Elysium (2013)
He can save us all.
In the year 2159, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes, a hard line government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that, if successful, will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 7 August 2013 |
| Genre | Science Fiction, Action, Drama, Thriller |
| Director | Neill Blomkamp |
| Starring | Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley |
| Runtime | 109 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6.5/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 64% · Metacritic 61/100 · TMDB users 6.5/10 |
| Budget | $115 million |
Where to watch Elysium
Elysium is streaming on Netflix ($19.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Netflix is $19.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 26 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent Elysium on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and Spectrum On Demand. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch Elysium in 58 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Antigua & Barbuda | Max |
| Argentina | Max $9590 ARS |
| Australia | Prime Video $12.99 AUD, Binge $19.00 AUD, ARD/ZDF |
| Austria | Netflix €10.99 |
| Bahamas | Max |
| Barbados | Max |
| Belgium | Max €10.99 |
| Belize | Max |
| Bolivia | Max |
| Brazil | Max R$34.90 |
| Canada | Netflix $18.99 CAD |
| Chile | Max $9590 CLP |
| Colombia | Max $24900 COP |
| Costa Rica | Max |
| Dominican Republic | Max |
| Ecuador | Max $8.29 |
| El Salvador | Max |
| Fiji | Netflix about |
| France | Max €10.99 |
| Germany | Netflix €15.99 |
| Gibraltar | Netflix about |
| Guatemala | Max |
| Guernsey | Netflix |
| Guyana | Max |
| Honduras | Max |
| Hong Kong | Netflix HK$78 |
| India | Netflix ₹199 |
| Indonesia | Netflix Rp65000 |
| Ireland | Netflix €11.99 |
| Italy | Netflix €13.99, Prime Video €4.99 |
| Jamaica | Max |
| Japan | Netflix ¥1590 JPY, Hulu, U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Liechtenstein | Netflix |
| Luxembourg | Netflix €10.99 |
| Malaysia | Netflix RM33.90 |
| Mexico | Max $149 MXN |
| Monaco | Netflix , Max |
| New Zealand | Netflix $17.99 NZD |
| Nicaragua | Max |
| Pakistan | Netflix Rs450 |
| Panama | Max $8.29 |
| Paraguay | Max |
| Peru | Max S/35.90 |
| Philippines | Netflix ₱279 |
| Portugal | Netflix €8.99 |
| San Marino | Netflix , Prime Video |
| Singapore | Netflix $15.98 SGD |
| South Korea | Wavve ₩10900, Watcha |
| St. Lucia | Max |
| Switzerland | Netflix CHF14.90 |
| Taiwan | Netflix NT$290 |
| Thailand | Netflix ฿169 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Max |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | Max |
| United Kingdom | Netflix £13.99 GBP |
| Uruguay | Max $U399 |
| Vatican City | Prime Video |
| Venezuela | Max |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Neill Blomkamp directs this 2013 sci-fi thriller, which splits the future into two: a pristine orbital station and a ruined, overpopulated Earth. It runs 109 minutes. The premise is a hard line of immigration law enforced by Secretary Rhodes, who will stop at nothing to keep the rich in their bubble and the poor in the dirt. Matt Damon plays Max, a man backed into a corner who agrees to a mission that could either save his life or level the playing field.
What the critics said
Critics gave it a lukewarm reception. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 64% approval rating as of June 2024, with an average score of 6.5 out of 10. Metacritic assigns a 61 Metascore as of August 2025, labeling the response generally favorable. The consensus notes it is a comedown from District 9, though it satisfies on its own terms. Director Neill Blomkamp later expressed regrets about the film. Academic analysis frames it as a critical dystopia that interrogates capitalism. It is a movie that works if you ignore the comparison.
How it did with audiences
Elysium cost $115 million to make and pulled in $286 million worldwide. That spread, a $18 million net profit, suggests the studio covered its bets without breaking the bank. On TMDB, users rate it 6.5 out of 10. The math works out, which is usually enough.
What came next for the cast
Matt Damon went from Saving Private Ryan (1998) and The Departed (2006) to Interstellar (2014), The Martian (2015), and Deadpool 2 (2018). Jodie Foster moved from The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Taxi Driver (1976) to True Detective (2014), Hotel Artemis (2018), and The Mauritanian (2021). Diego Luna shifted from The Terminal (2004) and Milk (2008) to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Flatliners (2017), and A Rainy Day in New York (2019). Sharlto Copley transitioned from District 9 (2009) and The A-Team (2010) to Maleficent (2014), Chappie (2015), and Hardcore Henry (2015). The timeline suggests momentum, but causation is a stretch. Careers are often just a series of choices, not a single turning point.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Elysium.
Sources
- Elysium on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q80959 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Elysium (film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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