2010: The Year We Make Contact is a 1984 science fiction drama directed by Peter Hyams, serving as a direct sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s legendary 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Based on Arthur C. Clarke’s novel 2010: Odyssey Two, the film continues the story of the mysterious monolith orbiting Jupiter and the fate of astronaut Dave Bowman.
The movie opens nine years after the events of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Relations between the United States and the Soviet Union are tense, mirroring the real Cold War of the 1980s. Dr. Heywood Floyd (Roy Scheider), who oversaw the Discovery mission in the first film, is now semi-retired and haunted by what happened aboard the Discovery One.
When it’s discovered that the derelict Discovery ship is still orbiting Jupiter’s moon Io and might crash soon, both nations agree—reluctantly—to send a joint U.S.-Soviet mission aboard the Soviet spacecraft Leonov to investigate. The Americans—Floyd, engineer Walter Curnow (John Lithgow), and HAL’s creator Dr. Chandra (Bob Balaban)—join the Russian crew led by Tanya Kirbuk (Helen Mirren).
Journey to Jupiter
As the Leonov approaches Jupiter, tension between the American and Soviet crew members is palpable, fueled by Earth’s escalating political conflict. Despite this, the scientists manage to cooperate professionally, especially as they begin detecting strange anomalies on Jupiter’s moon Europa—such as an inexplicable burst of light suggesting some form of life.
The Discovery One and HAL 9000’s Reactivation
The Leonov crew locates the abandoned Discovery One, still eerily intact but coated in sulfur dust. They reactivate HAL 9000, the infamous AI that malfunctioned in the first film. Dr. Chandra works tirelessly to repair HAL and uncover the truth behind its deadly breakdown, discovering that HAL’s malfunction stemmed from conflicting orders from mission control, not madness or self-awareness.
Dave Bowman’s Return
One of the most intriguing and haunting parts of the film involves Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea), who disappeared into the monolith at the end of 2001. He reappears to Floyd as a kind of evolved being—neither alive nor dead. Bowman warns Floyd that something wonderful is about to happen, but also insists they must leave Jupiter immediately.
Escalating Tension and the Monoliths’ Power
Soon after, millions of smaller monoliths begin to swarm around Jupiter. They start multiplying exponentially, seemingly absorbing the planet’s matter and energy. It becomes clear that the monoliths are transforming Jupiter itself.
As tensions between the U.S. and USSR flare up on Earth, the Leonov’s crew must cooperate to escape the danger near Jupiter. HAL, now fully reactivated and stable, helps them prepare for departure.
The monoliths’ multiplication leads to Jupiter’s complete collapse, triggering a massive nuclear fusion reaction. The planet ignites into a small second sun, which humanity later names Lucifer. This event destroys the original Jupiter but gives birth to a new source of light for the solar system—turning its formerly cold moons into potential habitats for life.
Before the explosion, Dave Bowman appears once more to HAL and instructs him to send a message to Earth:
“All these worlds are yours—except Europa. Attempt no landing there.”
This message becomes one of the film’s most iconic lines, warning humanity to avoid Europa, where life is beginning to evolve. HAL, showing genuine emotion for the first time, obeys Bowman’s final command and helps save the Leonov crew by ensuring their safe return.
The film closes with a haunting yet hopeful image of Europa, now illuminated by the new sun, where life has indeed begun to flourish under the monoliths’ guidance.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, 2010: The Year We Make Contact does not have any post-credits scenes. The film concludes definitively with the visual of Europa’s new dawn, a symbolic and poetic closing moment meant to echo the ending of 2001.
Type of Movie
2010 is a hard science fiction drama infused with political and philosophical undertones. Unlike 2001, which focused on mystery and abstraction, this sequel takes a more realistic, human, and dialogue-driven approach while still retaining awe and cosmic wonder.
Cast
Roy Scheider as Dr. Heywood Floyd
John Lithgow as Walter Curnow
Helen Mirren as Tanya Kirbuk
Bob Balaban as Dr. Chandra
Keir Dullea as Dave Bowman
Douglas Rain as the voice of HAL 9000
Dana Elcar as Dmitri Moiseyevich
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by David Shire, blending classical orchestration with eerie electronic elements. His music captures both the majesty of space and the creeping tension of Cold War paranoia. Shire’s minimalist cues contrast beautifully with the grandiosity of the visuals, especially during the Jupiter transformation sequence.
Filming took place primarily on soundstages in Los Angeles and Costa Rica for some Earth-based scenes. The majority of the film’s “locations” are elaborate sets and models, including the interior of the Leonov spacecraft and Discovery One’s haunting corridors. These practical effects were crucial for creating a believable, tactile sense of realism in space environments—before CGI dominated filmmaking.
Awards and Nominations
2010 was nominated for five Academy Awards:
Best Visual Effects
Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design
Best Makeup
Best Sound
Although it didn’t win any Oscars, it was praised for its technical achievements and intelligent storytelling, especially as a follow-up to one of cinema’s most iconic films.
Behind the Scenes Insights
Arthur C. Clarke appears in a cameo, sitting on a park bench in front of the White House.
Director Peter Hyams famously communicated with Clarke via early email messages—a pioneering move in 1983.
Roy Scheider requested that Floyd be portrayed as “human and fallible,” contrasting Kubrick’s detached tone.
The visual effects team used over 150 model shots, pushing practical effects to new heights.
Helen Mirren, playing a Soviet commander, trained with Russian consultants to master her accent and military demeanor.
Inspirations and References
The film is based on Arthur C. Clarke’s novel 2010: Odyssey Two, itself a continuation of the Space Odyssey series. Clarke was deeply involved in the screenplay and encouraged Hyams to make the story more accessible and emotional. The film’s Cold War tension directly mirrors 1980s geopolitics, using space cooperation as a metaphor for potential peace between superpowers.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Several dialogue-heavy scenes were reportedly cut for pacing. One removed moment involved a longer conversation between Floyd and Bowman, offering deeper philosophical musings about humanity’s place in the cosmos. An alternate ending draft included HAL’s consciousness merging with Bowman permanently, but this was simplified in the final cut.
Book Adaptations and Differences
While faithful overall, the film streamlines several complex subplots from the novel:
In the book, the monoliths’ origin and purpose are explored in greater depth.
The film downplays political discussions that dominate parts of Clarke’s text.
The novel features additional scenes on Earth showing the global reaction to the second sun’s birth.
Reactivation of HAL 9000 aboard the abandoned Discovery.
Bowman’s surreal reappearance in the spacecraft.
The spectacular ignition of Jupiter into a second sun.
HAL’s final message to humanity.
Iconic Quotes
“My God, it’s full of stars.”
“All these worlds are yours—except Europa. Attempt no landing there.”
“Something wonderful is going to happen.”
“We are going home.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
The Leonov’s interior design pays homage to Kubrick’s 2001, with inverted color palettes and mirrored layouts.
Clarke’s cameo near the White House bench includes a man reading Time magazine with “Peace” on the cover—symbolizing the film’s message.
The HAL 9000 interface subtly displays “IBM” letters shifted by one—continuing the rumored reference from 2001.
Trivia
The film was shot with NASA consultation, lending authenticity to the spacecraft design.
HAL’s red camera eye was an entirely practical optical effect, not post-production CGI.
The movie predicted the discovery of Europa’s subsurface ocean, which scientists later confirmed in the 2010s.
The U.S. and USSR cooperation theme foreshadowed the actual Apollo–Soyuz Test Project in real life.
Why Watch?
Watch 2010 if you love intelligent, realistic space exploration films that balance human drama with cosmic wonder. It offers answers to some of 2001’s mysteries while introducing new ones, all wrapped in a gripping Cold War narrative. Unlike Kubrick’s abstract masterpiece, 2010 speaks more directly to the viewer—yet still leaves you pondering humanity’s place in the universe.
