One of the best sci-fi thrillers of the century is about to depart from streaming. So this is a sign: it’s your last chance to stream it for free (legally, of course). In 2009, we were treated to a sci-fi movie like no other. From the director of Chappie and Netflix’s criminally underrated Oats Studios, the movie blended big-budget sci-fi action with a mockumentary style to create a modern classic.
Starring Sharlto Copley, District 9 is set to leave free streaming very soon. The movie landed on Tubi, the ad-supported free streaming platform, on Oct. 1. The same day it arrived on the site, it was also added to Tubi’s Leaving Soon page. Just like the Prawns in the movie, Tubi was quick to try to offload the film. Tubi typically operates on one-month contracts with movies, and it seems that District 9 is no different. The modern sci-fi classic is set to leave Tubi on Nov. 1, meaning you’ve got just 1 day left to stream it.
If you’re reading this too late, then not all hope is lost. District 9 is also available to stream on Sony Pictures Core. Or, if you want to be really fancy, you could get the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.
‘District 9’ Is a True Modern Sci-Fi Classic
District 9 still feels like a breath of fresh air for the sci-fi genre, 17 years after it was first released. Neill Blomkamp co-wrote the movie with Terri Tatchell and delivered probably the most realistic alien movie ever made. Set in South Africa, District 9 takes place in the eponymous alien ghetto. Years after aliens arrived on Earth in a broken spaceship, they were forced into districts — rundown shanty towns — to “keep the peace.” Sharlto Copley plays Wikus, a UN worker who accidentally sprays himself with a mysterious alien substance and slowly turns into one.
District 9 was phenomenally received by critics and audiences. It holds a tremendous 90% Rotten Tomatoes score. Audiences were slightly more critical. But an 83% user score is still something most movies can only dream of. The film even received recognition from the Academy. It was nominated for four Oscars in 2010, including Best Picture, Best Writing, Best Film Editing, and Best Visual Effects.
‘District 9’s Low-Budget CGI Is Still Breathtaking
Any other year, District 9 would have dominated the Best Visual Effects category. Unfortunately, in 2010 it was also competing with James Cameron’s Avatar. But unlike a lot of older (and even many modern) big-budget movies, District 9‘s CGI still looks flawless. The aliens are potentially the most photorealistic CGI creatures in movie history, and it’s a big reason why the film works so well. At a time when CGI seems to be getting progressively worse, District 9 remains a case study in how it should be done.
