The Martian (film)

The Martian is a 2015 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Drew Goddard. Based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Andy Weir, and distribuited by 20th Century Fox, the film stars Matt Damon, with Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sean Bean, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Mackenzie Davis, Donald Glover, and Benedict Wong co-starring in supporting roles. The film depicts an astronaut's struggle to survive on Mars after being left behind and NASA's efforts to return him to Earth.

Producer Simon Kinberg began developing the film after Fox optioned the novel in March 2013. Goddard, who adapted the novel into a screenplay, was initially attached to direct, but production was only approved after Scott replaced Goddard as director and Damon was cast as the main character. Filming began in November 2014 and lasted about 70 days, on a $108 million budget. Twenty sets were built on one of the largest sound stages in the world in Budapest, Hungary. Wadi Rum in Jordan was also used for exterior filming.

The Martian premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2015, and was released in the United Kingdom on September 30, and in the United Sates on October 2, in 2D, 3D, IMAX 3D and 4DX formats. It received positive reviews from critics and grossed over $630 million worldwide, becoming the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2015, as well as Scott's highest-grossing film to date. Named by the National Board of Review and by the American Film Institute one of the top-ten films of 2015, The Martian received numerous accolades, including seven nominations at the 88th Academy Awards.