65 is a tight, survival-focused sci-fi thriller that asks a simple but fun question: What if an advanced space pilot crash-landed on Earth… 65 million years ago? Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, and starring Adam Driver, the film mixes prehistoric danger with emotional drama and stripped-down tension.
Detailed Summary – Critical Moments
The Mission That Goes Wrong
Pilot Mills (Adam Driver) is a space explorer from the planet Somaris. He takes on a long-haul exploratory mission to earn money for his daughter’s medical treatment. Two years into the journey, his ship is struck by unexpected asteroid debris, causing a catastrophic crash landing on an unknown planet.
That planet? Earth. 65 million years ago.
Mills initially believes he is the sole survivor, but he soon discovers a young girl named Koa (Ariana Greenblatt) also survived. The twist: they don’t speak the same language, creating an immediate emotional and practical barrier.
The Harsh Reality: Dinosaurs
Mills quickly learns the planet is extremely hostile. This is not a peaceful prehistoric Earth; it’s a chaotic ecosystem filled with aggressive predators. Early encounters establish the tone: the dinosaurs here are not majestic museum pieces — they’re fast, brutal, and territorial.
One particularly tense moment occurs when Mills is dragged into a mud pit by a dinosaur and barely escapes using advanced weaponry. From that point forward, survival becomes the only objective.
The Asteroid Threat
Mills discovers something even worse: a massive asteroid field is heading toward the planet. The same impact event that will eventually cause the extinction of the dinosaurs is imminent.
There is one escape pod still functional, located high in the mountains. Mills and Koa must reach it before the asteroid hits.
This revelation reframes the story. It’s no longer just a survival film — it’s a race against extinction itself.
Emotional Stakes
Throughout the journey, Mills struggles with guilt over leaving his daughter behind. Koa becomes a surrogate figure for him. Their relationship evolves from guarded survival partners to something resembling family.
A particularly emotional moment happens when Mills considers giving up after suffering serious injuries. Koa chooses to stay with him rather than flee to safety, solidifying their bond.
Movie Ending
As asteroid fragments begin bombarding Earth, earthquakes rip through the landscape. Volcanic eruptions ignite forests. The environment collapses into chaos — a visual representation of the extinction event unfolding in real time.
Mills and Koa reach the mountain escape pod site, but they are ambushed by the film’s most dangerous predator: a large, highly aggressive dinosaur (often described as a speculative evolved theropod). This creature is faster, stronger, and more persistent than anything they’ve encountered before.
Mills is injured badly during the fight. He attempts to distract the creature while Koa prepares the pod. At one point, it appears Mills sacrifices himself, staying behind with explosives to kill the dinosaur while Koa escapes.
But he survives the blast.
In the final confrontation, Mills uses a combination of futuristic weapons and the environment itself to kill the predator. It’s messy, desperate, and earned.
They finally launch just as the asteroid impact becomes inevitable. From orbit, they witness Earth being devastated by the collision — the very event that will wipe out the dinosaurs and reset life on the planet.
The final scenes show Mills and Koa landing safely on their home world after a long journey. Koa reunites with her people. Mills returns home to discover his daughter has passed away during his absence — a tragic emotional conclusion that reinforces the cost of his mission.
The film ends on a bittersweet note: Mills saved Koa, but couldn’t save his own child. Survival came with a price.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. 65 (2023) does not include a mid-credits or post-credits scene. Once the credits roll, the story is complete.
Type of Movie
65 is a sci-fi survival thriller with action and emotional drama elements. It leans more toward tense minimalism than large-scale spectacle, focusing on character survival rather than world-building mythology.
Cast
- Adam Driver as Mills
- Ariana Greenblatt as Koa
- Chloe Coleman as Nevine (Mills’ daughter)
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Danny Elfman. His music adds tension and emotional weight, particularly in the asteroid impact sequences and the final farewell moments.
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed in:
- Forest regions of Oregon, USA
- Coastal areas of California, USA
- Extensive soundstage and green screen environments
The dense forests provided a convincing prehistoric environment. Rather than exotic overseas locations, the filmmakers relied on natural North American landscapes enhanced heavily with CGI. The grounded terrain makes the danger feel tactile and immediate.
Awards and Nominations
65 did not receive major award recognition. It was largely considered a modest sci-fi thriller rather than a prestige production, though its visual effects and creature design received some technical praise.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Adam Driver performed many physically demanding sequences himself.
- Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods are known for writing A Quiet Place (2018) and brought similar minimal dialogue tension here.
- The dinosaur designs were intentionally not fully scientifically accurate; they were modified for horror impact.
- Much of Ariana Greenblatt’s performance relied on emotional expression rather than dialogue due to the language barrier concept.
Inspirations and References
While not directly based on a book, 65 draws inspiration from:
- Survival thrillers like The Revenant
- Sci-fi isolation films like Cast Away
- Dinosaur cinema tradition rooted in Jurassic Park
The extinction event element is grounded in real scientific theory about the Chicxulub asteroid impact.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There are no publicly released alternate endings. However:
- Early drafts reportedly explored a darker ending where Mills does not survive.
- Some extended survival sequences were trimmed to maintain pacing.
- Additional emotional scenes with Mills’ daughter were shortened in the final cut.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Mills discovering he is on Earth 65 million years ago
- The mud pit dinosaur attack
- The first asteroid fragments striking the atmosphere
- Final mountain confrontation during planetary collapse
- Viewing Earth’s extinction from orbit
Iconic Quotes
- “This is not our world.”
- “We don’t give up.”
The dialogue is sparse, but the silence between lines is often more powerful than the lines themselves.
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The number “65” subtly appears in navigation displays early in the film.
- Dinosaur vocalizations were partially inspired by altered animal recordings.
- The asteroid visuals mirror scientific simulations of the Chicxulub impact event.
- Some dinosaur designs combine traits from multiple known species rather than representing a single fossil record animal.
Trivia
- The film’s budget was approximately $45 million.
- It runs just under 95 minutes, making it unusually lean for a modern sci-fi film.
- The alien language spoken by Koa was constructed specifically for the movie.
- The extinction event depicted aligns roughly with the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary.
Why Watch?
If you enjoy contained survival stories with high tension, 65 delivers. It’s not trying to build a franchise universe — it’s about two people trying to survive the worst day in Earth’s history. The emotional core between Mills and Koa adds depth beyond the dinosaur attacks.
It’s simple, focused, and sometimes surprisingly bleak.
Directors’ Other Works
- A Quiet Place (2018) – writers
- Haunt (2019)
- The Boogeyman (2023) – writers
