After Earth Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Will Smith and his son crash land on Earth, which now hates humans, and instead of just chilling with the cool evolved wildlife, they decide to phone home.

🍿 After Earth: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Humanity’s Exodus and Nova Prime

One thousand years in the future, Earth has become uninhabitable due to environmental disasters, forcing humanity to relocate to Nova Prime. The Ranger Corps, a peacekeeping organization, is established to protect Nova Prime from alien threats. General Cypher Raige, known for his ability to suppress fear (‘ghosting’), leads the Rangers against the S’Krell, who deploy Ursas, creatures that hunt by sensing fear.

A Father-Son Journey Interrupted

Cypher’s son, Kitai, carries guilt over his sister’s death caused by an Ursa. He strives to become a Ranger like his father, but his recklessness leads to rejection. To mend their strained relationship, Kitai accompanies Cypher on a voyage. During the journey, an asteroid storm damages their ship, causing them to crash-land on the quarantined Earth.

Stranded on a Hostile Earth

With Cypher critically injured, Kitai must navigate the dangerous, evolved ecosystem of Earth to activate an emergency beacon and signal for help. He faces threats from aggressive wildlife and harsh environmental conditions. Guided by his father via communicator, Kitai embarks on a perilous journey across the planet.

Challenges and Self-Discovery

Kitai encounters various obstacles, including attacks by baboons, poisonous leeches, and extreme thermal shifts. He initially conceals the loss of oxygen capsules from Cypher, fearing his father’s disapproval. Along the way, he recalls his sister Senshi, who urges him from beyond to persevere and confront his fears to become a true Ranger.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith): A young, aspiring Ranger who must overcome his fears and navigate a dangerous Earth to save himself and his father.
• Cypher Raige (Will Smith): A legendary General and Kitai’s stoic father, known for his ability to suppress fear and mentor his son from afar after crash landing.
• Faia Raige (Sophie Okonedo): Kitai’s mother and Cypher’s wife, who encourages Cypher to bond with Kitai before his retirement.
• Senshi Raige (Zoë Kravitz): Kitai’s deceased sister, whose memory and the circumstances of her death haunt him.
• Ursa (N/A): The alien creature that hunts by sensing fear, posing a major threat to Kitai on Earth.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Cypher Raige: “Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future.” – Cypher explains to Kitai the concept of overcoming fear as a survival strategy.
• Cypher Raige: “Danger is very real, but fear is a choice.” – A key philosophy Cypher imparts to Kitai about controlling one’s response to perilous situations.
• Cypher Raige: “We are all telling ourselves a story, and that day mine changed.” – Cypher reflects on a pivotal moment when he redefined his relationship with fear.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $130,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $60,522,097
• Worldwide Gross: $243,611,982

💥 After Earth Reviews

Personal Review

I remember being so excited for this movie because, hey, Will Smith in a sci-fi adventure! But honestly, it fell so flat. Jaden just couldn’t carry the emotional weight, and the whole ‘fear is a choice’ thing felt really heavy-handed. Visually, it looked cool, but the story was so predictable. The scene with the bird sacrificing itself was somewhat touching. Overall, it’s a movie I really wanted to like, but just couldn’t.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Will Smith”
  • “Viewers interested in father-son relationship dramas”
  • “Those seeking a simple survival story with sci-fi elements”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Intense action violence”
  • “Creature attacks”
  • “Themes of fear and loss”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “A sterile, humorless adventure, After Earth strands Will and Jaden Smith in a humorless sci-fi scenario, and Jaden struggles to carry the film. It lacks the visual flair needed to elevate its derivative plot.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “After Earth is a sci-fi dud that fails to launch, weighed down by wooden performances and a predictable plot. Shyamalan seems to have lost his way, delivering a film devoid of suspense or originality.
• IGN: “After Earth is a dull, uninspired sci-fi adventure, elevated slightly by some decent visuals, but ultimately crushed by a weak script and Jaden Smith’s unconvincing performance.

Audience Reactions

Some viewers appreciated the film’s themes of overcoming fear and the father-son relationship.: Those who enjoyed it mentioned liking the visual effects and the overall message.

Overall Consensus: After Earth is largely considered a critical and commercial failure, criticized for its weak plot, Jaden Smith’s acting, and M. Night Shyamalan’s direction. Despite some praise for its visual elements, it’s generally viewed as a disappointing sci-fi adventure.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Will Smith originally conceived the story and personally coached his son Jaden Smith during filming.”
• “M. Night Shyamalan focused primarily on the visual aspects of the film, including shot composition and design.”
• “The film’s altered future Earth landscape CGI depicts South America split in half and North Africa connected to the East Coast of North America, showcasing massive tectonic movements.”

🖥️ How to Watch After Earth?

After Earth is available for streaming or purchase on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable or satellite options. It’s also available on demand through some providers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed After Earth, you might like these similar films:

• Oblivion (2013): Shares the post-apocalyptic Earth setting and themes of survival and rediscovering a lost world.
• I Am Legend (2007): Features a lone survivor navigating a hostile, evolved Earth environment after a cataclysmic event.
• The Day After Tomorrow (2004): The story focuses on a father and son working together to survive a global disaster.
• Battlefield Earth (2000): Explores a post-apocalyptic Earth where humanity struggles against an alien force.

🛒 After Earth Related Products

• After Earth: The Official Movie Novelization: Relive the adventure with the official novelization, providing deeper insights into the story and characters. Expand your collection with this rare novelization.
• After Earth Movie Poster: A high-quality print of the original movie poster, perfect for displaying your interest in the film.
• Will Smith Collection (DVD): This is the opportunity to get all of the best Will Smith titles in one set and see one of the greatest actors in movie history.
• Earth: The Biography: An Unofficial Guide to the Science and History of Our Planet: Dive deep into the history and geography of Earth and discover all the intricacies of the planet. This book is great for science nerds.

🎧 Soundtrack

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

• “Theme from After Earth” – performed by James Newton Howard
• “Abandoned Earth” – performed by James Newton Howard
• “Kitai Returns” – performed by James Newton Howard

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Honest Trailers – After Earth

Prepare for a hilarious ride as ‘Honest Trailers’ gives us their unfiltered and witty take on ‘After Earth.’ Get ready to laugh, cringe, and wonder how this movie came to be.

YMS: After Earth (Part 2)

For a deep dive into ‘After Earth,’ check out this fantastic review by YMS. He dissects the film’s every aspect, leaving no stone unturned. Get ready for an insightful and entertaining analysis.

After Earth Pitch Meeting

Step into the hilarious ‘Pitch Meeting’ for ‘After Earth.’ Get ready for a side-splitting look at how this movie may have come to fruition, complete with ridiculous ideas and witty commentary.

✨ Rate