Children of Men
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.
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- R. SchmidtJanuary 4, 2026This film is a mirror held up to a sick society. Infertility here is merely a crystal-clear metaphor for spiritual deadlock, the loss of the future and the collapse of humanity. The film offers no hope; it delivers a ruthless diagnosis: our world has long been sick with xenophobia, fear and indifference. The apotheosis is not the miracle of birth, but the cold realisation that even this risks becoming nothing more than a bargaining chip in our world. This is not science fiction about the end of the world, but a verdict on our present, filmed with frightening documentary accuracy.
- Daniel TaylorDecember 28, 2025Deep, dark, and really gripping. The world feels bleak and tense from the first minute, and even though the concept has been done before, it still feels fresh and unsettling. Heavy themes, incredible atmosphere, and some seriously powerful scenes. A very interesting one.
- Neon GhloesSeptember 17, 2025This movie has one of the best "oners" from modern cinema... EVER! The "invisible wipe" to keep it going is also INCREDIBLE! I worked for Double Negative while this was being filmed, and our team did the work on the forest chase scene... I cannot believe how well it turned out! Lol! Literally... None of it is real! It is ALL digital comps! Nearly 20 years later, and it holds up better than I EVER THOUGHT it could! I rarely watched movies I work on until VERY recently, for lots of reasons... But this one was well put together, and the crew that did the vfx for the urban warfare scenes along with probably the best totally digital newborn baby I've ever seen... Absolutely CRUSHED IT! That looked AMAZING! I look up to digital artists of that caliber! We were just digital compositors, and some seriously impressive matte painters at DN back then! Lol! But, the assets and digital imagery they(whoever the other vfx houses were!) constructed looks SO SWEET! This was a well put together flick! It doesn't feel like any portion was left under developed, under appreciated or rushed for it's budget! The story sucks, but if you can handle not needing the entire back history and associated mystery behind the presentation, it's a great wartch!
- flavo43November 22, 2025Children of Men is one of the most haunting post-apocalyptic films I’ve ever seen. Unlike many entries in the genre, it tackles social collapse with unsettling realism: refugee camps, authoritarian crackdowns, and everyday numbness to violence feel frighteningly plausible. The premise alone made me stop and seriously imagine a world where humanity can no longer have children, and the film never lets you escape the weight of that idea. It is deeply thought provoking, but also gripping, with bursts of raw, chaotic action that pull you right into the characters’ desperation. The long, seemingly unbroken shots make everything feel immediate and dangerous, as if you’re walking those ruined streets yourself. Clive Owen’s weary, reluctant heroism and the strong supporting cast keep the story grounded in human emotion, turning a bleak vision of the future into something still strangely hopeful about sacrifice, faith, love, and the stubborn will to carry on.
- rg9400December 15, 2025Watching Children of Men in 2025 for the first time is chilling. This movie from 2006 feels prescient in its prediction of 2027, showcasing a world filled with strife where immigrants and refugees are treated as scapegoats and imprisoned in brutal conditions. I had no idea about the setting of this movie, and I was stunned at how it felt like it could have been made today. This movie is similar to other post-apocalyptic "escort" stories such as The Road or The Last of Us, showcasing a grizzled older father figure helping transport a character across numerous obstacles. The crazy thing is that it was made well before the latter and was released 4 days before the former book was released. This is a foundational story within that genre. It still manages to differentiate itself from the stories that come after, with a propulsive narrative that had me fully hooked. There are quiet moments, but the action is sharp and intense and sporadic, fracturing the peace in moments that genuinely surprised me. It's clear Alfonso Cuarón has a masterful control over the pace of this movie. The scene by scene directing is also excellent, with the camera suddenly tracking Clive Owen's Theo as he navigates chaos. The brutality and depressing setting are juxtaposed with the gentleness of Theo. Unlike a lot of other male characters within this role, he seems to be much more thoughtful. Yes, he is reluctant, but the character arc does not feel like him learning how to love as much as him finding a way to do good. An example of this is a scene late into the movie where a character needs medical attention. I was surprised by how much time was spent showcasing how Theo took the proper precautions, washing his hands, dousing them in alcohol, making sure instruments were clear. In most movies, they would have skipped over this as a waste of time, yet this movie is very deliberate in showcasing that care. There are no easy answers in this movie, but I think we can learn something from that gentleness and thoughtfulness as a contrast against the type of violence, hate, and fear that leads to such a bleak near-future.
- Chris CDecember 11, 2025The dirty, gritty world portrayed in the film feels both fantastic and all too possible and familiar. While the premise is great, it's that world-building that really elevates the film into (IMO) Alfonso Cuarón's best. Despite being a 2006 release, the effects are still seamless even two decades later. From a cinematography standpoint, the multiple, long one-shot sequences are brilliant. It can be an emotional, tough movie to watch in parts, but this is absolutely one that everyone should see.
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Children of Men Trivia
Children of Men was released on September 22, 2006.
Children of Men was directed by Alfonso Cuarón.
Children of Men has a runtime of 1h 49m.
Children of Men was produced by Marc Abraham, Pablo Casacuberta, Eric Newman, Hilary Shor, Iain Smith, Tony Smith.
In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.
The key characters in Children of Men are Theo Faron (Clive Owen), Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey), Luke (Chiwetel Ejiofor).
Children of Men is rated R.
Children of Men is a Drama, Action, Thriller film.
Children of Men has an audience rating of 8.5 out of 10.
Children of Men had a budget of $76M.
Children of Men has made $70.6M at the box office.