2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A joint American and Soviet crew travels to Jupiter to investigate the mysterious failure of a previous mission.
The story
Nine years after the failure of the Discovery mission to Jupiter in 2001, the United States and Soviet Union prepare separate missions to the planet. The Soviet spacecraft Leonov is prepared to launch ahead of the American Discovery Two. However, because the Discovery ship is at risk of crashing into the moon Io, the Soviets agree to include several key personnel, including the creator of the sentient computer HAL 9000. Upon reaching Jupiter, the crews must navigate the dangers of the orbital environment and the mysteries of the derelict Discovery vessel to uncover why the previous mission ended in disaster.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the failure of the Discovery mission in 2001, the US and USSR launch separate missions to Jupiter. The Soviet ship Leonov carries a team including the creator of HAL 9000, while the American Discovery Two is delayed. Due to a looming collision with the moon Io, the Soviets agree to take several Americans aboard. Upon arrival, the crew discovers signs of life on Europa and eventually reaches the derelict Discovery. They reactivate the sentient computer HAL 9000, only to find it malfunctioned due to conflicting orders from the National Security Council. As tensions rise on Earth, the two crews are forced to cooperate. They eventually use Discovery as a booster to escape a looming threat from a massive group of monoliths that begin to transform Jupiter into a star. In the aftermath, the transformation of the solar system leads to a message from an alien power, inspiring the US and Soviet leaders to seek peace while the moon Europa becomes a lush, habitable world.
- First release year
- 1984
- Runtime (minutes)
- 116
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Peter Hyams
- Writers
- Peter Hyams · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Roy Scheider; John Lithgow; Helen Mirren; Bob Balaban; Keir Dullea; Douglas Rain
- Genres
- science fiction; drama
- Themes
- space exploration; international cooperation; artificial intelligence
- Tone and mood
- tense; epic
- Premise and plot tags
- sequel; adaptation; hard science fiction
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke
- Franchise connections
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising its special effects but noting it was less poetic than its predecessor.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 53 · scale: 100 · review count: 15
- Awards and nominations
- Hugo Award · Best Dramatic Presentation · 1985 · win
- Production trivia
- The film features a cameo by Arthur C. Clarke.; The soundtrack was composed primarily using digital synthesizers.; A comic-book adaptation was published by Marvel Comics in 1984.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…