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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Entertainment • Film

Stowaway

Stowaway is a 2021 science-fiction drama thriller film directed by Joe Penna.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Stowaway is a 2021 science-fiction drama thriller film directed by Joe Penna. It stars Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, Daniel Dae Kim, and Shamier Anderson as astronauts facing a survival crisis after an unexpected passenger appears aboard a Mars mission.

Premise

Stowaway follows a Mars-bound mission whose carefully planned crew is disrupted when an unplanned passenger is discovered aboard the spacecraft. The incident leads to a shortage of vital resources and forces the crew into an impossible decision.

Production

The film was directed by Joe Penna, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ryan Morrison. Sources describe it as a U.S.-German co-production.

Cast

The principal cast includes Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, Daniel Dae Kim, and Shamier Anderson. These actors portray the crew and the stowaway central to the story.

Release

Stowaway premiered on Netflix in select countries on April 22, 2021. It was released as a streaming film rather than through a traditional theatrical launch in the cited sources.

Key facts

  • The film centers on a three-person Mars mission disrupted by an unintended stowaway.
  • The stowaway’s presence causes damage to the spacecraft’s life-support systems, creating a life-or-death resource problem.
  • Joe Penna directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Ryan Morrison.
  • The cast includes Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, Daniel Dae Kim, and Shamier Anderson.
  • The film premiered on Netflix in select countries on April 22, 2021.
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Canadian context

The film was released globally on Netflix, making it readily available to Canadian viewers through the platform.[1][12][18]

Frequently asked questions

What is Stowaway about?
It is about a Mars mission whose crew discovers an unintended passenger aboard their spacecraft, triggering a severe oxygen and survival crisis.
Who directed Stowaway?
Joe Penna directed the film.
Who wrote Stowaway?
Joe Penna and Ryan Morrison are credited with the screenplay.
Who stars in Stowaway?
The film stars Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, Daniel Dae Kim, and Shamier Anderson.
When was Stowaway released?
It premiered on Netflix on April 22, 2021, in select countries.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stowaway_(2021_film)
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, release date, and co-production details.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9203694/
    Supports: Plot premise, release date, and cast.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stowaway_2021
    Supports: Synopsis, director, writers, genre, runtime, and release date.
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81321986
    Supports: Official synopsis, genre, cast, and 2021 release information.