Children of Men (2006)
Film · Science Fiction, Thriller, Action
Stream itif you appreciate visceral, masterfully directed cinema that feels both urgent and profoundly human.
A visually staggering and relentless journey through a gritty, dystopian future that feels uncomfortably plausible. Its long-take action sequences provide an intense adrenaline rush, making it an essential pick for fans of high-stakes, immersive cinema.
What it is about
In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.
Trailer
What Children of Men is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this film is a breathlessly immersive experience. The pace is relentless, driven by celebrated long-take sequences that place you directly in the heart of the chaos. The tone is gritty and uncompromising, stripped of typical science-fiction gloss in favour of a dirty, lived-in realism. While the atmosphere is heavy with dread and social decay, the intensity of the action provides a constant, percussive energy that makes the runtime fly by.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is a must-watch for those who value world-building and technical craft, particularly fans of grounded thrillers. It avoids typical genre clichés, choosing instead to focus on a tactile sense of place. However, those seeking a light evening should skip it; the depiction of a collapsing society is bleak and frequently violent. A honest caveat is that the film offers very few easy answers regarding its central mystery, prioritising the journey over exposition.
The right evening for it
It suits an evening when you are ready to be completely gripped by a screen. It is best watched without distractions to fully appreciate the staggering visual detail and the sheer weight of its atmosphere.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Teaser
Teaser · Children of Men - Trailer
How Children of Men 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.
You will likely feel wrung out but deeply moved. It leaves a lingering sense of awe at its technical execution and a thoughtful, quiet reflection on the fragility of hope.
How Children of Men ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
The film ends with Theo, Kee, and the baby girl escaping the heavy fighting in Bexhill via a small rowboat. After Marichka leads them to the water, Theo rows the group to a buoy to await the Human Project ship, the Tomorrow. Theo reveals that he was shot during the confrontation with Luke and the Fishes. He uses his final moments to teach Kee how to care for her child, and she decides to name the girl Dylan after Theo and Julian’s late son. Theo loses consciousness just as the Tomorrow emerges through the fog to rescue them.
While Theo's fate is left clear as he slips away, the arrival of the ship suggests that Kee and Dylan will reach the Human Project as Julian intended. The sounds of children laughing over the final black screen leave open a sense of hope for the survival of the human race.
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.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
The Road (2009)
the same bleak, tactile journey through a crumbling world
1917 (2019)
the same use of immersive, extended shots to create relentless tension
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
a similarly high-stakes search for a miraculous birth in a dying future
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More clips
Clip · The Iconic Ambush Scene Extended Preview
Children of Men soundtrack
Music by John Tavener
Children of Men (Music From the Motion Picture)
Various Artists · 2006 · 9 tracks
Listen on Apple Music- 1Fragments of a Prayer · Sir John Tavener
- 2Eternity's Sunrise · Sir John Tavener
- 3"War, He Sung, Is Toil and Trouble" · George Frideric Handel
- 4Mahler: Nun Will Die Sonn' So Hell Aufgeh'n [Kindertotenlieder] · Gustav Mahler
- 5Threnody For the Victims of Hiroshima (1959-61) · Krzysztof Penderecki
- 6Song of the Angel · Sir John Tavener
- 7The Lamb (For String Orchestra) · Sir John Tavener
- 8Mother and Child · Sir John Tavener
- 9Mother of God, Here I Stand (For String Orchestra) · Sir John Tavener
Album and songs from Apple Music.
Awards
Children of Men won Best Cinematography at the BAFTAs. It was nominated at the Oscars.
Oscars
- Nominated: Best Adapted Screenplay · Alfonso Cuarón, Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata · 2007
- Nominated: Best Cinematography · 2007
- Nominated: Best Film Editing · 2007
BAFTAs
- Won: Best Cinematography · 2007
3 other awards and nominationsShow
- Won: Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film · 2007
- Nominated: Nebula Award for Best Script · P. D. James · 2007
- Nominated: Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form · 2007
From Wikidata, which can miss some.
Questions people ask
- Is Children of Men an epic film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Epic, with a tense streak. A visually staggering and relentless journey through a gritty, dystopian future that feels uncomfortably plausible. Its long-take action sequences provide an intense adrenaline rush, making it an essential pick for fans of high-stakes, immersive cinema.
- How long is Children of Men?
- Children of Men runs 109 min and was released in 2006.
- Where can I watch Children of Men in Canada?
- In Canada it is not included with any subscription service at the moment. JustWatch lists rental and purchase options.
- Where can I watch Children of Men in Germany?
- In Germany, Children of Men is included with MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel.
- What awards did Children of Men win?
- Children of Men won Best Cinematography at the BAFTAs. It was nominated at the Oscars.
- Who composed the music for Children of Men?
- The music for Children of Men is by John Tavener. The soundtrack album, Children of Men (Music From the Motion Picture), has 9 tracks.
- What songs are on the Children of Men soundtrack?
- Children of Men (Music From the Motion Picture) has 9 tracks, including “Fragments of a Prayer” by Sir John Tavener, “Eternity's Sunrise” by Sir John Tavener, “"War, He Sung, Is Toil and Trouble"” by George Frideric Handel, “Mahler: Nun Will Die Sonn' So Hell Aufgeh'n [Kindertotenlieder]” by Gustav Mahler and “Threnody For the Victims of Hiroshima (1959-61)” by Krzysztof Penderecki, and more. It is on Apple Music.
- Is Children of Men worth watching?
- Stream it: if you appreciate visceral, masterfully directed cinema that feels both urgent and profoundly human. IMDb users rate it 7.9 out of 10 from 557,669 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 92%, Metacritic 84 and TMDB users 7.6.
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