Children of Men

By 2027 the human race has stopped producing children and society is unraveling, controlled by rigid borders and constant fear. Theo Faron, a disillusioned former activist, is pulled out of his quiet life to shepherd an unlikely passenger, Kee, who is secretly pregnant. As they move through checkpoints, riots, and betrayals, Theo and a small band of allies try to get her to a sea refuge where the baby's birth could change everything. The story is driven by tense set pieces and personal choices, keeping the focus on survival, trust, and what people will sacrifice for the idea of a future.

Released in 2006, Children of Men was directed by Alfonso Cuarón and adapted from P. D. James' novel, with screenplay work credited to David Arata and Timothy J. Sexton, among others.

The film did modestly at the box office on initial release, but it has since found a larger audience through home video and streaming, growing in reputation beyond its theatrical run.

Critics highlighted the film's stark realism, urgent performances, and immersive camera work, especially Emmanuel Lubezki's cinematography. Reviewers noted themes of hope, authoritarian control, immigration, and moral responsibility, and they often praised Clive Owen and Clare-Hope Ashitey for grounding the emotional stakes.

Children of Men left a clear mark on modern cinema, thanks to several extended single-take sequences and a lived-in dystopian world that filmmakers and critics often reference. Its visuals and pacing influenced action and sci-fi directors, and scenes from the film have been widely discussed and studied for how they stage chaos and intimacy in the same frame.