A Recent Sci-Fi Flop Features One of the Best Twists in Decades (& a Great Cast)

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2025 has been a mixed year for science fiction. While films like Predator: Badlands and Jurassic World: Rebirth have been successful, even setting franchise records, several disappointments are overshadowing the wins. War of the Worlds, a new adaptation on Prime Video, is being called one of the worst sci-fi movies in years, and Tron: Ares, a legacy sequel, has flopped at the box office, possibly ending the franchise.

Despite a lot of sci-fi movies relying on familiar themes, some fresh ideas are succeeding. Apple TV+’s The Gorge is a great example, becoming one of their most popular films thanks to its stars, Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller. Another sci-fi movie released this year boasts a similarly strong cast and a surprising plot, but hasn’t received much attention yet.

Kate Mara and Laurence Fishburne Lead a Stacked Sci-Fi Cast

You might not recognize the name Brad Fuller, but he’s a highly influential producer, especially in the horror genre. His company, Platinum Dunes, is behind popular films like The Amityville Horror, Friday the 13th, The Purge, and Ouija. More recently, Platinum Dunes has started incorporating science fiction, notably with The Quiet Place films. Brad seemed inspired by those films and decided to produce a new script filled with aliens.

Brad, Eric B. Fleischman, and Cameron Fuller found Jess Varley’s screenplay for The Astronaut. To help ensure the film’s success, they cast Laurence Fishburne – known for his roles in The Matrix and John Wick – as a main character. Emma Roberts was originally cast in the lead role, but Kate Mara ultimately took over. After everything was set, filming started in 2023, and the movie was completed by 2025. It premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, where reviews were somewhat divided, though everyone agreed the film took a big risk with its surprising plot twist.

The Astronaut‘s Big Reveal Changes Everything

Many science fiction films start at the beginning of a space journey, but The Astronaut begins as one is ending. After crash-landing back on Earth, NASA astronaut Sam Walker retreats to a secluded cottage to recover while her superiors investigate the incident. Though she has everything she needs and receives occasional visits from family, Sam struggles with being alone. Strange occurrences begin at night, including a mysterious creature invading the cottage, forcing her to hide in a bunker. But surviving one encounter isn’t enough, as more creatures appear and reveal a shocking truth.

Sam, who everyone thought was an astronaut, is actually an alien. She crashed on Earth years ago and has been hiding from the government ever since, disguising herself to fit in. Now, her disguise is failing, and she’s forced to decide what to do. In the end, Sam chooses to reveal her true self and return to her family. The movie’s ending is very moving, but unfortunately, not many people have seen it because it was only shown in a few places. Hopefully, over time, The Astronaut will gain the recognition it deserves – it’s a truly special film that’s easy to overlook.

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2025-12-04 20:41