John Carter

John Carter begins with a tired Civil War veteran who somehow leaves Earth and wakes up on Barsoom, a harsh and unfamiliar version of Mars where the rules of physics give him unexpected advantages. He wants to get back home, but local conflicts and shifting loyalties drag him into violent clashes among rival city-states and warrior factions. Along the way he forms fragile alliances, particularly with Dejah Thoris, and has to learn customs and tactics that are alien to him. As Carter becomes more entangled in Barsoom's survival, his personal code and sense of belonging are tested, and his choices shape events without revealing how the larger struggle concludes.

Directed by Andrew Stanton, the 2012 production adapted Edgar Rice Burroughs' A Princess of Mars and credited Michael Chabon and Mark Andrews among its creators. It stars Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong and Ciarán Hinds, combining practical sets with extensive CGI effects.

The film had a very large budget and an intense marketing campaign, but it failed to meet box office expectations upon release. Studio losses and reporting about overspending turned the release into a cautionary example for big-budget adaptations and franchise planning.

Over time John Carter developed a vocal fanbase that appreciates its ambitious worldbuilding and creature designs, and the movie fuels frequent discussions about adaptation choices and promotional strategy. It crops up in conversations about major studio flops that later found more sympathetic audiences, and its visual style still gets referenced by genre fans.

Critical response was mixed, with many reviewers praising the scope and visual effects while criticizing uneven pacing and character development. Audience scores sit around a mid-range rating, reflecting divided opinions. The film treats themes of honor, identity, cultural conflict and duty, asking what someone owes to a new home and how much a person can change when placed in an unfamiliar society.