It was one of the big surprise cinema hits of 2010 and is now even one of the best sci-fi films of all time: “District 9”. You don’t know the alien ripper yet? Then you can catch up on Nitro on May 16 at 10:05 p.m. Worth it!
Anyone who met “District 9” in 2010 with a certain skepticism did so with good reason. After all, the film was mainly advertised with “Lord of the Rings” maker Peter Jackson, who produced the science fiction film. And very often it doesn’t bode well if not the creative force behind a film, but the producer and financier is used as a figurehead – but director Neill Blomkamp was not known at that time either.
However, that changed abruptly (and was later underpinned by “Elysium” and “Chappie”): “District 9” not only grossed 210 million dollars and thus at least seven times its production costs, but was also refreshingly different and above all damn good. So good, in fact, that it ended up in numerous ranking lists of the best science fiction films – including here on DashFUN:
Ten years later, if you still haven’t seen (or would like to see again) the film, which also got four Oscar nominations at the time, you have the opportunity to do so tonight: District 9 airs May 24, 2022 at 10:05 p.m. on Nitro. Alternatively, you can currently simply watch the film on Netflix – provided you have subscribed to the streaming service.
What awaits you in “District 9”
After stranding on Earth a few years ago, the extraterrestrials were herded together in a detention center in Johannesburg – until living conditions there deteriorated so much that the authorities decided to relocate the camp to the wasteland to be on the safe side. As tensions between aliens and humans mount, Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) is tasked with ensuring a peaceful resettlement. But it doesn’t take long before the first clashes break out – and Wikus is infected with a strange alien liquid…
Not only does District 9 look damn good (it doesn’t look like it has a budget of just $30 million). Above all, it is exciting from start to finish – and not least thanks to its extraordinary setting, it stands out from classic Hollywood alien invasion scenarios. We give it 4 out of 5 stars and therefore a clear recommendation for all science fiction fans – who, by the way, can now look forward to a sequel after all these years.
Is District 9 2 Really Coming? Here’s what we know about District 10
After years of fans insisting on a sequel, which, in view of the finale of “District 9”, simply makes sense, “District 10” is actually making progress. As director Blomkamp only confirmed via Twitter in February 2021, the film will come after all. The screenplay, on which Sharlto Copley is also co-writing alongside “District 9” author Terri Tatchell, is currently in the works.
This is a re-release of an article that previously appeared on DashFUN, which we re-released for today’s TV broadcast.
