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Passengers (2016) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Passengers (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 116 min · English
Directed by
Morten Tyldum
Starring
Andy Garcia, Chris Pratt, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Sheen, Jennifer Lawrence
Budget
$110M

Aboard a spacecraft carrying colonists to a distant planet, a system malfunction prematurely awakens passengers Aurora and Jim from their cryogenic sleep. Stranded and with no clear explanation for the incident, they face unexpected challenges as they work to uncover the cause of the disruption. As they navigate the ensuing chaos and the ship's precarious condition, an unlikely romance blossoms between them, complicated by the dangers surrounding their survival and the mysteries they must resolve.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Passengers
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Passengers (2016)

Where can you watch Passengers? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Xumo Play, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Passengers Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Passengers (2016), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Jim Preston (Chris Pratt)

    Jim is a mechanical engineer who faces immense challenges upon waking up alone on the Avalon. His journey reflects a mix of vulnerability and bravery as he seeks human connection and grapples with ethical decisions. Despite his initial isolation, Jim evolves into a courageous figure willing to risk everything for love and survival.

    • 👨‍🔧 Engineer
    • 💔 Loneliness
    • 🚀 Hero
  • Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence)

    Aurora is portrayed as witty and warm, embodying both strength and vulnerability as she navigates her unexpected awakening. Her relationship with Jim is central to her character arc, as she struggles with betrayal and ultimately chooses to embrace love and uncertainty. Aurora's tenacity shines through as she grapples with her new reality.

    • 🌟 Optimist
    • 💞 Love
    • 👩‍🚀 Explorer
  • Arthur (Michael Sheen)

    Arthur is an android bartender who serves as Jim's only companion during his year of isolation. He provides humor and insight, often acting as a sounding board for Jim's thoughts and dilemmas. His character adds a unique dimension to the film, exploring themes of artificial intelligence and the nature of companionship.

    • 🤖 Android
    • 🍹 Bartender
    • 🗨️ Wise
  • Gus (Laurence Fishburne)

    Gus, the Chief Deck Officer, is a pivotal character who brings hope and critical information to the story. His awakening changes the dynamics for Jim and Aurora, as he provides access to the ship's critical systems. Gus's deteriorating condition adds urgency to their mission, highlighting the human cost of their journey.

    • 👨‍✈️ Officer
    • 💔 Sacrifice
    • 🚨 Urgency

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:38

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Setting

Where and When Does Passengers Take Place?

The setting of Passengers (2016): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

120 years, Future

The movie spans a future time period where humanity is attempting to escape the catastrophic effects of ecological disaster. It reflects themes of isolation and survival over a lengthy journey of 120 years in space, as characters grapple with the consequences of their choices and the implications of living in a confined environment far from home.

Location

Avalon, Homestead II, Earth

The starship Avalon serves as the main setting, representing the hope for humanity's survival beyond Earth, which is facing ecological collapse. Homestead II, the destination, is a lush and vibrant planet, symbolizing a new beginning filled with nature's wonders. Earth, in contrast, is depicted as a dying world suffering from ecocide, setting the stage for the colonization journey.

  • 🚀 Space Travel
  • 🌌 Sci-Fi

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:38

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3 major themes

Passengers Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Passengers (2016) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love

    At its core, the film explores the theme of love in extraordinary circumstances. The budding relationship between Jim and Aurora serves as a testament to human connection amid isolation and despair. Their love blossoms against the backdrop of dire challenges, illustrating the power of companionship even in the darkest times.

  • Survival

    Survival is a central theme as characters must navigate the complexities of isolation and the threats posed by the failing ship. Jim and Aurora's struggle against the ship's malfunctions highlights human resilience and innovation. Their fight to survive becomes a race against time and fate, showcasing the will to live against overwhelming odds.

  • Isolation

    Isolation pervades the narrative as Jim initially wakes up alone on the ship for a year. The theme delves into the psychological effects of solitude and the longing for companionship. Aurora's awakening adds a layer of complexity to this isolation, as both characters must navigate their feelings and ethical dilemmas in a confined space.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:38

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Character & theme questions

Passengers Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Passengers (2016): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Passengers set?

Passengers is set aboard the starship Avalon, a massive spacecraft carrying thousands of colonists in cryogenic sleep to the distant planet Homestead II. The ship serves as the primary setting for almost the entire film, representing humanity's last hope for survival after Earth suffers catastrophic ecological collapse.

  • starship
  • avalon
  • homestead ii
  • spaceship setting
  • space travel
Q2

When does Passengers take place?

Passengers is set in the distant future, during a 120-year journey through space. The story takes place aboard the Avalon as it travels from a dying Earth suffering from severe ecocide to the planet Homestead II, where humanity hopes to start fresh.

  • future
  • 120 years
  • space journey
  • time period
  • ecological collapse
Q3

Why are the passengers traveling to Homestead II?

The colonists are traveling to Homestead II because Earth is dying from severe ecological damage and ecocide. The planet is depicted as a dying world, and Homestead II represents humanity's only hope for survival, offering a lush and vibrant new beginning.

  • homestead ii
  • earth
  • colonization
  • ecological collapse
  • dying planet
Q4

What are the main themes of Passengers?

Passengers explores three interconnected themes: Love, as Jim and Aurora form a deep connection amid isolation; Survival, as they struggle against the failing ship and race against time; and Isolation, which defines their experience being stranded alone on the vessel and shapes their psychological journey.

  • love
  • survival
  • isolation
  • themes
  • human connection
Q5

What does the movie say about love in Passengers?

The film presents love as a powerful force that can emerge even in extraordinary and dire circumstances. The relationship between Jim and Aurora demonstrates that human connection and companionship can provide meaning and hope even when facing isolation, betrayal, and uncertain odds.

  • love
  • romance
  • jim aurora relationship
  • human connection
Q6

How does Passengers explore isolation?

Isolation is a central theme, particularly through Jim's experience of waking up alone on the Avalon for an entire year before Aurora awakens. The film delves into the psychological toll of solitude and the ethical dilemmas that arise when isolated individuals must make life-altering decisions.

  • isolation
  • solitude
  • psychological effects
  • loneliness
  • confinement
Q7

Who is Jim Preston in Passengers?

Jim Preston is a mechanical engineer who becomes the first passenger to wake up prematurely on the Avalon. He spends a year in isolation before awakening Aurora, and his journey reflects a transformation from vulnerability to bravery as he seeks connection and fights for survival and love.

  • jim preston
  • chris pratt
  • main character
  • mechanical engineer
Q8

Who is Aurora Lane in Passengers?

Aurora Lane is a witty and warm passenger who wakes up prematurely alongside Jim. Her character embodies both strength and vulnerability as she grapples with the shocking reality of her awakening and the complex ethical situation Jim's decision created. Her arc involves navigating betrayal and ultimately choosing love and uncertainty.

  • aurora lane
  • jennifer lawrence
  • main character
  • writer
Q9

Who is Arthur in Passengers?

Arthur is an android bartender aboard the Avalon who becomes Jim's only companion during his year of isolation. He provides humor, insight, and acts as a sounding board for Jim's thoughts and ethical dilemmas. His character explores themes of artificial intelligence and the nature of companionship.

  • arthur
  • android
  • michael sheen
  • bartender
  • companion
Q10

Who is Gus in Passengers?

Gus is the Chief Deck Officer of the Avalon, portrayed by Laurence Fishburne. His awakening becomes pivotal to the story as he provides access to the ship's critical systems. Gus's deteriorating health adds urgency to the survival mission and highlights the human cost of their journey.

  • gus
  • chief deck officer
  • laurence fishburne
  • ship systems
Q11

What is the tone of Passengers?

Passengers has a bittersweet tone. The central romance is built on a traumatic deception, but ultimately evolves into genuine love and sacrifice. The emotional weight comes from themes of isolation and a life confined to the ship, balanced by the redemptive arc and the characters' choice of companionship over loneliness.

  • tone
  • bittersweet
  • emotional
  • romance
  • sacrifice

Movie threads

More Movies Like Passengers, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Passengers tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with moral survival dilemmas like Passengers

Stories where survival in isolation forces characters to confront profound moral choices. If you liked the ethical quandary at the heart of Passengers, explore these movies that similarly place characters in extreme isolation where survival hinges on difficult, often controversial, moral decisions. These films blend high-stakes survival with deep philosophical questions about humanity.

  • ethical dilemma
  • claustrophobic
  • survivalist
  • tense
  • contemplative
  • lonely
  • Tone: tense, contemplative, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern typically involves characters becoming isolated, either physically or socially, facing a life-or-death situation. A central moral violation or dilemma defines the story, forcing the protagonist and the audience to grapple with questions of right and wrong under duress, often leading to a redemption arc or a bittersweet resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on the intersection of survival and ethics. They create a tense, contemplative mood where the biggest threat is often the choice a character must make, resulting in a medium to high emotional weight and a steady, character-driven pace.

Bittersweet crisis romances similar to Passengers

Love stories that blossom under extreme pressure, leading to a bittersweet but meaningful resolution. Fans of the complex, survival-born romance in Passengers will appreciate these movies where love stories are forged in fire. These films feature couples brought together by extreme circumstances, leading to deep connections that are tested by danger and often result in a poignant, bittersweet ending.

  • romantic
  • bittersweet
  • tense
  • survivalist
  • forced proximity
  • sacrifice
  • Tone: bittersweet, romantic, tense
  • Pacing: steady, emotional build
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows two characters who are forced together by a catastrophic or high-pressure event. Their romance develops alongside their struggle to survive, with the external threat constantly testing their bond. The relationship is often built on a foundation of shared trauma, leading to an ending that is hopeful yet scarred, affirming the connection but acknowledging the cost.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their specific blend of romance and survival drama, where the relationship's evolution is the emotional core of a high-stakes plot. They share a bittersweet tone, a steady pacing that allows the relationship to develop organically, and a medium to heavy emotional weight stemming from high romance and sadness scores.

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Movies Like Passengers

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Every angle

Passengers (2016) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Passengers in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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