What happens when you throw Spider-Man and Rey Skywalker into a dystopian world where thoughts are visible and audible? You’d think cinematic magic, but instead, Chaos Walking became one of the most high-profile box office flops of 2021. Based on Patrick Ness’ award-winning sci-fi book series, this $100 million adaptation fizzled out faster than you can say “Noise,” grossing just a tenth of its budget in the U.S.
Set in 2257 A.D. on a distant planet called New World, Chaos Walking follows Todd Hewitt (Tom Holland), a young man in a society where all women have mysteriously died and men’s thoughts are constantly projected as “Noise.” Enter Viola Eade (Daisy Ridley), who crash-lands into Todd’s world, becoming the first woman he’s ever seen. With danger closing in, Todd takes it upon himself to protect her from the corrupt mayor, violent villagers, and the planet’s mysterious alien species, the Spackle. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to send a distress signal to Viola’s colony in space.
Sounds exciting, right? Unfortunately, the movie squanders its intriguing premise. Major storylines—like the origins of the Spackle, the fate of Todd’s father, or Viola’s advanced technology—are barely explored. Even the potential romance between Todd and Viola is little more than a tease. Add to that the most heartbreaking and unnecessary scene—Todd’s dog Manchee meeting a tragic end—and you’re left wondering why so much of the plot feels incomplete.
Holland and Ridley bring their usual charm, channeling familiar traits from their Spider-Man and Star Wars roles. But the film’s core gimmick, the constant barrage of Todd’s “Noise,” quickly becomes more irritating than engaging, leaving viewers overwhelmed by his unfiltered thoughts instead of immersed in the story.
Critics were merciless, calling the movie “dystopian drivel” and “ultra bland.” However, audiences on Rotten Tomatoes seem to have a softer spot for the film, giving it a surprising 71% approval rating. Maybe it’s the star power or the unique concept that keeps viewers intrigued despite its flaws.
For the curious, the Blu-ray release includes over 45 minutes of deleted scenes that flesh out Todd’s backstory and expand on the planet’s lore. While these additions don’t completely salvage the narrative, they provide some insight into what could have been.
Though the box office failure means we won’t be seeing sequels anytime soon, fans of Patrick Ness’ universe can look forward to a rumored new book series. In the meantime, Chaos Walking is streaming for free on Tubi, and the Blu-ray (with those intriguing deleted scenes) is available on Amazon.
It may not have lived up to its potential, but Chaos Walking might still be worth a watch—if only to see how even the most ambitious sci-fi concepts can stumble. Who knows? You might just find it to be your next guilty pleasure.
