IMDb > Sunshine (2007)
Sunshine
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips
Photos (see all 30 | slideshow) Videos (see all 20)
Sunshine (2007) -- A team of astronauts are sent to re-ignite the dying sun 50 years into the future.
Sunshine (2007) -- Clip: We need to lose two more
Sunshine (2007) -- Interview: Michelle Yeoh "On working as a group"
Sunshine (2007) -- A team of astronauts are sent to re-ignite the dying sun 50 years into the future.
Sunshine (2007) -- A team of astronauts are sent to re-ignite the dying sun 50 years into the future.

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   66,483 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Alex Garland (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Sunshine on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 July 2007 (USA) more
Tagline:
If the sun dies, so do we. more
Plot:
A team of astronauts are sent to re-ignite the dying sun 50 years into the future. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(145 articles)
Danny Boyle Wants Cillian Murphy for '127 Hours'?
 (From Get The Big Picture. 18 November 2009, 10:30 AM, PST)

10 Most Fascinating 'End of the World' Movies
 (From The Movie Fanatic. 8 November 2009, 4:59 AM, PST)

User Comments:
A terrific study in sanity more (649 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for violent content and language.
Runtime:
107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The emergency over-ride code 000 is the number for emergency services (Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance) in Australia. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: As the crew attempts to rotate the shield to repair it, there is an argument that they would lose com towers 3 and 4, which they say would need on the way home. However, many shots including the simulation of payload delivery reveal that the Icarus' small shield which is supposed to protect Icarus after the payload is detached, just isn't wide enough to protect those towers at all, so they would've lost them anyway. It is even questionable, whether this shield would be capable of protecting the Icarus itself after detaching the payload with the large shield and at that close distance from the sun. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Capa: Our sun is dying. Mankind faces extinction. Seven years ago the Icarus project sent a mission to restart the sun but that mission was lost before it reached the star. Sixteen months ago, I, Robert Capa, and a crew of seven left earth frozen in a solar winter. Our payload a stellar bomb with a mass equivalent to Manhattan Island. Our purpose to create a star within a star.
[long pause]
Capa: Eight astronauts strapped to the back of a bomb. My bomb. Welcome to the Icarus Two.
more
Movie Connections:
References Silent Running (1972) more
Soundtrack:
Avenue of Hope more

FAQ

What happened to Trey?
Who is Pinbacker and why is he important?
What is the name of the first song in the end credits?
more
303 out of 480 people found the following comment useful.
A terrific study in sanity, 5 April 2007
9/10
Author: Captain_Peroxide from Sheffield, England

How would we cope under the most extreme circumstances imaginable? That is the question posed by Danny Boyle's latest offering, and the answer seems to be that anybody can be pushed over the edge, it is just a question of what and how much it takes.

Danny Boyle seems unable to settle on a genre specialty, but it also seems that whatever he turns his hand to he can make work (with the exception of romantic comedy - A Life Less Ordinary anyone?). In his latest, the sun is dying, and we join the 2nd attempt to try and restart the star by delivering a nuclear bomb to kick-start it. Having been alone in space for the past 16 months, the eight-man crew is approaching its destination, but nerves are starting to fray. Then they pick up a signal rom the ship that made the first, unsuccessful, attempt. Inevitably they go and investigate, and problems ensue. When the inevitable disaster occurs, jeopardising the mission, we begin to see how people deal with extreme circumstances, and how their sanity is affected, in different ways. Elements are recognisable from Alien, Solaris and Event Horizon, and the film certainly benefits from all of those influences. The claustrophobia, the understated technology, the dark corridors, the unseen menace, all recognisable but effectively used.

This is not a typical science fiction per se. There are no aliens, no space battles, and no ultra-advanced technology on show. Instead Boyle chooses a more philosophical tangent, leading to questions of exactly what defines humanity, and the value of a single life weighed against the future of mankind.

The casting is excellent, with many recognisable but no particularly famous faces, the biggest names being Batman Begins' Cillian Murphy and Fantastic Four's Chris Evans. This lack of star names, combined with a cast of only the eight crew somehow makes the loneliness and the feeling of being a huge distance from home with a long way to go seem even more real. We really begin to feel with the crew as they try to hold it together long enough to complete their vital mission. Cillian Murphy in particular is a piece of inspired casting, as in many of his roles he has always appeared on the very brink of insanity anyway, so he has the close-to-crazy act down to a tee.

The CGI of the sun is extremely impressive, particularly considering the relatively low budget of the film, and the simple but intense story has viewers on the edge of the seat virtually from first act to last. The suspense is built gradually but extremely effectively, to the extent where you can feel your sanity heading the way of the astronauts' as the conclusion approaches with increasing speed.

Overall a very effective study in what a tenuous thing sanity is when faced with huge odds and a great threat. Thrilling, gripping and thought-provoking, and another genre nailed by Boyle - now if only he could crack that pesky rom-com!

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (649 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Sunshine (2007)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Third Act Rewrite chillwinston02
The Top 10 Best Box Office Bombs of the Decade imaintdan
Can't we just ignore.... stevepower1080
You would do more than freeze to death in space! austintatious_uk
Mercury mephistorina
This movie is FAIL (spoilers) Ahijb
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Contact The Core Event Horizon Supernova Independence Day
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Adventure section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.