Sunshine (2007)
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In a future where a dying sun threatens to freeze Earth, a crew must deliver a massive bomb to reignite the star.
The story
In the year 2057, the Sun is dying and Earth is freezing. Eight astronauts aboard the starship Icarus II are sent on a desperate, last-chance mission to deliver and detonate a colossal stellar bomb intended to reignite the Sun. While navigating toward their destination, the crew encounters a distress beacon from a previous mission, Icarus I, which disappeared years prior. Despite internal concerns regarding safety and resources, the captain decides to divert the ship's course to investigate the signal and potentially secure a backup payload, setting the stage for a perilous journey through the hazards of deep space.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2057, the Sun is dying and Earth is freezing. Eight astronauts aboard the starship Icarus II are sent to deliver a stellar bomb to reignite the Sun. Upon passing Mercury, they receive a distress signal from the missing Icarus I. Captain Kaneda decides to investigate, leading to a series of mishaps: a damaged heat shield, a destroyed oxygen garden, and the death of Capa during a repair. The crew docks with the derelict Icarus I to salvage resources, only to find it sabotaged and its crew dead. A violent separation occurs, leaving some stranded. On Icarus II, the crew faces dwindling oxygen and the discovery of a stowaway, Pinbacker, from the first mission. Pinbacker, who believes he is 'speaking to God,' sabotages the ship and kills Corazon. In a final desperate push, Capa must navigate the failing ship and confront Pinbacker to detonate the bomb. The explosion succeeds, reigniting the Sun and bringing warmth back to a frozen Earth.
- First release year
- 2007
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Danny Boyle
- Writers
- Alex Garland · writer
- Cast and characters
- Rose Byrne · Cassie; Cliff Curtis · Searle; Chris Evans · James Mace; Troy Garity · Harvey; Cillian Murphy · Robert Capa; Hiroyuki Sanada · Kaneda; Benedict Wong · Trey; Michelle Yeoh · Corazon
- Genres
- science fiction; psychological thriller
- Tone and mood
- tense; claustrophobic; epic
- Premise and plot tags
- space exploration; survival; apocalyptic
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, though some noted a shift in tone in the final act.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 77% · scale: percentage · review count: 172
- Awards and nominations
- Best Technical Achievement · British Independent Film Awards · win
- Production trivia
- The character of Pinbacker was inspired by the character of Sergeant Pinback from Dark Star.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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