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Sunshine

Sunshine

If it dies, so do we.

2007107 minRMidcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Director
Danny Boyle
Starring
Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Chris Evans, Michelle Yeoh

Fifty years into the future, the sun is dying, and Earth is threatened by arctic temperatures. A team of astronauts is sent to revive the Sun — but the mission fails. Seven years later, a new team is sent to finish the mission as mankind’s last hope.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Sunshine?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Sunshine streaming on Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Sunshine?

Sunshine earns 8 badges, led by Top 5% in Sci-Fi and Visual feast.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Sunshine worth watching?

Sunshine's Midcredits score is the 86th percentile of all films, from 604K ratings across 6 sources. 75% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

86th percentile

Better received than 86% of films

98th percentile among Sci-Fi85th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)84th
Approval (how many liked it)85th

72 /100

84th percentile of all films

97th percentile among Sci-Fi84th percentile among 2000s

Critics 64 · Audience 72

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.3 — solid but not unanimous.

75% liked it

85th percentile of all films

96th percentile among Sci-Fi83rd percentile among 2000s
75% rated it 7–1025% rated it 1–6

Critics 77% · Audience 73%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 23 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

98th percentile

603K ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Sci-Fi96th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 21% in 30 days

Box office

Budget£26M

In British pound, not converted to dollars.

Opening weekend$243K
Domestic gross$3.7M
Worldwide gross$39M

87th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film's first two acts are strong with top-notch acting and visuals, but the third act's tonal shift is divisive and undermines the experience.

Fans praised

  • Cast chemistry and diverse, down-to-earth portrayals
  • Stunning visuals and cinematography that hold up years later
  • Atmospheric, goosebump-inducing score and sound design

Detractors panned

  • Third act abruptly shifts tone into confusing horror-movie territory
  • Underdeveloped storytelling with logical gaps and rushed pacing
  • Ending unsatisfying and out of step with the thoughtful sci-fi premise

What stands out

Cinematography90

Stunning visuals and creative shot composition

Atmosphere85

Immersive and tense space voyage feel

Sound and music85

Atmospheric score and sound design

Acting82

Cast praised for natural chemistry and compelling performances

Characters75

Well-developed, human characters; some found them underused

Pacing45

Slow first half, rushed and uneven final act

Plot and story40

Promising premise derailed by confusing third act and tonal shift

EndingDivisive30

Third act twist unsatisfying and confusing

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 12 points higher than women.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 6 points apart
  • Critics vs users 5 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is Sunshine like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Tense and gripping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready to pay close attention and feel heavy feelings, and you want something tense that holds you to the end.

It is intense and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want an easy night or you can only half-watch.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Your full attention and room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Tense and gripping.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseDreadHopefulMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its cosmic mission and the crew's psychological strain with grave seriousness and a brooding, intense atmosphere.
The rideThe film maintains a high level of tension from the early solar observation onward, but the emotional and physical pressure peaks in the final act as the crew faces impossible choices and the sun's destructive power.
StructureThe story is told in a linear, three-act structure, starting with the mission setup, the journey and complications, and the final act with Pinbacker.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

BittersweetThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves viewers with a mixture of triumph and loss, and lingering questions about sacrifice and faith.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

10% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe story follows a crew on a desperate mission to deliver a nuclear payload into the sun to reignite it, with the mission as the central driving force.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfSacrificeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% (this title) · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% (this title) · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Sacrifice · 4% of filmsPurpose · 9% of filmsFaith · 3% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Cosmic stakes: Consequences reach beyond the world.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores what individuals are willing to sacrifice for the survival of humanity, and whether that sacrifice is meaningful in the face of cosmic indifference.
StanceThe film treats the characters' willingness to die for the mission as heroic and meaningful, even as it questions the role of faith and the cost of sacrifice.

The world

Near future
ElectronicForeground music · original score · John Murphy
SettingA crowded, claustrophobic starship racing toward the sun, with the crew's survival hanging on a single payload.
MusicThe score builds from ethereal, ambient passages to a swelling, anthemic climax, underscoring the mission's scale and the characters' emotional resolve.

Content guide

Is Sunshine okay for kids?

R

Sunshine is rated R: “Rated R for violent content and language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (75/100), sexual content at minimal (6/100), language at moderate (59/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (1/100) and frightening material at severe (86/100). Overall it is heavier than 54% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 23 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland15A
  • JapanR15+
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • Belgium18
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-12
  • Greece16
  • Hungary18
  • ItalyT
  • Norway15
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/12
  • RO18
  • Russia18+
  • Spain16
  • Sweden11
  • Switzerland16
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 72% of all filmsHeavier than 54% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 57%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 1%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 36%
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 1%
Frightening / Intense
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 88%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is frightening material and violence. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Sunshine have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Sunshine?

Cast

Cillian Murphy
as Capa
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Rose Byrne
as Cassie
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Chris Evans
as Mace
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Michelle Yeoh
as Corazon
Cliff Curtis
as Searle
Hiroyuki Sanada
as Kaneda
Troy Garity
as Harvey
Benedict Wong
as Trey
Mark Strong
as Pinbacker
Paloma Baeza
as Capa's Sister
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Sunshine?

Movies like Sunshine include 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026), Approaching the Unknown (2016) and Supernova (2000). Of the 12 closest matches, most are films set in the near future, and several are mission stories.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

9 of these 12 share its world: outer space. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Sunshine?

149 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: space exploration. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.