After crash landing on the long abandoned planet Earth, a young boy sets out to find a beacon that will save him and his dying father from doom.
A Sci-Fi Misfire with Family Drama
M. Night Shyamalan’s After Earth (2013) pairs Will Smith and son Jaden Smith in a futuristic survival tale plagued by wooden acting and clunky storytelling. Set in a post apocalyptic world where Earth is abandoned, the film follows young Kitai (Jaden) as he navigates hostile terrain to save his injured father, Cypher (Will). Despite its sleek visuals and ambitious premise, After Earth struggles to balance family drama with sci-fi thrills.
Plot & Pacing: Survival 101
A millennium after humans flee Earth, General Cypher Raige (Will Smith) crash lands on the now toxic planet with his son Kitai (Jaden). With Cypher immobilized, Kitai must retrieve a rescue beacon miles away while evading deadly creatures. The plot hinges on Kitai overcoming fear a theme hammered home with repetitive dialogue (“Danger is real. Fear is a choice”). At 100 minutes, the film drags during quiet moments but rushes key emotional beats.
Performances: Stiff & Stilted
Will Smith plays Cypher as a stoic, emotionless soldier, likely intentional but emotionally distant. Jaden struggles to carry the film, delivering lines with flat urgency. Their real life chemistry feels oddly absent, making their father son dynamic more akin to a stiff school project. Supporting roles (Zoë Kravitz as Kitai’s sister) add little depth.
Direction & World Building: Missed Potential
Shyamalan crafts a visually striking but hollow Earth lush forests, mutated fauna, and gravity defying eagles. The CGI “Ursa” creatures (blind predators sensing fear) intrigue but lack menace. Action scenes, like a baboon attack, thrill briefly but suffer from choppy editing. The director’s trademark twists are absent, replaced by predictable survival tropes.
Weaknesses: Script & Tone
The script lectures about courage and legacy but lacks subtlety. Cypher’s robotic advice (Take a knee) clashes with Kitai’s underdeveloped angst. World building details (future slang like ghosting) feel forced rather than organic.
Legacy & Awards
After Earth flopped critically and commercially but nabbed three awards (mostly technical). It’s now a cult curiosity for Shyamalan completists or fans of baffling blockbusters.
Final Verdict:
After Earth aims for The Revenant in space but lands closer to a forgettable B movie. While Jaden’s physical commitment impresses, the film’s stilted dialogue and lifeless pacing drain its potential. Stream it for unintentional laughs or as a cautionary tale of nepo projects gone awry.