Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets has built a real following in Australia on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 8,089 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Dane DeHaan anchors it with a performance that grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Start it on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is worth clearing space for. What makes Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. In the 28th century, Valerian and Laureline are special operatives charged with keeping order throughout the human territories. On assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two undertake a mission to Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis where species from across the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence, and cultures. At the center of Alpha is a mysterious dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe. The human element stays intact thanks to Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne, who anchor every scene. It hit screens in 2017. The rules of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Dane DeHaan's performance is the anchor the more ambitious moments need. The world-building pays off in ways you will not anticipate on a first watch.