The Martian Review The Survival Film That Made Science The Hero

Movie Review: The Martian Poster – “Science Is The Solution”

Look, I know we’re doing this because Max won’t stop saying it’s some cheesy Hollywood fairy tale where real science is dumbed down for mass audiences. Dylan’s convinced it proved improv problem solving is better than CGI set pieces. My dumb Year 10s saw it last term and now they want to discuss past Mars missions and if we can actually grow potatoes on Mars soil. But hear me out – The Martian is not just a good survival thriller with a space backdrop. It’s blockbuster filmmaking that treats science and problem solving as heroic. You’ll see why that matters.

The Martian was released in 2015 (via Wikipedia) and directed by Ridley Scott. It was adapted from Andy Weir’s 2011 novel of the same name – an unusual property because science plays genuine problem-solving role in both book and film. The entire plot revolves around Watney’s improvised solutions to survive on Mars, using his scientific knowledge and wit to resolve seemingly insurmountable issues.

At the time, it was a really odd time for this movie. Between superheroes dominating every major blockbuster and the next Hunger Games/ Divergent sequel coming out every other month, we were pretty saturated with movies. There was fake space, sure, but it was all cgi rocks floating in black rooms with ominous orchestral music. Actual steps had been taken towards returning to space with SpaceX’s advancements, and Mars rover research was gaining attention scientifically.

Basically. The Martian was about real scientists problem solving using real science, and people loved it. It took in over $630 million worldwide (Box Office Mojo), and still holds up well today as science fiction that manages to be technically accurate without sacrificing entertainment value or narrative pacing.

Movie Specifications:

It made the cut for [our list of the best hard science fiction films] because The Martian places genuine respect for science at the centre of its story.

Science As The Solution To Dramatic Conflict

Yes, our protagonists drama is essentially him trying to survive being stranded millions of miles away from home with limited resources. But we learn early on that Watney is a trained scientist, allowing him to respond to complications with informed solutions. When his main shelter is compromised, he quickly calculates the best ways to repair the breach before his oxygen runs out.

He approaches each subsequent obstacle with the same knowledge-based processing. Mark grows potatoes on Mars by researching botanical science, before designing and executing an experiment to test his hypothesis. Will his crops grow after mixing the Martian soil with human waste? It’s not a grab for cheap laughs. The film shows him actually running that calculation.

Now, don’t get me wrong. The Martian is by no means a documentary on agricultural science or chemistry. But it understands the basic process of real scientific methodology, and applies that to its narrative structure. It makes watching someone work through problems in a logical way actually dramatic. Instead of just cutting away and telling us something worked, The Martian lets Watney show us how science led him to the solution.

Take Watney’s soil report for example. The movie spends several minutes showing him hammer out every calculation and reason out why his first attempt failed. I don’t want to spoil it, but something goes wrong and his crops don’t grow. When we watch him troubleshoot, chemicals We learn why it happened and how he can fix it. The movie never talks down to you – it assumes you’re watching and can keep up with real scientists thinking through problems.

Educators love this film because it doesn’t treat science like magic. Watney encounters real failures using the scientific process. His initial shelter is breached because he mis-calculated material strength. His journey home takes far longer than he anticipates due to window-of-opportunity travel logistics. Contacting NASA doesn’t go immediately, he experiences set backs upgrading his communications system that delay his ability to reach them.

These aren’t plot devices to create artificial drama or movies inconveniences. These are realistic scientific failures that happen despite his best efforts. This film loves science so much that it shows you what can go wrong when even smart people work with limited resources.

The Martian Is A Survival Film About Solving Problems Scientifically

Contrary to popular belief, there are many types of survival stories. Cast Away trapped his character on a desert island to force character growth. 127 Hours was anchored to one location with limited ability to explore new environments. Into the Wild was about escaping society’s structures only to find nature is far more destructive. All these films have merit, but they view survival from a humanistic perspective.

What if survival was about solving problems with science? What if we stayed on Mars with Watney and watched him tackle each obstacle with reasoned logic? That’s the radical departure The Martian makes from traditional survival narratives. Most survival stories are about enduring physical/mental trauma until you can rescue. The Martian is about solving problems before rescue can even become a possibility.

This choice impacts every aspect of filmmaking. The camera remains tight on Watney’s face while he mentally works through issues. We don’t get sweeping shots of his makeshift greenhouse or personal reflections about his situation. Because we spend so much time with him problem solving, we know Watney already accepts he may not survive. The only thing keeping him grounded is solving the next problem.

His video logs aren’t despair or solitude, they’re scientifically documenting his progress and occasional humor to keep from losing his sanity. Screenwriters smuggled comedy into the film’s script specifically because real scientists talk through problems out loud. When faced with a problem, Watney walks us through his process of breaking down scientific principles to solve challenges we’ve never encountered.

Not every problem is made equal here. When the team at NASA figures out how to rescue Watney, we see dedicated scientists work through their own problems with the same precision he does. It’s not just the worry of mission control, these are engineers solving the problem of safely extracting him from Mars. This film understands how modern space programs work. No one person has all the answers, but a group can cover enough expertise to solve any obstacle through research and collaboration.

The Martian isn’t happy because Watney learned to enjoy his time on Mars or he grew spiritually from his experience. It celebrates him because he used the scientific method to keep himself alive. His snarky attitude towards unfair circumstances and improvised solutions to problems keep him grounded, but it’s his rationality that keeps him alive. The Martian suggests that paying attention to how the world works around you is heroic.

Rewatching this movie, I’m impressed with how Scott visually communicates Watney’s thought process. There’s a wonderful balance to the film’s shots that allow us to stay rooted in his problem solving without lingering too long on technical explanations. Instead of cutting away, Scott chooses to visually represent scientific thought process.

We see Watney take actual measurements of the food supplies he has left. Watch how Scott films him mixing ratios for his soil fertilization experiment. The camera lingers on him monitoring the growth conditions as much as it does scary shots of his habitat domes breaching. Scott ensures we stay present as Watney works through the scientific method.

This commitment to treating science as cinematic extends to the films visuals. Mars itself is barren, rust-colored rocks and dust. It’s rarely painted in the film’s beautiful glowing oranges or epic landscape shots. Instead, it really does feel like another world. The interior of his habitat is white and industrial looking. These are functional spaces designed to mimic how NASA would actually equip these facilities.

They don’t beautify science in this film. Scenes were filmed in Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert to capture the authenticity of Mars’ rocky terrain. The makers built Watney’s habitat so the actors actually had to perform the scientific tasks we see depicted in the movie. From its visuals to rocket launches, everything was designed to make you believe this science could exist.

Scott cuts away when Watney works through formulas or calculates uncharted travel distances. He trusts the audience to watch Watney problem solve without worrying they’ll get lost in scientific jargon. And this is reinforced by the wonderful sound design. Characters aren’t shouting to be heard over the gusting Martian wind or equipment buzzing. Watney frequently explains complex scientific concepts, and we can understand everything he says.

The Sound of Science Inspiring Hope

When The Martian was released, NASA actually invited fans to watch the movie in their auditoriums (Spaceflight Now). That’s right. Actual scientists were hosting public film screenings because they loved the movie. Not only did it respect real scientific principles, it captured the intense spirit of exploration and problem solving necessary for all astronauts.

It’s been inspiring classrooms across America. My own students can’t stop talking about how cool Mars science is since watching this film. They want to know more about space because The Martian showed them science can solve problems we don’t yet understand. It plants seeds of curiosity about how the world works, and what we can do if we apply existing knowledge to new challenges.

Since The Martian’s release, we’ve seen a huge shift in how filmmakers approach sci-fi stories with real science at the core. It didn’t win every possible award but made enough of an impact that movies like Interstellar and Arrival could succeed. Both of those films, while flawed, treat science as characters instead of roadblocks. The Martian took a hard science fiction story and made it popular enough that it spawned numerous indie projects using same spirit of authenticity.

Sure, the critics thought it was good. It earned an 80 Metascore(Metacritic) and 91% on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes). Audience Score on IMDb? 8.0/10(IMDb Title Page)

What does that tell you? Audiences saw something in this movie that critics didn’t understand. They know The Martian is working overtime to prove science and humor can co-exist within the same narrative. It makes science feel accessible. And in a time where science seems more divisive than ever, that’s pretty darn revolutionary.

Why The Martian Made Me A Better Teacher

We’ll never agree whether The Martian taught people science or simply made them feel smart enough to understand it. Max will argue that real science is never this reliable. Dylan says it got ignored festivals because it lacked Hollywood CGI attractions. But you know who loved The Martian? Kids who previously thought science class was boring.

Explaining how to grow potatoes on Mars taught students the real science behind nutritional caloric intake. Showing them heroes solve problems through real scientific analysis has them asking how we can visit Mars one day. Opening their eyes to how NASA functions prevented them from dismissing space exploration as pointless. Science can feel like magic if you never learn how it works.

Should you watch The Martian? Absolutely. Science is in theatres now as a movie you can stream at home. It’s listed as one of the best movies with Dolby Atmos audio (Lifewire) so if you have the equipment, I highly recommend it. Even if you’re not a hard science nerd like me, The Martian is a film that proves Hollywood can make smarter movies than people realise.

“I’m just going to science the shit out of this.”

-Daniel Draper as Mark Watney, The Martian

Diane

Diane teaches English in Philadelphia and uses sci-fi to make teenagers care about literature. She writes about how the genre reflects real-world anxieties—from climate fears to social rebellion—with humor, warmth, and the occasional classroom story.