2024 is a tough year for Netflix’s big-budget original sci-fi movies. Following the disappointment of “Rebel Moon,” the streaming giant’s latest offering, “Atlas,” from director Brad Peyton, fails to buck the trend. Set in a predictably dark, dystopian future, the film relies heavily on cliché tropes of artificial intelligence (AI) gone wild and offers little in the way of originality or innovation.
Common Stories
Set in a world where AI has turned against humanity, Atlas sees Jennifer Lopez’s protagonist tasked with stopping the world’s first AI terrorist, Harlan, played by Simu Liu. As Atlas battles demons and navigates a world on the brink of collapse, the story unfortunately plays out in a formulaic way, lacking the depth and nuance needed to captivate audiences.
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I’m watching “Atlas” on Netflix, and it’s definitely in the top 5 worst movies I’ve seen this year.
Just watch the Titanfall 2 campaign on YouTube pic.twitter.com/wVbKB7E2zm
— That’s just Pat (@PatrixRaider) May 27, 2024
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Full of clichés
The film’s reliance on clichés is clear from the start, with Atlas’s background and motivations following a fairly predictable progression. Every plot point, from his troubled relationship with his scientist father to his reluctant alliance with Colonel Elias Banks (Sterling K. Brown), feels like a repetition of sci-fi conventions we’ve seen countless times before.
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Missed Opportunities
Despite an intriguing premise, Atlas doesn’t live up to its potential and squanders an opportunity to meaningfully explore its themes. The film opts for superficial action scenes and a contrived storyline rather than delving into the complexities of humanity’s relationship with AI and the ethical dilemmas presented by advancing technology.
Wasted talent
Even Jennifer Lopez’s star power isn’t enough to save “Atlas” from mediocrity. Despite her best efforts, Lopez’s portrayal of Atlas is bland and uninspired, hampered by a lackluster script and underdeveloped character development. She infuses her performance with intensity and emotion that is ultimately drowned out by the film’s myriad shortcomings.
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So while it doesn’t quite reach Rebel Moon’s level of “horrible cinematic abomination”…
Jenny from the Block, what on earth were you thinking?#Atlas pic.twitter.com/GjmqDS6jHG
— Dr. Nick 💙 (@nickswhite) May 24, 2024
Rebel Moon 2 and Atlas are two of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. In my life. Damn you, Netflix. — Jonathan Isaac Jackson (@jonisaacjackson) May 25, 2024
The effect is not so good
Visually, “Atlas” falls short of expectations, with the VFX failing to impress or draw viewers in. From uninspired set design to unconvincing CGI, the film struggles to create a believable dystopian world, relying instead on stale genre conventions and derivative aesthetics.
A recipe for disaster
Brad Peyton’s direction and a lackluster script by Leo Saldarian and Alon Eli Koreyte compound the film’s problems, resulting in a disjointed, unengaging viewing experience. Despite the best efforts of its cast and crew, “Atlas” ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to deliver a compelling, original sci-fi story.
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Worse than “Rebel Moon”
“Atlas” is even worse when compared to Netflix’s recent sci-fi flop “Rebel Moon.” Both films suffer from similar issues of unoriginality and lackluster execution, but “Rebel Moon” at least attempts to inject a sense of excitement and spectacle into the story. In contrast, “Atlas” comes across as a formulaic exercise in genre filmmaking, without any real substance or innovation.
An unforgettable mistake
In conclusion, “Atlas” is a forgettable flop that doesn’t live up to the promise of its premise or the talent of its cast. Lacking originality, depth, or visual flair, the film struggles to hold audiences’ interest and ultimately fades into the background of an already crowded sci-fi universe. Jennifer Lopez’s performance adds some much-needed energy to the production, but it’s not enough to save “Atlas” from being another disappointment in Netflix’s sci-fi catalog.
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