Sunshine (2007)
Kernel Score: 77% · 4,154 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller
Released: 2007-04-05
Runtime: 108 minutes
Is Sunshine worth watching?
Worth watching. A crew flies toward a dying sun with a bomb to restart it. The first two thirds are tense, beautiful and thoughtful, then the last act turns into more of a horror film that splits viewers.
Watch it if you
- like claustrophobic, thoughtful sci-fi
- enjoy spaceship tension and big ideas
- want something visually ambitious
Skip it if you
- dislike genre shifts late in a film
- want a lighter, action-led space adventure
Best for: Dark solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Sunshine
- Stream: Prime Video
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Fifty years into the future, the sun is dying, and Earth is threatened by arctic temperatures. A team of astronauts is sent to revive the Sun — but the mission fails. Seven years later, a new team is sent to finish the mission as mankind’s last hope.
Sunshine parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Sunshine is an R-rated science-fiction thriller about astronauts on a desperate mission to save a dying sun.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Rated R sci-fi thriller with suspenseful, life-threatening space mission peril.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Sunshine
If you liked Sunshine, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Alien (1979) — 96%: Crew trapped on a ship with something dangerous
- Blade Runner (1982) — 94%: Moody, visual sci-fi about what it means to be human
- 28 Days Later (2002) — 82%: Danny Boyle's other genre piece, tense and bleak
- Twelve Monkeys (1995) — 87%: Time-pressed mission to save humanity
- Gattaca (1997) — 86%: Cool, thoughtful sci-fi about human limits
- Project Hail Mary (2026) — 96%: Space mission to save humanity, with science at its centre
Director
Cast
- Cillian Murphy as Capa
- Rose Byrne as Cassie
- Chris Evans as Mace
- Michelle Yeoh as Corazon
- Cliff Curtis as Searle
- Hiroyuki Sanada as Kaneda
- Troy Garity as Harvey
- Benedict Wong as Trey
- Mark Strong as Pinbacker
- Paloma Baeza as Capa's Sister
Sunshine FAQ
Is Sunshine worth watching?
Worth watching. A crew flies toward a dying sun with a bomb to restart it. The first two thirds are tense, beautiful and thoughtful, then the last act turns into more of a horror film that splits viewers.
Where can I watch Sunshine?
In the US you can stream Sunshine on Prime Video and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Sunshine OK for kids?
Sunshine is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Sunshine is an R-rated science-fiction thriller about astronauts on a desperate mission to save a dying sun.
What movies are like Sunshine?
If you liked Sunshine, try Alien, Blade Runner, 28 Days Later and Twelve Monkeys.