Sunshine
Movie, 2007, The Far Future, Set in 2057
Sunshine is #9 of 18 in release order and #16 of 18 in chronological order in the Space Movies.
The story
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.
Sunshine recap
In 2057, the Sun is dying, and the crew of the Icarus II carry a nuclear bomb the size of Manhattan to reignite it; the first Icarus vanished seven years earlier. Capa, the physicist, is the only one who can arm the bomb. The crew hear the distress beacon of Icarus I, and Capa recommends going to it for a second payload. A course change made in the process damages the heat shield, and Captain Kaneda burns to death repairing it. The garden that provides their oxygen is destroyed, and Icarus I turns out to have been sabotaged by its captain, Pinbacker, who decided God wanted the Sun to die. The airlock connecting the ships fails, leaving Capa, Mace and the navigator Cassie to cross space without suits.
Sunshine ending explained
Pinbacker, horribly burned and still alive, has boarded Icarus II and kills crew members to stop the mission. Capa detaches the payload, rides it toward the Sun with Pinbacker aboard, and arms the bomb by hand. As the Sun's fire engulfs him, he reaches out to touch it. On Earth, his sister and her children see the Sun brighten.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Sunshine
Sunshine is streaming on Prime Video in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes 77%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Space Cowboys, before Moon.
- Chronological order: after Event Horizon, before Interstellar.
Cast
- Cillian Murphy as Capa
- Rose Byrne as Cassie
- Chris Evans as Mace
- 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
- Archie Macdonald as Child
- Sylvie Macdonald as Child
Directed by Danny Boyle.