Jupiter Ascending

In the beginning of this captivating tale, the inhabitants of Earth are blissfully unaware of a cosmic truth: humanity, along with numerous other life forms across the universe, has been cultivated by trans-human and alien royalty for one sole purpose— the extraction of a youth serum for their elite counterparts on distant planets. Following the demise of the matriarch of the powerful House of Abrasax, a fierce power struggle ensues among her offspring—Balem (Eddie Redmayne), Kalique (Tuppence Middleton), and Titus (Douglas Booth). Balem comes into possession of a massive refinery on Jupiter while Titus intends to dismantle the nefarious youth serum industry, with Earth being the next target for harvesting.

The story unfolds through the eyes of Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis](/actor/mila-kunis)), who recounts her father’s encounter with her mother in Saint Petersburg. After the tragic death of her father, Maximilian (James D’Arcy), a victim of robbery, her mother names her Jupiter after his favored planet and relocates to Chicago with family. Years later, amidst a mundane routine of cleaning affluent neighbors’ homes alongside her mother and Aunt Nino (Frog Stone), Jupiter decides to sell her eggs to fund the purchase of a telescope. This leads her into a perilous encounter when extraterrestrial beings known as “Keepers” attack her and her friend Katharine Dunlevy (Vanessa Kirby). In a moment of desperation, Jupiter captures evidence of the attack, only for her memory of the event to be wiped clean.

During what should have been a routine egg donation, she discovers the doctors and nurses are actually agents of Balem, sent with the mission to eliminate her. Just in the nick of time, Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), a former soldier on a mission from Titus, intervenes to save her. Another ally joins their fight; Stinger Apini (Sean Bean), an ex-comrade of Caine’s who once served the Abrasax house but fell from grace. He informs Jupiter that she, too, bears royal lineage. Stinger offers assistance under Caine’s promise to restore his lost wings.

As the plot thickens with further attacks from the Keepers, a band of hunters rescues Jupiter and transports her to Kalique’s palace on a far-off planet. Here, Kalique unveils a stunning truth: Jupiter is genetically identical to the deceased matriarch, thus presenting her as the rightful heir to Earth. To make things even more intriguing, Kalique discloses her astonishing age of 14,004 years, attributing her longevity to the very youth serum harvested from worlds like Earth.

With support from Captain Diomika Tsing (Nikki Amuka-Bird) of the Aegis (an intergalactic enforcement agency), Caine courageously retrieves Jupiter from Kalique’s grasp to navigate her claim to her inheritance on Ores, the intergalactic capital. However, their voyage back to Earth is thwarted by Titus, who, with the assistance of a now-betraying Stinger, captures both Jupiter and Caine. Titus divulges his nefarious plot to marry Jupiter and then dispose of her to seize Earth, revealing the shocking truth that each serum unit is derived from the lives of 100 humans.

In a convoluted twist, he persuades Jupiter to marry him by claiming his life hinges on protection from his siblings, Balem and Kalique. But Caine, against all odds, survives the betrayal—thanks to Stinger’s redemption—and races to save Jupiter from her impending marriage. With a devastating showdown against Balem in his Jupiter refinery, Jupiter discovers that her consent is the key to Balem’s ability to “harvest” Earth. In an empowering moment of defiance, she refuses to comply, leading to a climactic battle where she ultimately triumphs.

As the dust settles, Jupiter’s family returns home, blissfully unaware of their perilous adventure while Jupiter holds onto the secret ownership of the Earth. In an endearing gesture, her family gifts her the telescope she long desired, and Caine is rewarded with a pair of wings, symbolizing his rebirth. The story culminates as the two share a romantic moment under the stars, embracing their destinies together.

In a thought-provoking conclusion during the credits, viewers are treated to a view of the universe’s planets swirling in endless DNA patterns, a reminder of the vast and insidious harvesting enterprise lurking in the cosmos.

Last Updated: November 02, 2024 at 11:40