11 Years Ago, a Sci-Fi Flop Beat Interstellar in a Major Way (& Nobody Remembers It)

by

For many science fiction fans, Interstellar is the best of the best. Director Christopher Nolan expertly combines a deeply human story with a sci-fi backdrop, letting genuine emotion carry the film even when the science gets complex. Matthew McConaughey delivers a powerful performance, making even the most complicated lines sound natural and hitting all the emotional notes perfectly. The result is a truly remarkable movie that rewards repeat viewings – Nolan subtly plants clues throughout the film that all come together in the incredible finale, where Coop discovers how to save humanity.

Despite how much people love Interstellar today, it wasn’t initially well-received by critics when it came out in 2014. Many felt Christopher Nolan had attempted something too ambitious and the film didn’t quite succeed. Another science fiction movie released that same year did receive positive reviews, but struggled to find an audience, which ultimately hindered its long-term impact.

Interstellar Can’t Compete With Another 2014 Sci-Fi Movie in the Review Department

In the early 2010s, filmmakers Michael and Peter Spierig decided to turn Robert A. Heinlein’s short story, “—All You Zombies—,” into a full-length movie. Although they didn’t have a huge budget, they were able to get Ethan Hawke to star in the lead role. They began filming Predestination in Australia in early 2013, and it premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in March 2014. The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with critics praising its ambitious and bold approach.

The film Predestination centers on agent John Doe, who works for an organization that deals with time travel. His job is to track down a dangerous criminal known as the “Fizzle Bomber,” who plants bombs throughout history. During one mission, Doe encounters a man named John in a 1970s bar, and John shares a remarkable life story. It’s revealed that John was originally born as Jane, but after giving birth, medical tests showed she was intersex, leading to gender reassignment surgery. Doe offers John a chance to confront the person who abandoned her during a challenging period, and John agrees, setting off a series of complex events.

Predestination Is Every Bit as Emotional As Interstellar

When Doe and John travel to the 1960s, a strange situation unfolds: John falls in love with Jane and discovers he is both her child’s mother and father. At the same time, Doe is tasked by his boss, Mr. Robertson, with taking Jane’s baby back to the 1940s and leaving it at the orphanage where Jane herself was raised. This reveals a mind-bending truth: Jane, John, and the baby are all the same person, and they’re somehow connected to a dangerous criminal known as the Fizzle Bomber. Doe eventually confronts his target, only to find it’s a future version of himself, who’s become bitter about Mr. Robertson’s plans. Even though he could change things, Doe completes his assignment and returns home, revealing he underwent gender reassignment surgery, leaving him with scars. Mr. Robertson has been manipulating everyone, but there’s still a glimmer of hope.

The ending of Predestination is generally seen as depressing, as Doe and his other selves realize they’re just being manipulated. However, the message Doe leaves for John suggests the endless loop might be breakable, and that’s likely why some viewers feel a sense of optimism. While it’s hard to beat the emotional impact of the father-daughter reunion in Interstellar, Predestination certainly tries to deliver a similarly powerful moment.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/7-great-sci-fi-movies-set-entirely-on-earth/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-06 23:42