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After Earth

After Earth is a 2013 American post-apocalyptic science-fiction action-adventure film directed by M.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

After Earth is a 2013 American post-apocalyptic science-fiction action-adventure film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith, it follows a father and son who crash-land on a future Earth that humans abandoned after environmental catastrophe.

Premise

The story takes place in a future where humanity has relocated after Earth became uninhabitable. A crash landing strands a father and son on the hostile planet, forcing them to survive and seek rescue.

Production

The film was directed by M. Night Shyamalan, with a screenplay by Shyamalan and Gary Whitta. Will Smith developed the original story idea and stars alongside his son Jaden Smith.

Release

After Earth premiered in 2013 and was released in U.S. theatres on May 31, 2013. Home-media and streaming release information was also later listed by review and retailer sources.

Reception

The film received mixed-to-negative critical responses, with some reviews describing it as a survival story and others noting its family and moral themes.

Key facts

  • After Earth is set about 1,000 years after humans left Earth due to environmental disaster.
  • The film centers on Cypher Raige and his son Kitai, who crash-land on the abandoned planet.
  • M. Night Shyamalan directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Gary Whitta.
  • Will Smith originated the story concept and stars alongside Jaden Smith.
  • The film was released theatrically on May 31, 2013, by Columbia Pictures.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed internationally, including in Canada, and is relevant to Canadian viewers through theatrical exhibition and home-media availability; no specifically Canadian production connection is indicated in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is After Earth about?
It is about a father and son who crash-land on a dangerous future Earth and must survive long enough to get help.
Who directed After Earth?
M. Night Shyamalan directed the film.
Who stars in After Earth?
The film stars Will Smith and Jaden Smith as Cypher and Kitai Raige.
When was After Earth released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on May 31, 2013.
What genre is After Earth?
It is generally classified as science fiction and action-adventure.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Earth
    Supports: Basic film identification, premise, director, screenplay, and story concept.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/after_earth
    Supports: Genre, release date, premise, and studio/distribution details.
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/after-earth
    Supports: Cast, director, runtime, rating, and plot summary.
  4. German Wikipedia — https://www.de.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Earth
    Supports: Release timing and director/star identification.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1815862/
    Supports: Plot summary and casting.