Matt Damon’s 91% RT Sci-Fi Masterpiece Regains Its Streaming Crown After Exiting Netflix

4 days ago 13

Matt Damon on the red carpet for Elysium

Makuochi Echebiri is a News Writer for Collider. He has been interested in creative writing from as far back as high school, and he would consume pretty much anything that’s film or TV. However, his truest love lies in the presence of historical epics and thrillers.

Lured by the brilliance of Middle Earth from an early age both in print and on screen, his palate has since expanded to other realms including Westeros, Kattegat among others. He also possesses a great appetite for the stories that emanate from the vastness of space. Even though he is no Avenger.

Obsessed with storytelling and having works of his own that have yet to make it to print, he is content to use that ability to communicate to as many as are reachable. In his spare time, he looks out for avenues where he can aid people aside from his plans to reign over this earthly realm. Yes…you heard that first here.

The sci-fi genre has, over the years, given us many incredible masterpieces to thoroughly entertain us. In recent weeks, James Cameron's blockbuster franchise, Avatar, returned with another entry, as Avatar: Fire and Ash battles its way through the box office. But the sci-fi genre wouldn't be quite the same without Ridley Scott and his revolutionary contributions to the genre with projects like Alien and Blade Runner. However, those are not the only sci-fi offerings from the esteemed director that are noteworthy. Over a decade ago, Scott was tasked with directing The Martian. A hit at the domestic box office amid widespread acclaim, The Martian is a sci-fi film about a man who gets trapped on Mars after a mission gone wrong, leaving him to fend for himself for months on the planet's wasteland. Teaming up with Scott and leading the cast is Matt Damon, who played Dr. Mark Watney.

Beyond its domestic box office success, The Martian also established itself as a major awards-season contender, earning a Best Picture nomination. Having grown in stature in the eyes of many over the years, the sci-fi film left the streaming giant Netflix at the end of December 2025. Despite departing such a huge platform, the movie is still reaching new viewers on Paramount+, its new streaming home, while many others have turned to PVOD platforms to relive its thrill. According to FlixPatrol, The Martian has become an instant hit on its new streaming home, ranking in the Top 10 in the United States. On PVOD platforms, the movie has also made it to the charts in Africa and Europe. Released in 2015, The Martian grossed $630 million worldwide against a reported budget of nearly $110 million. Its widespread critical acclaim is reflected in "certified fresh" 91% score on the aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

The Martian was based on the best-selling novel by Andy Weir, and the critics' consensus reads, "Smart, thrilling, and surprisingly funny, The Martian offers a faithful adaptation of the bestselling book that brings out the best in leading man, Matt Damon, and director Ridley Scott." Besides Damon's stellar performance in the lead role, The Martian also boasts a star-studded cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Jessica Chastain, and more.

'The Martian's Crew Is Returning to Sci-fi

Many of the team members involved in The Martian are moving on to newer projects. Damon will team up with longtime collaborator and buddy Ben Affleck in Joe Carnahan's Netflix film The RIP. After that, the actor is poised for a pivotal role alongside a host of A-listers in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which recently debuted its first teaser online. Director Scott, after returning to blood and sand with his last movie, Gladiator II, is now returning to the sci-fi genre and putting together The Dog Stars, a film starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin. A spiritual follow-up to The Martian, Project Hail Mary, is set for release next year. Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and starring Ryan Gosling, the movie is based on another bestseller by Weir. The script for the movie was written by The Martian's Drew Goddard.