Ridley Scott has dedicated his life to giving the world some of the greatest movies of all time, and his resume is as impressive, if not more so, than any filmmaker in history. One of Scott’s first big hits came all the way back in 1979 when he delivered Alien, which is still held in high regard as one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. Alien would be the crowning achievement for most people who would ever dare to direct a movie, but over the years, Scott has not only kept the Alien franchise going with other hits like Covenant and Prometheus, but he’s also delivered some classic sci-fi and historical masterpieces. He had an unfortunate misfire a few years ago with Napoleon, which is now streaming on Apple TV, but back in 2015, he delivered the sci-fi epic that has a strong case for being his best movie.
In 2015, Scott directed The Martian, which is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by acclaimed sci-fi author Andy Weir. Weir also wrote the book that was turned into the biggest sci-fi movie of 2026 so far, Project Hail Mary (starring Ryan Gosling). It’s now been almost exactly eleven years since The Martian hit theaters, but the film is still widely viewed as not only one of Ridley Scott’s best directorial efforts, but one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. In America, The Martian is currently streaming on Peacock, but before it leaves the platform at the end of this month, it has surged back into the top 10. It’s also a smash hit on VOD platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV in several countries around the world.
Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
What Is ‘The Martian’ About?
The Martian tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon), who is left behind on Mars after an accident that leaves his crew assuming he’s dead. However, what should have killed Watney only injures him, and he wakes up to learn that not only is he alone on a foreign planet, but he has to survive for months with only his wits before any help can arrive. The Martian grossed $630 million at the global box office against a $100 million budget, and the film holds scores of 91% from both critics and audience on Rotten Tomatoes. Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Sebastian Stan, Sean Bean, and Donald Glover also star in The Martian.
Check out The Martian before it’s removed from Peacock at the end of this month, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the film.
