One impressed critic described this lesser-known Netflix film as “science-fiction escapism at its very best”. The Wandering Earth is a Chinese sci-fi movie, loosely based on a short story by Liu Cixin, and first released back in 2019.
Set in space with a group of astronauts, the story shows the gripping mission these heroes are on to stop planet Earth from colliding with Jupiter. Many have praised the action movie for its lower-budget success and the Chinese filmmakers behind it for taking on Hollywood.
While some viewers felt the storyline was lacking, The Wandering Earth has film fans shocked by its jam-packed “incredible special effects”.
A critic’s statement on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “There’s nothing new on offer in The Wandering Earth, but it does prove that China is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to making the kind of silly big-budget blockbusters that have been peppered throughout Hollywood for the last few decades.”
Set in a futuristic world, the astronauts and other rescue workers join forces to guide the Earth away from the dangerously-expanding Sun. Together, they will encounter many difficulties, revisit their pasts, and feel desperation and hope. This is a story about uniting all humans to face enormous challenges, about strong feelings between fathers and sons, and most importantly, about hope in despair.
Another review states: “I liked it – good special effects and an ORIGINAL story. I think this is the only movie I’ve seen where the USA didn’t rescue the world; it was a group effect by humanity!”
While one viewer wrote: “I watched it five times. Each time it makes it more entertaining and more interesting. If you don’t have the life experience of Chinese heroism and/or training in Chinese mythology, you might have difficulty savouring the subtleties of the narrative.”
The film is not just popular with Netflix viewers but was also a box office success when it was released in 2019. The Wandering Earth hit cinemas over the Chinese New Year, earning £232 million in just six days, setting a new record for a Chinese film.
Summarising their thoughts, a review states: “The Wandering Earth isn’t especially deep, but it’s an explosive achievement of filmmaking.” Another critic wrote: “The Wandering Earth is definitely bold and silly, but when a film looks as gorgeous as this, it’s hard not to be mesmerised.”
Fans of the films were pleased to see a prequel titled The Wandering Earth 2, starring Andy Lau, released in January 2023. A third part is set to be released in 2027.
If you’re interested in watching the special effects in some ground-breaking Chinese cinema, The Wandering Earth is available to stream on Netflix now.