What Happened to Monday

In a crowded near future, a population crisis has led to a strict one child policy. The Settman family secretly has seven identical sisters who share a single name and a single life. Each day one sister steps into the world while the others stay hidden, maintaining a fragile balance that keeps them off the authorities radar. They juggle school, work, and the constant risk of exposure as they protect one another and keep their true numbers a secret. When a sister vanishes, the remaining six dig for clues while avoiding the regime that would erase their existence. The pursuit tests loyalty and trust, and asks how far a family will go to stay together under surveillance.

Released in 2017 and directed by Tommy Wirkola, What Happened to Monday is built from an original screenplay by Max Botkin and Kerry Williamson. It isn’t adapted from a novel, instead presenting a standalone dystopian thriller that leans on atmosphere and performance as its engine, and it was produced with a budget around 20 million dollars.

Visually the film favors stark corridors, cold lighting, and practical effects that emphasize a claustrophobic world. Noomi Rapace embodies multiple sisters with distinct personalities, showing how identity can be fragmented yet connected under one public face. The premise invites discussion about government control, the costs of reproduction, and the bonds that keep a family intact when every choice is watched.

Critics praised the film for its slick production and Rapace’s commitment, while some found the plotting crowded or the reveals predictable. The core themes center on personal freedom versus state power, the ethics of secrecy, and how far people will go to protect those they love in a society that orders life by schedule.

Awards: There are no major nominations reported for What Happened to Monday. The film nonetheless earned notice for its concept and for delivering a high concept science fiction thriller with a strong lead performance that helps it stand out in Netflix era genre cinema.