Passengers Reviews

It's disgusting that he selfishly woke her up without her consent after becoming obsessed with her. This isn't any sort of romance, it's a horror movie.

i would’ve killed him then myself but that’s just me ❤️. lucky for him that she likes guys and lucky for her that he’s not a complete pervert i guess.

liked the concept, set design/ambience and story tho, it was entertaining.

An excellent cast, cool special effects and deep space do nothing to help this film overcome it’s absolutely horrible script and direction. Stay away at all cost!

Passengers takes us on an interstellar journey aboard the massive spacecraft Avalon, where thousands of colonists are in suspended hibernation, traveling to a new world. The film, directed by Morten Tyldum and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, hinges on a provocative premise: what happens when two passengers are awakened 90 years too early due to a malfunction? My initial reaction was one of intrigue, drawn in by the star power and the high-concept science fiction. However, my overall impression is that while the film boasts stunning visuals and strong performances, it grapples with a fundamentally flawed ethical dilemma at its core, which ultimately undermines its romantic and dramatic aspirations.

Rating:
5.8/10 ⭐️ (★★½ - Average)
An average rating for a visually spectacular film that excels in its production design and lead performances, but is significantly hampered by a controversial narrative decision that complicates its romantic appeal and moral messaging.

The Good:
* Narrative & Story (Strengths): The initial setup of two people stranded alone on a vast spaceship, facing a lifetime of isolation, is incredibly compelling and filled with dramatic potential. The mystery of the ship's malfunction and the eventual discovery of a larger threat injects much-needed suspense and urgency into the latter half of the film. The concept of choice and consequences in extreme isolation is an interesting one, even if its execution is debatable.
* Characters (Strengths): Chris Pratt delivers a solid performance as Jim Preston, conveying his initial loneliness, desperation, and eventual complex emotions. Jennifer Lawrence is equally strong as Aurora Lane, effectively portraying her initial despair, burgeoning romance, and eventual anger and difficult acceptance. The chemistry between Lawrence and Pratt, despite the narrative's underlying issues, is palpable, making their interactions engaging. Michael Sheen as Arthur, the android bartender, is a standout, providing wit, charm, and a vital source of companionship and perspective for Jim, often stealing his scenes.
* Directing & Filmmaking (Strengths): Morten Tyldum effectively captures the vastness and intricate design of the Avalon. The film's cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto is beautiful, showcasing the ship's luxurious but ultimately empty spaces. The pacing in the first act effectively establishes the isolation and loneliness. The visual effects are top-notch, contributing to a convincing portrayal of an advanced spaceship.
* Technical Aspects (Strengths): The film's production design is truly exceptional, justly earning an Academy Award nomination. The Avalon itself feels like a fully realized, futuristic luxury liner, with intricate details in every cabin, bar, and technical area. Thomas Newman's score is atmospheric and evocative, perfectly complementing the film's sci-fi setting and emotional beats. The visual effects are seamless and create a believable future.
* Enjoyment & Engagement: The film is visually captivating, and the performances by Lawrence and Pratt are engaging. The suspense of the malfunctioning ship and the survival element in the latter half of the film provides exciting moments. It's an easy film to watch if one can overlook or compartmentalize its central ethical problem.

The Not So Good:
* Narrative & Story (Weaknesses): The film's primary weakness lies in its central ethical dilemma, which is presented as romantic but is inherently problematic. Jim's decision to deliberately wake Aurora, knowing she has no choice in the matter and condemning her to a lifetime of isolation with him, is a massive moral transgression that the film struggles to adequately address or justify. This undermines the romantic elements, transforming the love story into something akin to Stockholm Syndrome for many viewers. The film then attempts to brush over this ethical quagmire with a grand romantic gesture and a shared survival plot, which feels insufficient.
* Characters (Weaknesses): Jim's character, despite Pratt's efforts, becomes difficult to fully empathize with once his choice is revealed. The film's attempts to portray his decision as born of desperation rather than malice don't entirely absolve the ethical breach. Aurora's journey of forgiveness feels rushed and less earned given the gravity of Jim's actions. Laurence Fishburne and Andy García are underutilized in their brief roles.
* Directing & Filmmaking (Weaknesses): While the film looks great, the direction struggles to navigate the moral complexities of the script. It leans too heavily on the romantic comedy tropes, often sidelining the darker implications of Jim's decision, which can make the film feel tonally inconsistent. The emotional payoff for Aurora's acceptance feels unearned because the film doesn't delve deeply enough into the psychological impact of Jim's actions on her.
* Enjoyment & Engagement (Negatives): For many, the film's core ethical problem is a significant barrier to enjoyment, making it difficult to root for the central couple or fully immerse in the story. This moral quandary becomes a persistent distraction, preventing the film from achieving its full romantic and dramatic potential.

The Verdict:
Passengers is a visually stunning science fiction romance with strong performances from its leads, Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, and a standout turn by Michael Sheen. Its depiction of a luxurious interstellar vessel is a technical marvel. However, the film is fundamentally hampered by a deeply troubling ethical premise – Jim's decision to awaken Aurora prematurely – which it attempts to romanticize rather than genuinely confront. This narrative flaw makes it challenging for many viewers to fully invest in the love story or overlook the moral implications. While enjoyable for its spectacle and acting, its lasting impression is often one of a missed opportunity, a beautiful film with a problematic heart. Recommended for those who enjoy visually rich sci-fi with a romantic slant, but be prepared to grapple with its central ethical dilemma.

Optional Additional Categories:
* Genre & Tone: The film attempts to balance science fiction adventure with romantic drama, but the underlying ethical issue creates a jarring tone that oscillates between genuine romance and a more unsettling, morally ambiguous narrative.
* Target Audience: Primarily aimed at an adult audience interested in sci-fi and romance, particularly those drawn to the star power of Lawrence and Pratt.
* Originality & Innovation: While the premise of early awakening is somewhat unique, the film's romantic and dramatic arcs are fairly conventional. Its innovation lies more in its exceptional production design and visual effects.
* Themes & Messages (Further Discussion): The film touches on themes of loneliness, survival, the nature of choice, and the ethics of isolation. However, its most significant message – the justification of a morally questionable act for the sake of companionship – is its most controversial and underdeveloped.
* Comparison to Other Films: It shares thematic elements with other "isolated in space" films like Moon or Gravity, but attempts a romantic angle that sets it apart, though not always successfully.

Watched in philosophy but watched again. Really interesting idea and topic with great graphics and stuff. Very predictable and basic tho

the half hour that they spent falling in love was like torture i was so scared when she was gonna find out. her acting is so good jenn knows how to do panic fr. loved watching her beat him fr as she should. naming her aurora was so smart fr. i hate the smart guy stupid girl tho

It's disgusting that he selfishly woke her up without her consent after becoming obsessed with her.

But great cast ngl

“You can’t get so hung up on where you’d rather be that you forget how to make the most of where you are.”

One of fave Jennifer Lawrence movies, seen it 5 times minimum. Nice concept. Loving the visuals and the notion of living in the moment. Do yourself a favor and watch it.

this movie encapsulates the epitome of humanity. survival, purpose, love. beautifully illustrates what we live for and what we can’t live without. we are all passengers on this wild ride of life and this story hits all the checkpoints.

jlaw, chris pratt, and laurence fishburne are all perfect. each enhancing the story through their unique backgrounds and motivations, elevating a simplistic approach to voyaging, commanding a deeper connection with the characters and their journey than one might assume in the first 20 mins.

it’s unpredictable, well paced, and vivid, with stunning scenes and gorgeous tension. this film explicitly conveys, as cliche as it sounds, that everything happens for a reason, and because i believe that with every ounce of my soul, this bumps up from like to love. everyone should watch, and think deeply about it 9/10.

This is a horror story, intergalactic travel to a new world, pod breaks, still hundreds of years away from your destination, you feel lonely and you decide to sabotage another pod because you think the women is attractive. This should not be a romance film. This is terrifying.

it never ends

Good movie, Jennifer Lawerence was so fine

boring

Man living isolation horror story selfishly wakes up woman due to loneliness forcing her into a life she didn’t want but make it ✨ romance ✨

if this is “romance”, i pray to god to be mercifully safeguarded from it🧎🏽‍♀️

never more have i wished for a movie to take a dark, nihilistic, slasher-film-esque turn

chris pratt’s character gives ron weasley energy (derogatory)

brb getting queue+ just to write more hate on this 🗑️

Richtig guter Plot. Man kann beide Seiten voll nachvollziehen. Umsetzung war auch gut. War wirklich spannend und interessant zu sehen, wie so eine Strandung in einem Raumschiff wäre. Ende auch sehr schön und zeigt auch wie soziale Wesen wir eigentlich sind.

=> 9/10

Didn’t expect this movie to be any good. Good casting Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence in her prime 😆🤫🤣
8/10

I really enjoyed watching “Passengers,” one of the main reasons I loved it is because I’m a big fan of both Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. They had great chemistry and were super fun to watch together. The concept of the movie was really cool with the whole space journey and waking up early twist. It kept me interested the entire time and I never felt bored. I thought it was a mix of sci-fi, romance, and drama in a way that worked really well. I would love to see more movies like this in the future!

pretty unique concept when it comes to space movies. and the moral dilemma really gets you thinking thinking

7.5/10, slight boost because it’s a space movie but it was a cool watch