as Valkyrie in the MCU sequel. Thompson also has a prominent role in Creed 3, which is now playing in theaters around the world.
As these actors continue to grow their already impressive resumes, it will undoubtedly garner them new fans who will hopefully check out some of their overlooked projects like Annihilation. Of course, since you’re already reading this, let me remind you that the acclaimed thriller is streaming for free on Freevee. Go check it out.
