Passengers is a 2016 American science fiction adventure film directed by Morten Tyldum and written by Jon Spaihts. It stars Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne and Andy García.
Set sometime in the future, the Avalon is a commerical starship on a long voyage from the Earth to the conly planet Homestead II, a journey that takes 120 years. There are 5000 travelers on board and a sizable crew sleeping in hibernation pods. Unfortunately a malfunction occurs when the starship goes through some space debris and a single passenger, mechanic James Preston, is woken up and comes out of his pod. Jim soon realizes that he is alone, except for the android bartender Arthur and though initially he lives it up and moves up to the more expensive suites, he becomes desperate and lonely. He tried fixing the pod and attempts to wake the crew but is unable to get access to their pods.
After a year of living alone he almost ends his life by nearly jumping out of an airlock. He then notices a beautiful woman named Aurora hibernating in one of the pods. Her video profile reveals a humorous personality and that she is a writer. Jim struggles over the morality of manually reviving Aurora for companionship, but eventually does. He leds her to believe that her pod also malfunctioned like his and shows her around. Aurora, devastated that she may grow old and die before the ship reaches Homestead II, attempts a fruitless effort at re-entering hibernation, just as Jim once tried and failed to do. She comes to accept her situation and begins writing a book about her experiences. Jim and Aurora grow closer, becoming lovers. One evening, exactly a year later, Arthur lets her in on the secret that Jim told him and she is furious! She is distraught, alternately berating, shunning, and physically attacking Jim. Soon after, however, another pod failure awakens Gus, a Chief Deck Officer. The three discover multiple failures in the ship’s systems due to a failed component overloading other components. Gus attempts repairs with Jim and Aurora’s help, while Aurora still blames Jim for stealing her life, claiming it is tantamount to murder.
Gus’s body starts failing and his organs start shutting down caused by the malfunction his pod. Medical tests in the Autodoc, an automated medical diagnostics and treatment pod, show that he has but hours to live. Before his death, Gus gives Jim and Aurora his ID badge to access crew areas and repair the ship, which is experiencing more severe failures each day. The two of them trace an asteroid’s path through parts of the ship’s hull, caused 2 years ago which led to the malfunctions, that damaged the computer administering the reactor. Jim realizes he must vent a fusion reactor by opening an outer vent hatch. Aurora assists Jim while admitting she is terrified of losing him and living on the ship alone. Aurora, from inside the ship, and Jim, outside it, successfully vent the reactor. However, Jim’s tether breaks loose and his damaged spacesuit loses its oxygen supply. Aurora retrieves the seemingly deceased Jim and resuscitates him using the Autodoc.
Jim learns that using the autodoc he can hibernate one person to survive the trip till the ship reaches Homestead II. He offers Aurora the choice of going back to sleep, and she realises this choice would mean that she would never see him again. After 88 years, the ship’s passengers and crew awaken shortly before arrival on Homestead II. They discover vegetation and domestic animals in the ship’s concourse area. Aurora’s completed book is found, and it is revealed that she chose to stay awake with Jim and finish writing her story.
Stunning visually and the special effects are awesome. It is a beautiful movie to watch and well acted. It’s more like a love story set in a starship in space rather than a real science fiction film. I liked it a lot and give it an 8.5 outta 10!