The Martian
Family FavoritePG-13

The Martian

Bring him home.

2015 • 141 min • Science Fiction · Drama · Adventure

Synopsis

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

Our family guide

Best from age 13
94
Movie Knight Score
21576 reviews
  • 100 Reviewers · 7 · 72%
  • 77 Audience · 21569 · 28%

An astronaut is left for dead on Mars after a fierce storm. Using his scientific ingenuity, he must find a way to survive on the hostile planet and signal to Earth that he is alive, while his crew mounts a daring rescue.

Violence & peril
3/10
Language
3/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking
0/10
Romance & sensuality
1/10
Scary moments
4/10

Heads up

  • Some moments of intense peril.
  • Brief instances of strong language.
  • Implied serious injuries and medical procedures.
  • Feelings of isolation and despair.

What it models well

  • Ingenuity and problem-solving
  • Perseverance in the face of adversity
  • Teamwork and global cooperation
  • The value of scientific knowledge

Talk about it after

  • How Mark used science to solve problems.
  • The importance of not giving up.
  • How people from different places worked together.
  • The risks and rewards of space exploration.

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Martian. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

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Top billed cast

Director: Ridley Scott • Crew: Drew Goddard

Trailers & clips

VR Experience | 360 Video

Dare Mighty Things: NASA's Journey to Mars - Proving Grounds.

The Extended Cut | Now on Blu-ray & Digital HD

Living on Mars and Beyond

Life in Space: Episode 1

Life in Space: Episode 2

Life in Space: Episode 3

Life in Space: Episode 4

Reviewer notes

Recommended

A sudden and violent storm causes the team of the "Ares" mission to hastily abandon their camp and return to the relative safety of their orbiting spacecraft and a journey home. Giving the command to leave, their commander "Lewis" (Jessica Chastain) is informed that one of their number has been killed. Thing is, once the dust has (quite literally) settled, we discover that "Watney" (Matt Damon) is anything but.…

Recommended

I feel like this science fiction movie was a stunning achievement, for at least a couple of reasons. Firstly, for much of the time it is a one man show, and that can be risky in a feature length film. It worked with acclaimed actors Tom Hanks in Cast Away, and with Robert Redford in All is Lost, but could it work with Matt Damon in a sci-fi flick? Well, I answer that question with a resounding ‘yes.…

Recommended

***Realistic account of trying to survive on Mars while awaiting rescue*** In 2035 an astronaut (Matt Damon) gets stuck on Mars after he is presumed dead and his team departs without him. When NASA eventually finds out that he’s alive & well they have to find a way to save him. But can he survive for the next couple of years until they arrive?…

Recommended

This movie is very entertaining and really imaginative. The narrative is well controlled so you don't feel bored or exhausted. The part that I like best is when the accident happened and Witney lost all his crops, the despair he had and the noisy scary sound of strong Mars winds blowing outside the base. The real loneliness. However, this movie's plot was too straight-forward as I see.…

Recommended

This is a movie following the lead started with Gravity with the human main character fighting for survival in space. The plot has a good combination of suspense, action, humor and drama. Damon performs well and the rest of the cast does a good job and has been well chosen. It is not a magnificent movie but it is good enough to fill a couple of hours of entertainment.

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

This is a movie that I have to say that I have a bit of a difficulty in rating. Quite honestly I was sorely tempted to remove a star, or even two stars. Why? Because it is full of Hollywood nonsense, scientific errors, it is rather predictable and it did feel a bit like a Apollo 13 rip-off. Why did I not remove those stars? Well, it is rather entertaining even if, at times, I squirmed in my seat.…

Recommended

'The Martian’ is definitely in the creative wheelhouse of filmmaker Ridley Scott whose Science Fiction sensibilities are grounded in colorful futuristic fantasies that tiptoe in grand whimsy.…

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