Skylines

Skylines

Year: 2020

Runtime: 113 min

Language: English

Director: Liam O'Donnell

Echo Score: 60
ActionAdventureSci-Fi

When a deadly virus threatens humanity, Captain Rose Corley leads an expedition to a distant planet seeking a potential cure. There, they encounter hybrid aliens who may hold the key to survival. Facing interstellar dangers and complex political alliances, the crew embarks on a desperate mission to prevent a catastrophic intergalactic event that could extinguish the remnants of Earth.

Skylines (2020) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Skylines (2020) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a near‑future where a relentless virus has pushed humanity to the brink, the remnants of Earth cling to survival amid crumbling cities and strained alliances. The sky is forever tinged with the amber glow of distant orbital stations, and the desperate search for a cure has become the world’s single, unifying obsession. Technology flickers between the salvaged and the experimental, casting a cold, clinical light over a society that has learned to value every breath as a precious commodity.

Leading the charge against this looming extinction is Rose Corley, a seasoned captain whose resolve is as sharp as the stars she charts. Hardened by loss yet driven by a fierce hope, she commands a crew of specialists who share her willingness to risk everything for a chance at redemption. Their mission—venturing beyond the familiar constellations to a remote world rumored to hold the key to humanity’s survival—places them at the edge of known space, where the vacuum feels like a living entity waiting to test their resolve.

The destination, an uncharted planet bathed in perpetual twilight, teems with enigmatic hybrid beings. These alien‑human amalgams hint at a fragile balance between curiosity and danger, their very existence suggesting that salvation may lie in unexpected cooperation. As the expedition navigates the planet’s alien landscapes, subtle political currents swirl, pulling the crew into a network of uneasy truces and hidden agendas that mirror the fractured state of Earth itself.

The film’s tone blends stark, gritty realism with moments of awe‑inspiring wonder, inviting the audience to feel the weight of the universe pressing in on the characters while also glimpsing the fragile beauty of hope. Against a backdrop of interstellar peril, Rose Corley and her team embody the restless spirit of those who dare to venture into the unknown, holding fast to the belief that somewhere, amidst alien horizons, a cure—and a future—await.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 01:00

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Gritty survival sci-fi movies like Skylines

Desperate missions in hostile alien worlds where every choice has a heavy cost.If you enjoyed the desperate survival mission and hostile alien world of Skylines, this list features similar movies with high-stakes action, tense pacing, and a heavy emotional weight. Discover other films where characters fight for their lives against overwhelming odds in bleak futuristic settings.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives often begin with a crisis that forces a group or individual into a fight for survival in a dangerous, unfamiliar environment. The plot is driven by a cascade of immediate physical threats, requiring quick thinking and often sacrifice. The journey is less about discovery and more about enduring against relentless adversity to achieve a narrowly-defined goal.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped together by their shared atmosphere of desperation, high-intensity action, and the core theme of survival against overwhelming alien or futuristic threats. The pacing is fast, the tone is consistently tense, and the worlds feel oppressive and hostile, creating a cohesive experience of gritty sci-fi conflict.

Epic and morally complex sci-fi movies similar to Skylines

Large-scale interstellar conflicts intertwined with deep personal guilt and redemption.For viewers who liked the large-scale conflict and deep emotional themes in Skylines, this section collects films that blend epic sci-fi action with complex moral dilemmas. Find movies with intricate politics, heavy emotional weight, and characters seeking redemption amidst interstellar war.

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Narrative Summary

The plot structures are complex, weaving together large-scale political or military conflicts with intimate character arcs centered on guilt, redemption, and the definition of humanity. Flashbacks and hidden agendas are common, forcing protagonists to confront their past while navigating a web of alliances and betrayals that determine the fate of civilizations.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific blend of high-concept sci-fi plotting and deeply personal, emotionally heavy character journeys. They are united by themes of genocide, moral ambiguity, found family, and the psychological weight of leadership in a crisis, creating a demanding but cohesive viewing experience.

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Skylines Summary

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Skylines Summary

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Skylines Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Skylines

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Skylines

More About Skylines

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Discover movies like Skylines 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.