Annihilation (film)

Annihilation is a 2018 science fiction cosmic horror film written and directed by Alex Garland and loosely based on Jeff VanderMeer’s 2014 novel.

Annihilation is a 2018 science fiction cosmic horror film written and directed by Alex Garland. It is loosely based on Jeff VanderMeer's 2014 novel of the same name. The film stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny, and Oscar Isaac.

Plot

The story follows Lena, a biologist and former soldier, and a team of scientists as they enter the Shimmer, a quarantined zone where an alien presence causes extreme biological mutations. Inside the zone, they encounter mutated plants, animals, and destabilized human biology and memory.

Production and release

Annihilation is a United Kingdom–United States co-production. Paramount Pictures released the film theatrically in the United States on February 23, 2018. In Canada, the film was released as part of its North American distribution and later became available through streaming services.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics. Reported box office totals placed its worldwide gross at about $43 million.

Source material

The film is loosely based on the first novel in Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy, published in 2014.