The Martian

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, The Martian is available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Philo right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 21,436 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Matt Damon 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.

There is a reason The Martian keeps coming up in conversation. The Martian treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain lead a cast that makes the ambitious moments land. It was released in 2015. The Martian resists the temptation to explain everything, trusting the audience to sit with ambiguity. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give The Martian a chance. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Matt Damon grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.