Battlefield Earth

Earth in the year 3000 lies at the mercy of the Psychlos, a brutal alien race driven by profit who strip the planet of its minerals. Human settlements are reduced to scattered enclaves where old tech barely functions and resistance is fragmented. A captured Earthman named Jonnie Goodboy Tyler is thrust into a larger conflict when he discovers the true scale of the invaders and what it may take to push back. He teams with a wary band of rebels who see a chance to undermine the occupiers from within. The narrative follows Tyler as he learns to harness the limited tools available, outsmart the overseers, and inspire others to rise up against a merciless empire.

Directed by Roger Christian, Battlefield Earth adapts L Ron Hubbard's science fiction saga with a screenplay by Corey Mandell and J D Shapiro. The film projects a glossy blockbuster look with a controversial star turn by John Travolta.

Over the years Battlefield Earth has become widely known for its reputation as a spectacular misfire. It is frequently cited in discussions of ambitious genre projects that went wrong, and it has fostered a small cult audience that debates what went wrong and why.

Critics mostly dismissed the film for its tone and storytelling, arguing that the adaptation drifted from the source while piling on costly effects. The movie grapples with themes of empire greed, oppression, and the resilience of people who refuse to surrender.