Some films just aren’t understood when they hit theaters for the first time. But thanks to streaming platforms, they can be resurrected for audience and critical reevaluation.
One such film is Elysium, a dystopian sci-fi thriller film starring Matt Damon and from the director of the Academy Award-nominated District 9, Neill Blomkamp.
Blomkamp’s follow-up film to District 9 didn’t do nearly as well at the time, but it’s more than worth your time now.
Watch With Us breaks down why Elysium needs to be your next Netflix viewing.
Stop! And Watch This Underrated Movie on Netflix Before It Leaves in September 2025
It Features an Amazing Performance From Matt Damon
In Elysium, the Good Will Hunting actor plays Max De Costa, an ex-con on parole who has been given five days to live. Max lives in a ravaged, dystopian wasteland version of Earth in the year 2154, in which environmental degradation has taken its toll and the planet’s citizens live in extreme squalor, while more privileged individuals get to live on a luxury space shuttle called “Elysium.” He agrees to a plan in which he must steal information in exchange for a ride to Elysium, where he can be treated.
As Max, Damon is in top form as this atypical version of a hero. His character wields a determination and grit that comes through in Damon’s performance seamlessly, paired with his ability to ground his character amidst the otherwise fantastical conditions of his situation. Damon has always excelled at characters that are “normal guys,” and he imbues Max with that particular personality in just the right ways, instilling within him a clear pathos and sense of morals.
The Story Is Totally Enthralling
The plot of Elysium follows Max as he struggles to get to the safety of the titular luxury space shuttle to save his life. In the 22nd century, Earth’s inhabitants are broken up into two classes: those who can get into Elysium, and those who cannot, forced to live in squalid conditions on a deeply polluted Earth. Max agrees to a scheme in which he must steal information from an Elysium citizen, and in exchange, he’ll receive a ride to the shuttle where his life-threatening illness can be cured.
However, Max’s health is rapidly declining, requiring that he be ensconced in a protective exoskeleton in order to keep him alive to complete the mission. The film’s narrative is not only a fast-paced, race-against-the-clock thriller, but it’s also a compelling story anchored by resonating themes. Thus, this far-fetched science fiction story bears real-world truths, which add depth and complexity to a plot that might otherwise be a run-of-the-mill sci-fi flick in worse hands.
The Themes Are Smart and Evergreen
Elysium is far from being a guns-blazing action flick with nothing on its mind. The guns are indeed blazing, but just as District 9 had a lot to say about social issues of discrimination and colonialism, Elysium carries social commentary related to capitalism, class consciousness, health care, worker exploitation and overpopulation.
These ideas are just as relevant now as they were over a decade ago, and Elysium very successfully conveys the struggles and anxieties of our current moment. The best kinds of films have both a lot to say and a lot to show, and a truly successful motion picture will leave you with a lot to think about just as well as it leaves you on the edge of your seat. Elysium definitely succeeds at doing both.
‘Elysium’ Is Also a Thrilling Action Film With Great Effects
Elysium handily features some of the best action sequences in a sci-fi film to come out in the past fifteen years, with impressive choreography and CGI animation that look seamless with the rest of the film. In particular, the robots in the film move with striking fluidity — but that’s not surprising, considering the way the robots looked in District 9. Blomkamp is a director who has a great grasp of utilizing top-notch special effects.
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In the end, even if for some reason you don’t quite vibe with Elysium’s themes or storytelling, you can’t deny that it’s an excellent popcorn film with kinetic action sequences that leave you on pins and needles and totally breathless.
