Life

Life

Year: 2017

Runtime: 104 min

Language: Spanish

Director: Daniel Espinosa

Budget: $58M

Sci-FiThrillerHorror

A team of astronauts aboard the International Space Station makes a groundbreaking discovery: evidence of life on Mars. Bringing the specimen back to the station, they hope to unlock the secrets of its existence. However, they soon find that this extraterrestrial organism is not only alive but also possesses a mysterious intelligence, and its presence poses a growing threat to the crew.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Life yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Life (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Life (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events of 'Life' unfold in a contemporary setting as space technology reflects today's advancements. This time period is characterized by international cooperation in space exploration, as seen through the diverse crew aboard the ISS and their ambitious scientific endeavors.

Location

International Space Station (ISS)

The International Space Station (ISS) is a large spacecraft orbiting Earth, known for its research in microgravity and international collaboration among space agencies. In the film 'Life', the ISS serves as the primary setting for the crew's groundbreaking yet perilous encounter with extraterrestrial life, making it a critical location for human exploration.

🛰️ Space Station 🪐 Outer Space

Last Updated: December 24, 2024 at 10:01

Main Characters – Life (2017)

Meet the key characters of Life (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Rory Adams (Ryan Reynolds)

Rory Adams is an engineer and astronaut aboard the ISS, characterized by his bravery and quick thinking in critical situations. He risks his life to capture the returning capsule and later tries to confront the alien organism that threatens the crew's safety.

👨‍🚀 Astronaut 🔧 Engineer 🦸‍♂️ Hero

Hugh Derry

Hugh Derry is an exobiologist who brings the alien organism to life by experimenting on it. His emotional attachment to the creature complicates his judgment, leading to severe consequences as he navigates the fine line between scientific curiosity and danger.

🧑‍🔬 Scientist 💔 Emotionally Attached 🔍 Curious

David Jordan (Jake Gyllenhaal)

David Jordan is a physician and astronaut who displays strong leadership throughout the crisis. As the situation escalates, he prioritizes the crew's survival and makes significant sacrifices to ensure the safety of Miranda and himself.

👨‍⚕️ Doctor 🚀 Leader 🦸‍♂️ Survivor

Miranda North (Rebecca Ferguson)

Miranda North serves as the quarantine officer and exemplifies calmness and determination under pressure. She makes critical decisions regarding the crew's chance of survival and plays a key role in the ultimate battle against Calvin.

🔬 Quarantine Officer 🚀 Determined ⚖️ Ethical

Katerina Golovkina

Katerina Golovkina is the mission commander whose cool-headed nature is tested in the face of life-threatening events. Her strong leadership is crucial as she manages the crew amidst the unfolding chaos on the ISS.

👩‍🚀 Commander 🔧 Resourceful 🛡️ Protector

Sho Murakami (Hiroyuki Sanada)

Sho Murakami is the pilot of the ISS, known for his technical skills and ability to navigate complex situations. His resilience and quick thinking during the crew's dire circumstances highlight his importance to their survival efforts.

👨‍✈️ Pilot ⚙️ Technical Skills 🦸‍♂️ Resilient

Last Updated: December 24, 2024 at 10:01

Major Themes – Life (2017)

Explore the central themes of Life (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👾 Extraterrestrial Life

The search for extraterrestrial life serves as a central theme in 'Life', wherein the discovery of a living organism from Mars raises profound ethical and existential questions. The film explores humanity's curiosity towards the unknown and the potential dangers that come with contact with unfamiliar life forms.

🔬 Science and Experimentation

Science plays a pivotal role in 'Life', showcasing the challenges and triumphs of scientific inquiry. The crew's experiments on the alien organism raise vital discussions about the responsibilities of scientists and the unforeseen consequences of pushing scientific boundaries.

⚠️ Survival

Survival is a dominant theme as the crew grapples with the consequences of their discovery. The tension escalates when they must confront a rapidly evolving threat, forcing them to make difficult decisions about survival against both the alien creature and the harsh environment of space.

Last Updated: December 24, 2024 at 10:01

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Creature Thrillers in Confined Spaces like Life

Stories where a brilliant, adaptive creature turns a confined setting into a deadly trap.If you liked the terrifyingly smart alien in Life, explore more movies like it. This section features similar sci-fi and horror stories where an intelligent creature threat turns a confined location—like a spaceship or research station—into a lethal maze. These films share a tense, claustrophobic vibe and high-stakes survival horror.

claustrophobicanxiousdesperatesurvival horrortensescientific hubrisdeadly intelligent foe

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically begin with a scientific discovery that quickly spirals out of control. The central conflict revolves around containment failure, as the creature demonstrates unforeseen intelligence and adaptability. The plot is a race against time, often following a linear structure of escalating encounters where each attempt to outsmart or destroy the threat fails, leading to a high body count and a sense of inevitable doom.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared core premise: an intelligent antagonist in a confined space. They create a specific kind of tension that blends sci-fi curiosity with visceral horror, focusing on the hubris of confronting the unknown and the fragility of human ingenuity under extreme pressure.

Movies with Bleak Endings and Hopeless Survival like Life

Narratives where survival efforts are futile and endings offer little to no hope.For viewers who appreciated the devastatingly bleak ending of Life, this section collects other films with a similarly hopeless tone. Discover movies like Life where the characters' fight for survival is ultimately in vain, resulting in sad or ambiguous endings. These are heavy, intense viewing experiences focused on grim outcomes.

bleakgrimdespairfutile struggleheavydread-filledfatalistichopeless

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a group or individual facing an overwhelming threat. While there are moments of potential victory or escape, each is systematically undone. The story arc is a downward spiral, emphasizing that some forces or situations are unconquerable. The ending typically confirms the worst fears, often with the threat persisting or the protagonists meeting a grim fate despite their struggles.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their uncompromisingly bleak outlook and emotional heaviness. They explore themes of futility and the indifference of the universe (or a monstrous threat), providing a cathartic, if distressing, experience for viewers drawn to stories without easy resolutions or happy endings.

Unlock the Full Story of Life

Don't stop at just watching — explore Life in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Life is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Life Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Life, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Life Summary

Life Timeline

Track the full timeline of Life with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Life Timeline

Life Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Life that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Life Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Life

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Life: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Life

Similar Movies to Life

Discover movies like Life that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.