Elysium (2013)
A man fights for survival on a ruined Earth while the wealthy live in bleak, pristine luxury above.
In the year 2159, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes, a hard line government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that, if successful, will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.
How intense is Elysium?
Elysium is mildly scary, with graphic gore and brutal violence. Emotionally it is heavy. The pace is brisk, and it is a full-attention watch. Rated R.
What Elysium feels like
- Tone
- grittybleaksuspensefulepic
- Pace
- Brisk
- Best for
- Full attention
Where to stream Elysium
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 13, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is Elysium for you?
Is Elysium scary?
Only a little. Elysium has a few tense moments (scare level 1 of 3), nothing that follows you to bed.
Is Elysium gory or violent?
Graphic gore (2 of 3) and brutal violence (3 of 3). If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.
Is Elysium sad or heavy?
It is emotionally heavy (2 of 3). Expect it to land.
Is Elysium OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 1, gore 2, violence 3, each out of 3.
How long is Elysium?
Elysium runs 1h 49m.
Where can I stream Elysium?
Elysium is streaming on Netflix.
Does Elysium have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
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