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Insurgent (2015)

119 min · Action, Sci-Fi, Utopia & Dystopia, action film, adventure film, dystopian film, post-apocalyptic film, romance film, science fiction film

Popularity5/5
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12-month trend

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2025-09 to 2026-08

A group of fugitives must navigate a crumbling faction system and a looming coup to uncover the truth about their world.

The story

Five days after a violent assault on the Abnegation faction, Dauntless soldier Tris Prior and her instructor Four are on the run from Erudite leader Jeanine. In a post-apocalyptic Chicago where the faction system is collapsing, the group seeks safety while facing a desperate struggle for power. As Jeanine declares martial law and hunts for Divergents to open a mysterious box containing the city's secrets, Tris and Four must navigate various territories to survive the escalating conflict.

Full plot (contains spoilers)

Following an assault by Erudite leader Jeanine, who has declared martial law, Tris Prior and Four flee to the Amity compound. After Peter reveals their location, they escape to Factionless territory. Four reveals his identity as Tobias Eaton, son of the Abnegation leader Evelyn. The group later travels to Candor, where Four uses a truth serum to secure a trial, revealing Tris's secret of killing Christina's lover. Jeanine then attacks Candor with mind-control disks. Tris is captured by Dauntless leaders Max and Eric because of her 100% Divergent reading. While Four rescues Tris and kills Eric, Peter suggests exploiting Tris's upbringing to reach her. At the Factionless base, Four agrees to a war with Evelyn. Jeanine uses the disks to force Christina and others toward a ledge, resulting in Marlene's death. Tris initially surrenders to Jeanine but is stopped by her brother Caleb. Tris undergoes simulations, eventually failing one and faking her death with Peter's help. They return to the simulation room, and Tris opens the box, revealing the faction system was an experiment and the world outside is waiting. Jeanine orders their execution, but the Factionless rescue them. Jeanine and Caleb are arrested, and the message is broadcast. Evelyn kills Jeanine before the end.

First release year
2015
Runtime (minutes)
119
Production countries
United States
Original languages
English
Directors
Robert Schwentke
Writers
Brian Duffield · writer; Akiva Goldsman · writer; Mark Bomback · writer
Cast and characters
Shailene Woodley · Beatrice "Tris" Prior; Theo James · Tobias "Four" Eaton; Kate Winslet · Jeanine Matthews; Miles Teller · Peter Hayes; Ansel Elgort · Caleb Prior; Jai Courtney · Eric Coulter; Octavia Spencer · Johanna Reyes; Ray Stevenson · Marcus Eaton
Genres
dystopian; science fiction; action
Themes
ambition; human interaction; power; identity
Tone and mood
dark; intense; dystopian; gloomy
Premise and plot tags
dystopian; science fiction; action; sequel; mind control; post-apocalyptic
Source material / true-story basis
Insurgent, the second book in the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth
Franchise connections
The Divergent Series
Reception
Mixed critical reaction with some praise for Woodley's performance and visual style, but criticism for the storyline; it was a commercial success.
Reported review scores
Rotten Tomatoes · score: 29% · review count: 207; Metacritic · score: 42 · scale: 100 · review count: 40
Production trivia
Woodley cut her hair to appear in both films.; The character of Edgar does not appear in the Divergent trilogy.; The zip-line scene was filmed at the roof of Peachtree Center.
Catalogue themes and tags

Announcement, Caste, Chicago, Computersimulation, Conflict, Dystopia, Experiment, Gedankenkontrolle, Mother Son Relationship, Postapokalyptisch, Ruin, Sense of Guilt, Simulation, Staged Death, Truth serum

Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.

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