Eragon

Eragon is currently streaming in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus, and it earns its premise rather than just borrowing genre trappings. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 5/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Ed Speleers sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Eragon arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Eragon uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. In his homeland of Alagaesia, a farm boy happens upon a dragon's egg -- a discovery that leads him on a predestined journey where he realized he's the one person who can defend his home against an evil king. The human element stays intact thanks to Ed Speleers and Jeremy Irons, who anchor every scene. It was released in 2006. What separates Eragon from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Eragon genuinely rewarding. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Ed Speleers grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.