Oxygen (2021)
Film · Science Fiction, Thriller, Horror
Stream itif you enjoy high-stakes, single-location puzzles that demand intense focus and emotional endurance.
A claustrophobic and high-concept thriller that keeps the pressure high within a single, confined setting. It is an intense, pulse-pounding experience that rewards viewers who enjoy solving a puzzle alongside the protagonist.
What it is about
A woman wakes in a cryogenic chamber with no recollection of how she got there, and must find a way out before running out of air.
Trailer
What Oxygen is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
The film is a masterclass in sustained tension, trapping the viewer inside a clinical, high-tech coffin alongside its panicking protagonist. The pace is relentless, driven by the literal countdown of an oxygen gauge and a flurry of frantic interactions with a dispassionate AI. Visually, it feels incredibly tight, using extreme close-ups and flickering lights to heighten the sensory overload of a rapidly shrinking world.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is ideal for fans of cerebral survival stories who appreciate a narrative that unfolds through dialogue and intellectual realisations. However, those who suffer from claustrophobia will find this an exhausting, perhaps unbearable, watch. The biggest caveat is that the film relies heavily on a series of reveals; if you are not prepared to engage with the internal logic of the mystery, the singular setting may feel repetitive.
The right evening for it
It suits a quiet, distraction-free evening where you can fully immerse yourself in the character's desperate plight. It is best watched in the dark to amplify the feeling of isolation.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
How Oxygen leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
Expect to feel physically constricted and mentally fatigued, as the film leaves you with a profound sense of breathlessness and a lingering contemplation of human survival instincts.
How Oxygen ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
After discovering she is a genetic clone on a secret mission to save humanity from a deadly virus, Elizabeth Hansen manages to save herself. Although the AI, M.I.L.O., attempts to initiate a euthanasia protocol because of her dwindling survival odds, Liz deactivates the processor and successfully reroutes the failing ship functions. As her oxygen levels reach zero, she secures a new air supply from the pods of deceased colonists, allowing M.I.L.O. to place her back into hypersleep for the remainder of the journey.
The film ends by showing the clones of Elizabeth and Léo together on their new home planet. They are seen smiling and embracing one another, suggesting the mission to the distant world eventually reached a successful conclusion.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
If you like this, try
Buried (2010)
the same oppressive single-location survival stakes
Moon (2009)
the same sterile sci-fi atmosphere and identity-based mystery
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
the same sense of desperate puzzle-solving in confinement
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Questions people ask
- Is Oxygen a tense film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Tense, with a mind-bending streak. A claustrophobic and high-concept thriller that keeps the pressure high within a single, confined setting. It is an intense, pulse-pounding experience that rewards viewers who enjoy solving a puzzle alongside the protagonist.
- How long is Oxygen?
- Oxygen runs 100 min and was released in 2021.
- Where can I watch Oxygen in the UK?
- In the UK, Oxygen is included with Netflix (not on the plan with ads).
- Is Oxygen worth watching?
- Stream it: if you enjoy high-stakes, single-location puzzles that demand intense focus and emotional endurance. IMDb users rate it 6.5 out of 10 from 47,343 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 90%, Metacritic 67 and TMDB users 6.6.
More clips
Teaser · Oxygen | Official Teaser | Netflix
Stills
Images from TMDB.
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