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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Film

Passengers (2016 film)

Passengers is a 2016 American science-fiction romance film directed by Morten Tyldum and written by Jon Spaihts.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Passengers is a 2016 American science-fiction romance film directed by Morten Tyldum. It stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt as two passengers who wake up decades early on a 120-year interstellar voyage.

What it is

The story is set aboard the spacecraft Avalon, which is carrying thousands of people to a distant colony planet. After a malfunction, two passengers wake up about 90 years before the ship is due to arrive. They must come to terms with their situation and the possibility of spending the rest of their lives alone on the ship.

Key details

The film was directed by Morten Tyldum and written by Jon Spaihts. It stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, with supporting performances from Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, and Andy Garcia. Passengers was released in the United States on December 21, 2016, and had a runtime of 116 minutes. It grossed about $303 million worldwide against a budget of $110–150 million.

Reception and awards

Passengers received mixed reviews from critics, but the performances of Lawrence and Pratt were widely praised. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Original Score and Best Production Design. It had a Canadian theatrical release in 2016 as a major Hollywood studio film.

In short

  • Set aboard the starship Avalon during a 120-year journey to a colony planet.
  • Two passengers awaken 90 years early due to a hibernation pod malfunction.
  • Directed by Morten Tyldum, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt.
  • Nominated for Best Original Score and Best Production Design at the 89th Academy Awards.
Canadian angle

Passengers had a Canadian theatrical release in 2016 and was widely distributed in Canada as a major Hollywood studio film.

Quick questions

What is Passengers about?
It is about two passengers on a long interstellar voyage who wake up decades before the ship reaches its destination.
Who stars in Passengers?
The film stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, with Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, and Andy Garcia in supporting roles.
Did Passengers receive any awards recognition?
Yes. It was nominated for Best Original Score and Best Production Design at the 89th Academy Awards.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passengers_(2016_film)
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, premise, premiere date, U.S. release date, reception, box office, and Academy Award nominations
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1355644/
    Supports: Runtime, MPAA rating, director, and writer
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/passengers_2016
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, release date, runtime, and basic cast/crew details
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/passengers-2016
    Supports: Plot context and the early awakening of the lead character
  5. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80117456
    Supports: Short synopsis and principal cast
  6. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BWWWQzTpNU
    Supports: Official trailer synopsis and principal cast