The Darkest Minds Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Kids get sick, get powers, and run from the government in a less confusing X-Men meets Hunger Games mashup, but with more teenage angst and less compelling storytelling.

🍿 The Darkest Minds: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The IAAN Virus and Emergence of Powers

A mysterious disease, IAAN, wipes out the majority of children, leaving only 2% of the younger population alive. These survivors begin to develop extraordinary abilities, leading to fear and government intervention. The surviving children are classified by color based on their abilities: Green (intelligence), Blue (telekinesis), Gold (electricity), Red and Orange (mind control).

Ruby’s Escape and Journey

Ruby Daly, one of the most powerful Oranges, possesses the ability to manipulate minds. To survive in a camp, she convinces officials she’s a Green. Eventually, Ruby escapes the camp with the help of Cate, a doctor involved with the Children’s League. She joins a group of other runaway teens, including Liam (a Blue), Chubs (a Green), and Zu (a Yellow).

Seeking Safe Haven

The group seeks EDO, a rumored safe haven for powered children. They encounter challenges and learn more about their abilities. They are also pursued by bounty hunters like Lady Jane. As they journey, they find out more about the Children’s League and their goals, blurring the lines between who can be trusted.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ruby Daly (Amandla Stenberg): A powerful Orange, Ruby struggles to control her mind manipulation abilities while fighting for her freedom and protecting her friends.
• Liam Stewart (Harris Dickinson): A Blue with telekinetic powers, Liam becomes Ruby’s love interest and a key member of their group, offering protection and loyalty.
• Chubs (Skylan Brooks): A Green with high intelligence, Chubs is the brains of the group, providing strategic thinking and technical expertise.
• Zu (Miya Cech): A Yellow with the ability to control electricity, Zu is a young and vulnerable member of the group who forms a strong bond with the others.
• Cate (Mandy Moore): A doctor and member of the Children’s League, Cate helps Ruby escape and guides her toward understanding her powers and fighting the government.
• Clancy Gray (Patrick Gibson): The President’s son and a fellow Orange, Clancy initially appears as an ally but is revealed to be a manipulative and dangerous antagonist.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Ruby Daly: “Soon there wouldn’t be any kids anywhere. The government wasn’t afraid of what happened to the ones that didn’t make it. They were afraid of us, because the ones that survived changed.” – Ruby reflects on the fear that the government has of the children with powers.
• Ruby Daly: “Sometimes when things get bad, really bad, you gotta believe that things are gonna get better.” – Ruby tries to reassure her friends that there is hope for a better future.
• Liam Stewart: “I’m not leaving you, Ruby.” – Liam expresses his strong loyalty and love for Ruby, refusing to abandon her in a difficult situation.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $34,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $12,695,691
• Worldwide Gross: $41,142,379

💥 The Darkest Minds Reviews

Personal Review

I wanted to love this movie! I am a huge fan of dystopian stories, but ‘The Darkest Minds’ felt like it was trying too hard to be like other successful franchises. The characters had potential, but their relationships felt rushed, and the ending left me wanting more in a disappointing way. I was intrigued by Ruby’s powers, but it wasn’t enough to save the film for me.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of young adult dystopian fiction”
  • “Viewers who enjoy stories about superpowers and rebellion”
  • “Those who like movies with strong female leads”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Teen romance”
  • “Themes of government control and oppression”
  • “Brief scenes depicting attempted rape (implied)”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “A derivative and uninspired dystopian drama that fails to capitalize on its intriguing premise, ‘The Darkest Minds’ suffers from weak character development and a predictable plot, leaving audiences underwhelmed.
• Common Sense Media: “Dystopian YA adaptation has violence, teen romance. The movie presents interesting ideas about power and control, but the execution falls flat.

Audience Reactions

The special effects were pretty cool, especially the powers the kids had!: Viewers appreciated the visual effects and the unique concept of the color-coded powers.

I really enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters, especially Ruby and Liam.: Some viewers liked the relationships between Ruby, Liam, Chubs and Zu and felt they saved the movie!

Overall Consensus: While some viewers found ‘The Darkest Minds’ entertaining with its special effects and character interactions, most found the movie derivative, uninspired, and ultimately disappointing.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Alexandra Bracken, the author of ‘The Darkest Minds’ book series, makes a cameo appearance as a nurse in the film.”
• “The movie was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia.”
• “Several reviewers compared The Darkest Minds to X-Men, Divergent, and The Hunger Games.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Darkest Minds?

The Darkest Minds is available for streaming on platforms like Hulu and fuboTV. You can also rent or purchase the movie on demand through Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable broadcast options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Darkest Minds, you might like these similar films:

• The Hunger Games (2012): Shares the dystopian young adult theme with a focus on rebellion against oppressive authority.
• Divergent (2014): Features a society divided into factions based on different attributes, similar to the color-coded powers in ‘The Darkest Minds’.
• X-Men: First Class (2011): Explores the themes of young people with powers being feared and persecuted by society.
• The Maze Runner (2014): Another young adult dystopian movie with a group of teenagers trying to survive in a dangerous world.

🛒 The Darkest Minds Related Products

• The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds, Book 1): The book that started it all! Dive deeper into Ruby’s world and experience the full story with all its nuances and details. A must-have for fans who want to understand the complete narrative.
• Funko Pop! Movies: The Darkest Minds – Ruby: A collectible vinyl figure of Ruby Daly, featuring her distinctive look from the movie. Perfect for displaying on shelves or desks and showing off your fandom.
• The Darkest Minds Movie Poster: High-quality print of the official movie poster, capturing the essence of the film’s dystopian world and main characters. Ideal for decorating bedrooms, home theaters, or dorm rooms.
• Dystopian Movie Collection (Digital Download): A collection of similar dystopian movies available for digital download. Hours of entertaiment!

🎧 Soundtrack

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

• “Miracles” – performed by Of Verona

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Darkest Minds | The Powers Behind the Darkest Minds | 20th Century FOX

Ever wondered how they brought those cool superpowers to life in ‘The Darkest Minds’? This behind-the-scenes video shows exactly how they did it, and honestly, it’s even more impressive than I thought!

I Watched *The Darkest Minds* Cause No One Else Did

Okay, so maybe ‘The Darkest Minds’ wasn’t a blockbuster, but this reviewer actually watched it and breaks down what works (and what really doesn’t). It’s a pretty funny take, and I think it hits the nail on the head with some of its criticisms.

✨ Rate