Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Ryan Gosling floating in space in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Ryan Gosling's space odyssey wows in final trailer for cosmic sci-fi thriller Project Hail Mary, but Rocky is the real MVP
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary review: "Large scale sci-fi with tons of heart"
Colin Firth in Disclosure Day
Sci-Fi Movies Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day gets a new trailer full of alien tech, psychic powers, and more weirdness
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary directors think it was important to make sure their end of the world sci-fi drama was funny
Disclosure Day
Animated Movies Steven Spielberg is at his unsettling best in Disclosure Day's Super Bowl trailer
Alan Ritchson as 81 in War Machine
Sci-Fi Movies War Machine director says practical FX was "paramount" to make the sci-fi action movie feel as real as possible
The giant robot villain of Netflix's War Machine charging up an energy blast
Sci-Fi Movies The first trailer for Netflix's War Machine channels Predator vibes as Reacher star takes on an unstoppable killer robot
Godzilla in Godzilla Minus One
Sci-Fi Movies The 10 best sci-fi movies on Netflix to watch right now
Ryan Gosling floating in space in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary first reactions are calling the Ryan Gosling sci-fi movie a "must-see space odyssey"
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Lord and Miller explain how their work on the Spider-Verse movies inspired their new sci-fi film Project Hail Mary
Matt Damon as Odysseus in armour in The Odyssey
Drama Movies Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey release date, cast, trailer, plot, and everything else we know
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary debuts to near-perfect 96% Rotten Tomatoes score
Amanda Seyfried as Ann Lee in The Testament of Ann Lee
Drama Movies 2026 may be the year of Marvel blockbusters, but I can't wait for these 6 movies that might not be on your watchlist yet
The Boroughs
Sci-Fi Shows New Netflix sci-fi series from the Duffer Brothers about aliens at a retirement home gets first look and release date
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Frozen star Josh Gad says Ryan Gosling sci-fi movie Project Hail Mary is the "first masterpiece" of 2026
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Comedy Movies
  4. elysium

Full synopsis for Neill Blomkamp's Elysium

News
By George Wales published 15 June 2012

The District 9 director returns

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Elysium , Neill Blomkamp's first feature since District 9 , has been on the slate for quite some time, but up until now, the director has kept plot details very close to his chest.

All we've had to go on thus far is that the film is another sci-fi, with Matt Damon playing the leading role (for which he can be seen sporting a shaven head) and Jodie Foster appearing as the head of an off-world state.

However, that's all about to change with the release of a new synopsis that gives a full and thorough outline of what we can expect from the director's sophomore feature.

"In the year 2159 two classes of people exist," begins the blurb. "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 (Jodie Foster), a hard 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 (Matt Damon) 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 polarised worlds."

It sounds as though Blomkamp will be exploring similar themes to those dealt with by District 9 , using a sci-fi backdrop to kick-start a socio-political discussion about the haves and have-nots of this world. That said, we're sure there will be plenty of action in there too! Elysium will open in the UK on 1 March 2013.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
Netflix Amazon Prime Video Streaming Services
George Wales
George Wales
Social Links Navigation

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.

Read more
Ryan Gosling floating in space in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Ryan Gosling's space odyssey wows in final trailer for cosmic sci-fi thriller Project Hail Mary, but Rocky is the real MVP
 
 
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary review: "Large scale sci-fi with tons of heart"
 
 
Colin Firth in Disclosure Day
Sci-Fi Movies Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day gets a new trailer full of alien tech, psychic powers, and more weirdness
 
 
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary directors think it was important to make sure their end of the world sci-fi drama was funny
 
 
Disclosure Day
Animated Movies Steven Spielberg is at his unsettling best in Disclosure Day's Super Bowl trailer
 
 
Alan Ritchson as 81 in War Machine
Sci-Fi Movies War Machine director says practical FX was "paramount" to make the sci-fi action movie feel as real as possible
 
 
Latest in Comedy Movies
Glen Powell as Becket in How to Make a Killing
Comedy Movies How to Make a Killing is Glen Powell's latest mid-budget movie, and I hope he never stops making them
 
 
Community
Comedy Movies Community movie got "very close" to filming, but one star's schedule caused a delay
 
 
Coyote Vs ACME
Comedy Movies Coyote vs. Acme star felt "white hot anger" at the Looney Tunes live-action movie being shelved
 
 
Ghostface waggling a knife while on a subway car in the trailer for Scary Movie 6
Comedy Movies Scary Movie 6 trailer takes a stab at modern horror – and none of your favorites are safe
 
 
Shorty (Marlon Wayans) streaming in Scary Movie 6
Comedy Movies Scary Movie 6 may skewer Gen Z and play the hits, but it's not nostalgia bait
 
 
Ghostface in a parody of The Substance in Scary Movie 6
Comedy Movies Scary Movie 6 "joke scientist" Marlon Wayans is taking a different approach to the horror spoof's humor
 
 
Latest in News
Palworld Official Card Game
Survival Games Palworld lead was "super excited" for Blizzard's AAA survival game, but it's about time someone tries again
 
 
Key art for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, showing the hero standing in front of a flaming logo oblivion gate
The Elder Scrolls Todd Howard wanted Bethesda's original RPGs to be playable before worrying about remasters: "You can play Morrowind"
 
 
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing Yasuke kneeling and praying while wearing a traditional purple robe
Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed Shadows lead is simply "proud" the game launched because "shipping a game nowadays is a small miracle"
 
 
Screenshot from Minecraft Dungeons 2's reveal trailer, showing a bunch of villagers standing around a blocky village.
Minecraft Minecraft Dungeons 2 takes another stab at Mojang's surprisingly great Diablo-inspired RPG spin-off later this year
 
 
Palworld
Survival Games "We have no desire to be a media empire," says Palworld publishing head but Pocketpair would be stupid to let it die out
 
 
Protagonist Jordan in a screenshot from the reveal trailer for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
The Last of Us Neil Druckmann's teasing the return of a The Last of Us actor in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Palworld Official Card Game
    1
    Palworld lead was "super excited" for Blizzard's AAA survival game, but it's about time someone tries again
  2. 2
    Todd Howard wanted Bethesda's original RPGs to be playable before worrying about remasters: "You can play Morrowind"
  3. 3
    Assassin's Creed Shadows lead is simply "proud" the game launched because "shipping a game nowadays is a small miracle"
  4. 4
    Baldur's Gate 3 writer says the RPG's reputation system exists as Larian can't just let players "break" party members
  5. 5
    Resident Evil has shaped survival horror as we know it – and the next decade will be the proving ground

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...