ONE OF THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION FILMS OF THE CENTURY IS ON BBC IPLAYER FOR A LIMITED TIME
One of the most acclaimed science fiction films of the century is currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer, but viewers should act quickly to catch it.
Directed and co-written by Alfonso Cuarón in 2006, Children of Men has been widely praised as a dystopian thriller masterpiece.
Based on PD James' 1992 novel, the film is set in a 2027 London where society teeters on the edge of collapse due to widespread infertility.
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Boasting an all-star cast, including Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Charlie Hunnam, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Pam Ferris, Children of Men received widespread critical acclaim upon its release.
With a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Cuarón's film earned three Academy Award nominations - Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing - as well as three BAFTA nods, ultimately taking home Best Cinematography and Best Production Design at the British awards ceremony, reports the Daily Record.
Although the film underperformed at the global box office, grossing around $70 million on a $76 million budget, its critical reception was exceptional.
Critics lavished praise on Cuarón, with one stating: "A film that has much to recommend it, not least the proof it offers, as if any more were needed, that Alfonso Cuarón is one of the most visually inspired directors working today," while another added: "Alfonso Cuarón proves again what a versatile and talented director he is."
One review reads: "Children of Men feels more relevant than almost every film set in the present day and is better than almost every other film made this year," while another critic penned: "You feel as if you're accompanying a war photographer who's lost a bet. Slogging unflinchingly through humanity's worst hours, the movie laces the narrative's forays into science-fiction grandstanding with a gut-wrenching dynamic."
Audiences was equally captivated, with one viewer expressing: "Under the stunning direction of Alfonso Cuarón, Children of Men is a beautifully shot (fantastic one-take action sequences), incredibly acted and layered thriller that is packed with emotional depth and continuous suspense. There were a couple of elements that could have been handled with a little bit more flair, but all in all, this was a brilliant and hugely compelling film."
Another viewer believes the film has enduring appeal: "Alfonso Cuarón's dystopian vision of a world where women have stopped getting pregnant, and society is falling into despair in the absence of hope for the future, has lost none of its power from its original release - and is perhaps rightly now regarded as one of the best films of its era."
One reviewer enthused: "That it manages to be so prescient, so unflinchingly clear-eyed about the mess we're in, and still provide some genuine hope is remarkable. Truly standing the test of time nearly twenty years on, this looks set to remain one for future generations to revisit and mine for inspiration and insight."
A second praised the film's creator, saying: "This is an extraordinary artistic breakthrough from a Mexican director who was already fearlessly good to begin with."
2025-04-24T15:07:12Z
