The Best Sci-Fi Thriller Of The 2000s Only Cost $5 Million, Stream Without Netflix Now
It can be challenging to make a great sci-fi film in recent years for many reasons. For one, it is difficult not to make a movie that feels derivative of an earlier film in the genre, and there is also the reality that the set pieces and CGI often needed for the genre can be expensive. So it is a testament to 2009’s Moon that the movie not only wound up costing just $5 million to make, but it is also one of the best sci-fi movies of that era.
Moon
Moon is a movie about a lone astronaut, Sam, mining helium on the far side of the Moon. He is eagerly awaiting the chance to return to Earth after three years away so that he can be reunited with his family. His only company during that entire time has been from recorded messages his wife is able to transmit to him, and the spacecraft’s artificial intelligence, GERTY.
Things Go Sideways
Everything seems to be going well on the Moon until Sam begins having cognitive issues as his trip is meant to be nearing its completion. He crashes in a rover while outside the ship and blacks out.
He reawakens on the ship, but can’t reconcile how he would have made it back. He goes to investigate the crash site and makes a huge discovery.
Emotionally Tough To Watch
Moon is a movie that clearly does take inspiration from other greats in the genre, with sci-fi savvy fans sure to compare GERTY to HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. It deals with themes like what actually makes somebody a person and invites the viewer to consider what comprises human consciousness.
Even with a cast of almost just one person for the entire movie, Moon can be a heart-wrenching watch as we witness Sam go through the process of trying to figure out what value his life actually has.
Reception
Moon has also received strong praise from critics, with the movie currently having a 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. In fact, Moon is even popular among the scientific community for its accuracy on many topics ranging from the technology presented to theories about cognition. It was actually invited to be screened at NASA.
Stream It Now
Moon did eventually get a sequel on Netflix in 2018 called Mute, but unfortunately it was nowhere as well-received as the original movie. But that should in no way deter you from checking out the original if you have not seen it.
In fact, you do not even need a subscription to a streaming service like Netflix to enjoy Moon, as it is available for free on Pluto TV. Check it out today and see why this 5 star film is one of the hidden gems of the 2000s.
