Ryan Reynolds & Rebecca Ferguson’s $100M Sci-Fi Movie With Alien Comparisons Is a Streaming Hit, 8 Years Later

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Ryan Reynolds and Rebecca Ferguson are both major Hollywood stars. Reynolds is known for his quick wit and comedic roles, while Ferguson is celebrated for her versatility and strong performances in a wide range of films. Both have appeared in huge franchises – Reynolds as Deadpool in the Marvel Cinematic Universe starting in 2024, and Ferguson in series like Mission: Impossible and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films. Interestingly, they also previously co-starred in a movie that’s often compared to the classic sci-fi horror film, Alien.

I recently rewatched Life, and it’s amazing to see it’s become such a hit on HBO Max! This movie, starring Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Hiroyuki Sanada, came out back in 2017 and cost a cool $100 million to make. It’s about a team of astronauts who find alien life, but things quickly go wrong when this lifeform turns out to be dangerous. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of the Alien movies, and I’m not surprised it’s doing so well – FlixBaba says it’s currently one of the top 5 most-watched films worldwide on the platform! It’s a really tense and gripping watch.

Why Life‘s Streaming Success Shouldn’t Be A Surprise

The 2017 film Life has a lot going for it, starting with its interesting cast. Ryan Reynolds in a sci-fi horror movie is a bit of a surprise, particularly when paired with strong dramatic actors like Ferguson and Gyllenhaal. Plus, Hiroyuki Sanada has become a well-known face in Western films over the last twenty years thanks to roles in many successful Hollywood productions, making the cast of Life a major attraction for viewers.

The movie Life follows a well-worn sci-fi storyline, similar to successful films like Alien, Event Horizon, Predator, and Starship Troopers. Audiences clearly enjoy thrillers about dangerous aliens in space. Life also benefits from a high production value – its $100 million budget gives it a polished look – and a strong cast, making it an appealing choice for moviegoers.

It’s no surprise that Life has found an audience on streaming services. A good movie with a strong story and cast is always appealing when you can watch it at home, and this film has even been compared to a sci-fi classic. Though it didn’t do particularly well in theaters, its streaming success is easy to understand.

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2025-12-09 17:12