John Carter

John Carter has built a real following in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 6,168 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Taylor Kitsch anchors it with a performance that grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

John Carter arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. What makes John Carter work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. John Carter is a war-weary, former military captain who's inexplicably transported to the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars) and reluctantly becomes embroiled in an epic conflict. It's a world on the brink of collapse, and Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands. The human element stays intact thanks to Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins, who anchor every scene. It was released in 2012. The rules of John Carter's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give John Carter a chance. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Taylor Kitsch anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.