Crater Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Moon teenagers steal a space car for a road trip to a mysterious hole, proving that even in the future, kids will ignore basic safety for a pointless adventure.

🍿 Crater: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Life on a Lunar Mining Colony

Set in the year 2257, the film takes place on a lunar mining colony where humanity extracts helium for fuel to travel to the ultimate destination, a new planet called Omega. Life on the moon is portrayed as harsh and demanding, with residents essentially working under bonded labor contracts.

A Farewell Adventure

Following the recent death of his father, Caleb, a boy who grew up on the colony, is slated for permanent relocation to Omega. Before his scheduled departure, Caleb and his four closest friends plan a daring final adventure to visit a legendary crater, fulfilling a promise Caleb made to his late father.

Stealing the Rover

To embark on their unauthorized journey across the lunar surface, the group decides to steal a rover vehicle. They enlist the help of a new arrival from Earth, Addison, who possesses knowledge that aids their plan. This theft marks the beginning of their risky road trip.

The Journey Begins

The five friends set off towards the distant crater, facing the challenges and dangers of the lunar environment outside the safety of the domes. Their trip is a blend of adventure, navigating technical issues, and navigating their own group dynamics and personal struggles.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Caleb Channing (Isaiah Russell-Bailey): An orphaned boy on a lunar mining colony who embarks on a final adventure to explore a legendary crater.
• Addison (Mckenna Grace): A new arrival from Earth who joins Caleb and his friends on their journey to the crater.
• Dylan (Billy Barratt): One of Caleb’s closest friends on the colony who accompanies him on the significant trip.
• Borney (Orson Hong): Another loyal friend of Caleb who provides technical support and comic relief during their adventure.
• Marcus (Thomas Barbusca): A fellow colony resident who often serves as a rival or obstacle for Caleb and his friends.
• Michael Channing (Scott Mescudi): Caleb’s recently deceased father whose unfulfilled wish inspires his son’s journey to the legendary crater.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Addison: “All of this stuff really happened, to people who thought it was the most important thing in the entire universe. Earth was everything to them. Now, it’s like all anybody cares about is when they get to go to Omega.” – Addison reflects on the historical significance of Earth and how people on the moon colony have lost connection to it, focusing only on relocating to a new planet.
• Text on stone: “On gilded wings we have reached the stars. But let us never forget the skies we left behind.” – An inscription found on a monument at the legendary crater, revealing a poignant message about progress and remembering origins.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $53,400,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $121,850

💥 Crater Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with Crater, but honestly, it kinda got me. I mean, yeah, the science bits are… questionable, to say the least (don’t even get me started on the gravity!), but I just went with it because the friendship felt really real. I totally connected with Caleb and his friends wanting this one last adventure. That whole sequence where they’re goofing around on the lunar surface using their oxygen tanks as boosters? Pure fun, and exactly the kind of thing kids would do given the chance. It made me wish I had friends to steal a space car with (safely, of course!). The ending really hit me though. It wasn’t what I expected at all, and it made me a little teary-eyed thinking about those final goodbyes. Overall, ignore the physics lessons it skipped and just enjoy the ride with these kids and their bond. It’s a sweet, emotional story if you let it be.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of coming-of-age stories”
  • “Viewers who enjoy space adventure (with some scientific liberties)”
  • “Families looking for a PG-rated sci-fi drama”
  • “Audiences interested in themes of friendship, loss, and destiny”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Themes of death and loss (father’s death is central to the plot)”
  • “Themes of permanent separation”
  • “Portrayal of risky behavior by children (stealing a vehicle, disregarding safety protocols)”
  • “Depiction of property destruction”
  • “Brief moments of peril and characters in danger”
  • “Some light profanity mentioned in reviews”

Professional Reviews

• Sample Review 1 (Inspired by user reviews): “Crater offers a heartfelt coming-of-age story centered on friendship in an unusual lunar setting. The young cast delivers solid performances, particularly in emotional moments. While its themes resonate, the film struggles with pacing and significant scientific inaccuracies that may pull some viewers out of the experience. A visually decent but ultimately uneven adventure.
• Sample Review 2 (Inspired by user reviews): “Despite a promising premise and good visual effects, Crater is weighed down by a weak script and glaring plot holes. The characters’ motivations often feel thin, and the disregard for basic physics undermines the sci-fi premise. What could have been a compelling adventure feels more like a missed opportunity, lacking the depth and logic needed to truly soar.
• Sample Review 3 (Inspired by user reviews): “This Disney effort delivers a charming, family-friendly adventure that prioritizes heart over hard science. The chemistry among the young leads is a highlight, making their journey feel authentic despite the futuristic backdrop. It’s a film about connection, dreams, and saying goodbye, wrapped in a lunar road trip that, while flawed, is ultimately quite moving.

Audience Reactions

The bond between the friends on their unexpected lunar road trip felt incredibly real.: Many viewers appreciated the focus on friendship and the emotional core of the story, finding it a refreshing, heartfelt family film despite its flaws.

The visuals of the lunar colony and surface were often highlighted as well-done.: The young cast received praise for their performances and believable chemistry together.

Overall Consensus: A divisive film; while praised for its heartfelt story about friendship and coming-of-age by many viewers, it faced significant criticism for scientific inaccuracies and plot issues from others.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The movie was originally featured on the Disney+ streaming service but was removed just one month after its release.”
• “The script for ‘Crater’ was featured on the 2015 Black List, a survey of the ‘most liked’ motion picture screenplays not yet produced.”
• “Filming locations for the movie included Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.”

🖥️ How to Watch Crater?

As of late 2023/early 2024, ‘Crater’ had a limited streaming run on Disney+ before being removed. Its current availability for streaming is restricted. You may be able to find ‘Crater’ available for digital purchase or rental on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, or Vudu, depending on regional availability. Check major digital retailers for options to watch the film at home.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Crater, you might like these similar films:

• Stand By Me (1986): A classic coming-of-age story about a group of friends who embark on a journey together, dealing with themes of friendship, loss, and self-discovery, much like the central narrative of ‘Crater’.
• The Goonies (1985): Features a group of kids going on a perilous adventure involving hidden locations and teamwork to achieve a shared goal, mirroring the friends’ quest to reach the legendary crater.
• Tomorrowland (2015): Explores themes of wonder, discovery, and the potential of the future, often involving a journey to a unique or hidden location, resonating with the mysterious destination in ‘Crater’.
• Ad Astra (2019): A science fiction film that also features travel and plot points set on the Moon, offering a different perspective on lunar life and exploration.
• Silo (2023): While a TV series and different genre, it shares the thematic element of a contained, structured society and characters questioning their reality and the world outside, similar to the lunar colony setting.

🛒 Crater Related Products

• LEGO City Space Lunar Research Base: Build your own detailed lunar base with this expansive LEGO set, featuring labs, vehicles, and minifigures exploring the moon.
• Kerbal Space Program (PC Digital Code): A realistic space flight simulation game where you design, build, and launch rockets, exploring a vast star system.
• Inspired by Crater – Lunar Colony Patch Set: A set of high-quality embroidered patches inspired by the mining colony logos and uniforms seen in the film.
• Young Adult Sci-Fi Adventure Ebook Bundle: A curated collection of classic and contemporary young adult science fiction novels featuring themes of friendship, discovery, and journeys to new worlds.

🎧 Soundtrack

Crater features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Miracle Mile” – performed by Cold War Kids

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Watch CRATER on #AmazonPrime

Hey, want to see a quick shoutout for ‘Crater’ straight from someone who helped make it? It’s awesome to get that kind of personal invite to check out the movie!

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