The starship Avalon, operated by the Homestead company, embarks on an incredible journey to transport over 5,000 colonists and 238 crew members to the planet Homestead II. This mission, aimed at ensuring humanity's survival amid the Ecocide and collapse of Earth's biosphere, will span an astonishing 120 years. All passengers and crew are placed in hibernation pods for the duration of the trip.
However, as the ship navigates a treacherous asteroid field, a catastrophic malfunction occurs due to a large piece of debris that breaches the ship's energy shield. This unexpected event leads to the premature awakening of Jim Preston, a mechanical engineer played by Chris Pratt, who finds himself alone—a full 90 years before his scheduled awakening.
Initially overwhelmed by his isolation, Jim discovers that he is the sole inhabitant of the ship as all other passengers remain in deeply frozen slumber. With a low-level ID badge limiting his access to essential ship areas, he finds himself trapped in a daunting situation where messages to Earth will take 19 years to arrive, and resetting his hibernation is not an option.
During his year alone, Jim manages to occupy his time by indulging in various activities such as playing video games, enjoying basketball, and spending time with Arthur, an android bartender voiced by Michael Sheen. Just as despair begins to creep in, Jim stumbles upon the enchanting Aurora Lane, portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence. Her profile reveals her witty personality as a writer, and Jim grapples with the moral implications of awakening her for companionship.
After much deliberation, he chooses to manually awaken Aurora, pretending her pod malfunctioned too. Faced with her new reality of potentially aging alone while still light-years from their destination, Aurora attempts to resume hibernation, only to realize she cannot. As they bond over shared experiences and adventures aboard the ship, their relationship evolves into a deep romance characterized by moments of laughter, joy, and excitement—including dinner dates and spaceside excursions.
Despite their happiness, challenges arise when Jim's secret about Aurora’s true awakening emerges. Heartbroken and feeling betrayed, Aurora confronts Jim, leading to intense emotional turmoil between them. As the ship encounters more severe malfunctions, the couple’s struggles mount, featuring a near-fatal incident for Aurora in the pool due to mechanical failures.
The arrival of Gus, played by Laurence Fishburne, brings new dynamics when he awakens from an emergency hibernation. Together with Jim and Aurora, they confront the grave issues threatening the ship’s systems, which reveal disastrous consequences if not addressed. With a poignant reminder that desperation can drive one to take drastic measures, Gus provides insights into Jim's choice to wake Aurora.
Amidst the chaos of broken systems and dwindling time, the trio must work to salvage the ship. Their journey brings them face-to-face with the harsh realities of survival. As they uncover the root cause of the ship's failures, Jim bravely engages in a perilous spacewalk to save the ship’s reactor from catastrophic failure, all while Aurora clings to the hope of not losing him.
With Jim ultimately saved from the vacuum of space, and the ship's power restored, they find solace in the emotional moments shared. Jim proposes to Aurora with a makeshift ring, promising a life together, while also considering her future. In a bittersweet turn, Aurora chooses to stay awake, and they together endure the remaining years aboard the Avalon.
Eventually, a staggering 88 years later, the passengers awaken just in time to see the lush landscapes and vibrant life awaiting them on Homestead II. A touching recording by Aurora echoes throughout the ship, chronicling the unexpected yet beautiful life she and Jim built together, as they embark on a new chapter in their shared existence.
