It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade since Matt Damon grew potatoes on Mars. What sounded like the setup for a late-night joke became one of the most brilliant science fiction adventures of the 2010s — Ridley Scott’s The Martian, now streaming on Disney+, still stands as a masterclass in survival, humour, and human resilience.
A survival story like no other
Released ten years ago, The Martian is the kind of sci-fi film that reminds you why the genre matters. Adapted from Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, it tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney, accidentally left behind on Mars after a violent storm forces his crew to evacuate. Presumed dead, he wakes up to find himself utterly alone on an uninhabitable planet with limited food, dwindling oxygen, and no way to contact Earth.
Rather than panic, Watney does what any pragmatic NASA botanist would: he starts growing potatoes — in Martian soil, fertilised with what little he has on hand. It’s a premise that sounds absurd on paper but unfolds with such clever realism and tension that it feels entirely believable.
The film’s tone sets it apart from other space dramas. While it shares the grandeur of Interstellar or Gravity, it injects warmth and humour into the isolation. Damon’s Watney doesn’t wallow in despair; he cracks jokes, records video logs, and mutters the now-iconic line: “I’m gonna have to science the hell out of this.”
Matt Damon’s most human performance
Fresh off his supporting role in Interstellar, Damon takes centre stage in The Martian and delivers one of his most engaging performances. Alone for much of the film, he manages to make Watney both heroic and relatable — a man whose greatest weapon isn’t brute strength, but intelligence and optimism.
Filming wasn’t easy. Damon reportedly wore suits weighing nearly 45 kilograms and spent weeks inside vast, desert-like sound stages recreated to mimic the Martian environment. The result, however, is spectacular. Every shot feels tangible, from the swirling red dust storms to the eerie silence of the planet’s surface. It’s a film that feels grounded, even as it looks outward into the void.
NASA collaborated closely with the filmmakers, providing insights to ensure the science was as accurate as possible. The space agency even credited the film with inspiring a new generation’s interest in space exploration — proof that science fiction can be both thrilling and meaningful.
A triumph of optimism and ingenuity
What keeps The Martian so timeless isn’t just its visual splendour but its heart. Beneath the high-stakes survival lies a profoundly human story about problem-solving, teamwork, and the enduring power of hope. While Watney fights for his life on Mars, engineers and astronauts back on Earth unite in a global effort to bring him home. It’s a celebration of collaboration, demonstrating that even in the face of seemingly impossible odds, the best of humanity prevails.
The film earned rave reviews, averaging 4 out of 5 stars from both audiences and critics. It went on to attract more than 2.5 million moviegoers in France alone and received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
Still dazzling a decade later
Rewatching The Martian today, it’s astonishing how well it holds up. The blend of Ridley Scott’s meticulous direction, Drew Goddard’s sharp screenplay, and Damon’s charisma makes it an endlessly rewatchable film. The humour still lands, the visuals still awe, and the science — surprisingly — still checks out.
In an era dominated by dystopian darkness, The Martian remains a rare optimistic sci-fi film that celebrates life, not loss. It’s about finding light in the most desolate of places, reminding us that curiosity and creativity are what keep us human.
So whether you missed it the first time or want to relive one of cinema’s most uplifting space adventures, The Martian on Disney+ is absolutely worth your time. Ten years later, it still proves that sometimes, surviving the impossible isn’t about luck — it’s about laughing in the face of it.
