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{{Infobox film
| name           = Annihilation
| image          = Annihilation (film).png
| alt            = Five women, all armed, in a forested area
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Alex Garland]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Scott Rudin]]
* [[Andrew Macdonald (producer)|Andrew Macdonald]]
* Allon Reich
* [[Eli Bush]]
}}
| screenplay     = Alex Garland
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[Annihilation (VanderMeer novel)|Annihilation]]''|[[Jeff VanderMeer]]}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Natalie Portman]]
* [[Jennifer Jason Leigh]]
* [[Gina Rodriguez]]
* [[Tessa Thompson]]
* [[Tuva Novotny]]
* [[Oscar Isaac]]
}}
| music          = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ben Salisbury]]
* [[Geoff Barrow]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Rob Hardy (cinematographer)|Rob Hardy]]
| editing        = [[Barney Pilling]]
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Skydance Media|Skydance]]
* [[DNA Films]]
* Scott Rudin Productions
* Huahua Media<ref name="TheNumbers" />
}}
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Paramount Pictures]]<br />(North America and China)
* [[Netflix]]<br />(International)
}}
| released       = {{Film date|2018|2|13|[[Fox Theater, Westwood Village|Regency Village Theater]]|2018|2|23|United States|2018|3|12|United Kingdom}}
| runtime        = 115 minutes<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/annihilation-vod| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317130659/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/annihilation-vod| url-status=dead| archive-date=March 17, 2018| title=ANNIHILATION (15) | publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|date=February 12, 2018|access-date= April 2, 2018}}</ref>
| country        = {{Plainlist|
* United Kingdom
* United States
}}
| language       = English
| budget         = $40–55 million<ref name="opening" /><ref name="HollywoodReporter-producerclash" /><ref name="TheNumbers" /><ref>{{cite web | title = Alex Garland Leaves Nothing Behind. |first=Sean |last=Fennessey | date = February 23, 2018  | website = [[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]] | url = https://www.theringer.com/movies/2018/2/23/17036466/alex-garland-annihilation-interview-ex-machina | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180225050636/https://www.theringer.com/movies/2018/2/23/17036466/alex-garland-annihilation-interview-ex-machina | archive-date = 2018-02-25 | quote = Annihilation is a 40 million dollar film }}</ref>
| gross          = $43.1 million<ref name="TheNumbers">{{cite web |url= https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Annihilation#tab=box-office |title=''Annihilation'' (2018)|website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|access-date=August 20, 2018}}</ref>
}}

'''''Annihilation''''' is a 2018 [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] [[Lovecraftian horror|cosmic horror]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-20 |title=5 Years Ago, Alex Garland Made the Most Ambitious Cosmic Thriller Ever |url=https://www.inverse.com/culture/annihilation-five-year-anniversary |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=Inverse |language=en}}</ref> film written and directed by [[Alex Garland]], loosely based on the [[Annihilation (VanderMeer novel)|2014 novel]] by [[Jeff VanderMeer]]. It stars [[Natalie Portman]], [[Jennifer Jason Leigh]], [[Gina Rodriguez]], [[Tessa Thompson]], [[Tuva Novotny]], and [[Oscar Isaac]]. The story follows a group of scientists who enter the Shimmer, a mysterious quarantined zone of mutating plants and animals caused by an alien presence. The movie is a co-production between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Released theatrically in the United States by [[Paramount Pictures]] on February 23, 2018, ''Annihilation'' was released digitally by [[Netflix]] in a number of other countries on March 12, 2018. It received largely positive reviews from critics and grossed $43 million worldwide. According to ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine, the film addresses "depression, grief, and the human propensity for self-destruction."<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/annihilation/review/|title=Annihilation Review|last=Pile|first=Jonathan|date=March 12, 2018|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref>

==Plot==
<!--Per [[WP:FILMPLOT]] movie plots are 400 to 700 words only-->
[[Cellular biology]] professor and former [[United States Army]] soldier Lena is under interrogation. She is the only survivor of the latest expedition to an anomalous zone known as the Shimmer.

The Shimmer emerged three years prior, from a meteor that crash-landed at the [[St. Marks Light]] lighthouse in the [[St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge]] in [[Florida]], and has been gradually expanding. Many exploratory expeditions were organized, but only Lena's husband, Kane, returns home after a year of lost contact. Kane cannot explain where he was and how he came back, and his condition quickly deteriorates. Lena calls an ambulance, but she and Kane are intercepted by security forces and taken to a secret facility. As Kane is put in [[intensive care]], [[psychologist]] Dr. Ventress prepares a new scientific expedition into the Shimmer, and Lena joins her.

Three other women participate in the expedition: Cassie, a [[Geomorphology|geomorphologist]]; Anya, a paramedic; and Josie, a [[physicist]]. Communication equipment does not function within the Shimmer's territory, and the expedition encounters unusually mutated plants and animals. Josie is attacked by an albino alligator with several concentric rows of teeth. At an abandoned military base, the group finds a video message from Kane's expedition, in which Kane cuts open another soldier's abdomen with a knife to reveal slithering intestines. The group finds the soldier's corpse, which has turned into an overgrown colony of [[lichen]]s.

At night, Lena and Ventress share a watch and reflect on humanity's strange instinct to destabilize and destroy itself. They're joined later by Cassie, and the base is attacked by a mutant bear that drags Cassie away. Lena later finds her mutilated corpse. Within an abandoned village, Josie studies plants that have taken on a humanoid form, and theorizes that the Shimmer functions as a [[Prism (optics)|prism]], distorting and transforming everything that falls within its boundaries—including the expedition members' own [[DNA]]. Anya, overcome with paranoia after watching her fingerprints change, disarms the other members and ties them to chairs, and accuses Lena of murdering Cassie. The mutant bear returns and lures Anya away by emitting a cry for help in Cassie's voice. The bear kills Anya, while Josie frees herself and shoots the bear.

Ventress leaves the group and heads for the lighthouse, the center of the Shimmer. Josie believes Cassie's dying mind was "refracted" into the bear, and laments that the only piece left of Cassie was the pain and fear she experienced while being killed. She allows herself to succumb to the Shimmer and "refract" into a humanoid plant, hoping to avoid a similar fate. Lena follows Ventress to the lighthouse, where she discovers Kane's remains and a videotape. In the footage, Kane leaves an instruction to find Lena before killing himself with a [[White phosphorus munition|phosphorus grenade]]. After the explosion, a [[doppelgänger]] of Kane steps into frame.

Within the hole created by the meteor, Lena finds Ventress, who explains that the Shimmer will eventually swallow everything. Ventress then disintegrates into a [[Mandelbulb|shimmering cloud]] that absorbs a drop of blood from Lena's face and changes into a faceless, shimmering, humanoid being that mimics Lena's movements. Unable to escape the creature, Lena tricks it into igniting one of Kane's leftover grenades as it transforms into her doppelgänger. Lena flees the burning lighthouse, and the Shimmer dissipates, destroying itself as it mindlessly mimics the explosion.

Back in the present, Lena's interrogation concludes, and she learns that after the Shimmer fell, Kane's condition began to stabilize. Lena visits the Kane doppelgänger and asks if he is really Kane, which she doubts. He asks if she is Lena, but she does not answer. They embrace and their [[Iris (anatomy)|irises]] shimmer.

==Cast==
<!-- first 6 in the same order as the ending tombstone credits -->
{{Castlist|
* [[Natalie Portman]] as Lena
* [[Jennifer Jason Leigh]] as Dr. Ventress
* [[Gina Rodriguez]] as Anya Thorensen
* [[Tessa Thompson]] as Josie Radek
* [[Tuva Novotny]] as Cassie "Cass" Sheppard
* [[Oscar Isaac]] as Kane
* [[Benedict Wong]] as Lomax
* [[Sonoya Mizuno]] as Katie (Med Student)
**Mizuno also provided the [[motion-capture]] performance for "Humanoid"
* [[David Gyasi]] as Daniel
}}

==Production==
===Development===
[[Paramount Pictures]] and [[Scott Rudin]] acquired the [[film rights]] to ''[[Annihilation (VanderMeer novel)|Annihilation]]'', the then-unpublished first novel in [[Jeff VanderMeer]]'s ''[[Southern Reach Trilogy]]'', on March 26, 2013.<ref name="rudin">{{cite news |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |title=Paramount, Scott Rudin land 'Annihilation', First Installment of Southern Reach Trilogy |url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/paramount-scott-rudin-land-annihilation-first-installment-of-southern-reach-trilogy-461655/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=March 26, 2013 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> Rudin and [[Eli Bush]] were set to [[Film producer|produce]] the film,<ref name="rudin" /> and [[Alex Garland]], who had previously worked with Rudin and Bush on ''[[Ex Machina (film)|Ex Machina]]'', was hired to write and direct the film in October 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last=McNary |first=Dave |title='Annihilation' Movie Gains Momentum at Paramount with Alex Garland |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/annihilation-alex-garland-1201343824/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>

Garland explained that his adaptation was necessarily based on only the first novel in the trilogy: "At the point I started working on ''Annihilation'', there was only one of the three books. I knew that it was planned as a trilogy by the author, but there was only the manuscript for the first book. I really didn't think too much about the trilogy side of it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://creativescreenwriting.com/alex-garland-on-screenwriting/|title=Alex Garland on Screenwriting|last=McKittrick|first=Christopher|date=January 6, 2016|work=Creative Screenwriting|access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref>

Garland said his adaptation is "a memory of the book", rather than book-referenced screenwriting, with the intention of capturing the "dreamlike nature" and tone<ref>{{cite AV media |title='Annihilation' director Alex Garland chats with CNET about the upcoming film |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYhT5Ey42gg |via=[[YouTube]] |website=[[CNET]] |date=February 8, 2018 |access-date=March 18, 2018 |time=32m15s-33m30s}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media  |title=ANNIHILATION (2018) - Alex Garland Behind the Scenes Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thfjuDANZUA |via=[[YouTube]] |website=The Media Hub |date=February 10, 2018 |access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |author= |title=Alex Garland 'Annihilation' - Talks at Google |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5i7idoijco |via = YouTube |work=Talks at Google |date=February 22, 2018|access-date=March 18, 2018 |time=03m30 |quote= In this [adaptation] instance it was like an adaptation of the atmosphere.}}</ref> of his experience reading VanderMeer's novel. Rather than trying to directly adapt the book, Garland deliberately took the story in his own direction, with VanderMeer's permission. Garland did not read the other two books when they were completed, as he was concerned he would need to revise his script. When others informed him of elements of the sequels, he expressed surprise at some of the similarities to what he had written.<ref name="indiewire">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiewire.com/2018/02/alex-garland-reacts-annihilation-whitewashing-natalie-portman-1201928959/|title=Alex Garland on 'Annihilation' Whitewashing: 'There Was Nothing Cynical or Conspiratorial' in Casting the Film|first=Zack|last=Sharf|date=February 15, 2018|work=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=April 18, 2018}}</ref>

Some critics have noted the film has similarities with [[Arkady and Boris Strugatsky]]'s 1972 science-fiction novel ''[[Roadside Picnic]]'' and [[Andrei Tarkovsky]]'s 1979 film adaptation, ''[[Stalker (1979 film)|Stalker]]''.<ref name="Vishnevetsky-A.V. Club">{{cite web |first=Ignatiy |last=Vishnevetsky |title=What Annihilation learned from Andrei Tarkovsky's Soviet sci-fi classics |url=https://www.avclub.com/what-annihilation-learned-from-andrei-tarkovsky-s-sovie-1819005171 |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=8 March 2020 |language=en-us |date=24 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="Lindstrom-PopMatters">{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Lindstrom |title=Fear and Loathing in the Zone: Annihilation's Dreamy 'Death Drive' |url=https://www.popmatters.com/annihilation-fear-and-loathing-2573291244.html?rebelltitem=8#rebelltitem8 |website=PopMatters |access-date=8 March 2020 |language=en |date=11 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="fantasyliterature">{{cite web |first=Stuart |last=Starosta |title=Roadside Picnic: Russian SF classic with parallels to Vandermeer's Area X {{!}} Fantasy Literature: Fantasy and Science Fiction Book and Audiobook Reviews |url=http://www.fantasyliterature.com/reviews/roadside-picnic/ |website=fantasyliterature.com |access-date=8 March 2020 |date=2 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="Film-School-Rejects">{{cite web |first=Christopher |last=Campbell |title=Watch 'Annihilation' and 'Mute,' Then Watch These Movies |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/movies-to-watch-annihilation-and-mute/ |website=Film School Rejects |access-date=8 March 2020 |date=24 February 2018}}</ref>  [[Nerdist Industries]]' Kyle Anderson noted an even stronger resemblance to the 1927 short story "[[The Colour Out of Space]]" by [[H. P. Lovecraft]]<ref>{{cite web |last= Anderson |first= Kyle |date= February 21, 2018 |title= Annihilation is a Scary, Cosmic Trip (Review) |url= https://nerdist.com/annihilation-review-alex-garland-natalie-portman/ |publisher=[[Nerdist Industries]] |access-date= March 10, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180311140828/https://nerdist.com/annihilation-review-alex-garland-natalie-portman/ |archive-date= March 11, 2018 |url-status= dead }}</ref> (also adapted for the screen on several occasions, including ''[[Color Out of Space (film)|Color Out of Space]]'' in 2019), which is about a meteorite that lands in a swamp and unleashes a [[mutagenic]] plague.<ref name="mf" /> In his review, Chris McCoy of the ''[[Memphis Flyer]]'' found ''Annihilation'' to be reminiscent of both "The Colour Out of Space" and ''Roadside Picnic''/''Stalker''.<ref name="mf">{{cite magazine |last= McCoy| first= Chris| date= March 2, 2018| title= Annihilation|url=https://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/annihilation/Content?oid=11515951|magazine=[[Memphis Flyer]] |publisher= Contemporary Media |access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref> VanderMeer stated that the original novel "is 100% NOT a tribute to Picnic/Stalker",<ref name="@jeffvandermeer">{{Cite tweet |last=VanderMeer |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff VanderMeer |user=jeffvandermeer |date=17 July 2016 |title=Annihilation is 100% NOT a tribute to Picnic/Stalker. But I keep hearing Tanis = Annihilation. Why? |number=754674019174060032 |link=https://twitter.com/jeffvandermeer/status/754674019174060032 |access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> but rather drew influences from works by [[J. G. Ballard]] and [[Franz Kafka]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=VanderMeer |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff VanderMeer |date=20 March 2018 |user=jeffvandermeer |title=Should be pretty easy. I created Annihilation w/o reference to Stalker/Roadside Picnic but instead Ballard/Kafka/Bernanos. Tanis says they're influenced by S/RP only. Well, shitloads of stuff in Annihilation bear no relation to S/RP, so compare/contrast at will. |number=976202259968258051 |link=https://twitter.com/jeffvandermeer/status/976202259968258051 |access-date=10 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

===Casting===
The first cast member to join ''Annihilation'' was [[Natalie Portman]], who entered negotiations with Paramount in May 2015, under the agreement that production not begin until 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kroll |first=Justin |title=Natalie Portman Circles 'Ex Machina' Director's Next Sci-Fi Movie (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/natalie-portman-annihilation-cast-alex-garland-1201488319/ |work=Variety |date=May 7, 2015 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> Once Portman had agreed to play the biologist, the next cast member added was [[Gina Rodriguez]], who entered talks with  the studio in November 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |title='Jane the Virgin' Star in Talks to Join Natalie Portman in 'Annihilation' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jane-virgin-star-talks-join-natalie-portman-annihilation-839104/ |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=November 10, 2015 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> By that point, production was set to begin in early 2016, a decision made to accommodate Portman's schedule, but which also meant that the film would be shot during Rodriguez's break from filming ''[[Jane the Virgin]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kroll |first=Justin |title='Jane the Virgin' Star Gina Rodriguez in Talks to Join Natalie Portman's 'Annihilation' |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/gina-rodriguez-annihilation-natalie-portman-1201637832/ |work=Variety |date=November 10, 2015 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> [[Oscar Isaac]], who had previously worked with Garland in ''Ex Machina'', joined the cast in March 2016 as the husband of Portman's character.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kit |first=Borys |title=Oscar Isaac in Talks to Join Natalie Portman in 'Annihilation' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscar-isaac-talks-join-natalie-portman-annihilation-844216/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 30, 2016 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> By the end of April, [[Tessa Thompson]], [[Jennifer Jason Leigh]], and [[David Gyasi]] were also attached to the project.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kroll |first=Justin |title='Containment' Star Joins Natalie Portman in 'Annihilation' (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/natalie-portman-annihilation-containment-david-gyasi-1201763648/ |work=Variety |date=April 29, 2016 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>

In the ''Southern Reach'' novels, the Biologist is described as being of Asian descent and the Psychologist is mixed-race and half-[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous]]. As Portman and Leigh were cast in those roles, in 2018 the Media Action Network for Asian Americans and the American Indians in Film and Television advocacy groups accused Garland of [[Whitewashing in film|whitewashing]].<ref>{{cite news |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |title='Annihilation' Criticized for 'White-Washed Casting' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/groups-speak-whitewashing-alex-garlands-annihilation-1084077/ |work=The Hoillywood Reporter |date=February 12, 2018 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> Garland responded by saying that there was "nothing cynical or conspiratorial" about the casting, and that the book in which the characters' races are revealed, ''[[Authority (novel)|Authority]]'', had not been released when ''Annihilation'' was written and cast.<ref>{{cite news |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title='Annihilation' Director Alex Garland On Whitewashing Accusations: 'Nothing Cynical Or Conspiratorial' In Movie's Casting |url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/annihilation-whitewashing-natalie-portman-jennifer-jason-leigh-alex-garland-1202289119/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=February 14, 2018 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> Portman also responded to the controversy, saying that she did not know her character had a specific ethnicity until whitewashing concerns were raised, and that Garland had intentionally not spoken to VanderMeer about the other two ''Southern Reach'' novels because he wanted to focus on adapting ''Annihilation''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sharf |first=Zack |title=Natalie Portman Wasn't Aware Her 'Annihilation' Casting Was Whitewashing and Knows It 'Sounds Problematic' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/02/natalie-portman-annihilation-whitewashing-problematic-1201928683/ |work=[[IndieWire]] |date=February 14, 2018 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>

===Filming===
Principal photography for the film was underway by April 2016, when actor David Gyasi was added to the cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/natalie-portman-annihilation-containment-david-gyasi-1201763648/|title='Containment' Star Joins Natalie Portman in 'Annihilation' (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=April 29, 2016|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher= Penske Business Media |access-date=May 17, 2016}}</ref> Lighthouse Pictures Ltd started location filming in late April in South Forest, [[Windsor Great Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4923902|title=Construction of location set in Pond, 'Annihilation'| website= [[Geograph Britain and Ireland]]|access-date=May 17, 2016|archive-date= February 9, 2018|archive-url= https://archive.today/20180209193826/https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4923902|url-status=live|last=Williams|first=Phillip|date=April 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4923912| title= Track sign during filming|website=[[Geograph Britain and Ireland]]|access-date=May 17, 2016|archive-date= February 9, 2018| archive-url= https://archive.today/20180209194244/https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4923912|url-status=live|last=Williams|first=Phillip|date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> Some test shooting had been done in St. Marks, Florida, but the vegetation in the area turned out to be too dense to give any depth perception on screen.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.tampabay.com/features/books/for-florida-author-jeff-vandermeer-giant-flying-bears-are-all-in-a-days/2324112/ |title=For Florida author Jeff VanderMeer, giant flying bears are all in a day's work|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]| first=Colette|last= Bancroft|date=May 17, 2017|access-date= February 9, 2018| archive-date=February 9, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180209194450/http://www.tampabay.com/features/books/for-florida-author-jeff-vandermeer-giant-flying-bears-are-all-in-a-days/2324112 |url-status=live}}</ref> On May 9, 2016, cinematographer [[Rob Hardy (cinematographer)|Rob Hardy]] began sharing pictures from the set of the film.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.indiewire.com/2016/07/alex-garland-annihilation-photos-tessa-thompson-rob-hardy-1201703636/|title=Alex Garland's 'Annihilation': Cast and Crew Share Striking Behind-the-Scenes Images from the Sci-Fi Thriller|work=[[IndieWire]]|publisher= Penske Business Media |access-date= April 18, 2018|date=July 7, 2016|last=Nordine|first=Michael}}</ref> On July 13 and 14, filming took place at [[Holkham Pines]] in North Norfolk.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/going-out/new_natalie_portman_film_to_be_shot_at_holkham_1_4608284/|title='Annihilation': New Natalie Portman film to be shot at Holkham|work=[[Eastern Daily Press]]|last=Pochin|first=Courtney|date=July 7, 2016|publisher=Archant Community Media|access-date=July 14, 2016|archive-date=July 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710153033/http://www.edp24.co.uk/going-out/new_natalie_portman_film_to_be_shot_at_holkham_1_4608284|url-status=dead}}</ref> Shooting was completed that month.<ref name=HollywoodReporter-producerclash>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/annihilation-how-a-clash-between-producers-led-a-netflix-deal-1065465|title='Annihilation': Behind-the-Scenes of a Producer Clash and That Netflix Deal (Exclusive)|date=December 7, 2017 |access-date= February 9, 2018|first=Borys |last=Kit|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|quote = ... the production budget, which is in the $55 million range ...}}</ref>

The visual effects team was made up of many of Garland's collaborators from his previous film, ''[[Ex Machina (film)|Ex Machina]]'', including VFX supervisor Andrew Whitehurst, main visual effects company [[DNEG]] and Milk VFX, plus special makeup effects by Tristan Versluis.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://vfxvoice.com/an-altered-realm-of-being-and-beings-haunt-annihilation/|title=An Altered Realm of Being (and Beings) Haunt ANNIHILATION| date= April 3, 2018 |access-date= April 3, 2018|first=Kevin H. |last=Martin|work=VFX Voice| publisher= [[Visual Effects Society]]}}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{Main|Annihilation (soundtrack)}}

==Release==
Due to a poorly received [[test screening]], [[David Ellison]], a financier and producer at [[Skydance Media|Skydance]], became concerned that the film was "too intellectual" and "too complicated", and demanded changes to make it appeal to a wider audience, including making Portman's character more sympathetic, and changing the ending. Producer Scott Rudin sided with the director, who did not want to alter the film. Rudin, who had [[final cut privilege]], defended the film and refused to take notes from Ellison.<ref name=HollywoodReporter-producerclash />

On December 7, 2017, it was announced that, due to the clashes between Rudin and Ellison, and the shift in Paramount's leadership, a deal had been struck allowing Netflix to distribute the film internationally. According to this deal, Paramount would handle the American, Canadian, and Chinese release, while Netflix would begin streaming the film in other territories 17 days later.<ref name=HollywoodReporter-producerclash />

The film was released theatrically in the United States on February&nbsp;23, 2018, by Paramount Pictures, and digitally in other markets on March&nbsp;12, 2018, by Netflix.<ref name="ScreenRant">{{cite news|url=https://screenrant.com/annihilation-movie-netflix-international-why/|title=Why ''Annihilation'' Is Going Straight To Netflix Internationally|last1=Fuller|first1=Becky|date=February 22, 2018|work=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=February 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/annihilation-release-date-alex-garland-oscar-isaac-natalie-portman-1202141896/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803221311/http://deadline.com/2017/08/annihilation-release-date-alex-garland-oscar-isaac-natalie-portman-1202141896/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 3, 2017|title=Alex Garland's 'Annihilation' Gets 2018 Release Date|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]| publisher= Penske Business Media | first=Patrick| last= Hipes|date=August 3, 2017|access-date=August 4, 2017}}</ref> Garland expressed his disappointment with the decision to coincide digital distribution with theatrical, saying, "We made the film for cinema."<ref>{{cite web|last=Cook |first=Tommy |url=https://collider.com/alex-garland-annihilation-interview/ |title=Alex Garland on Annihilation, That Netflix Deal, and More |publisher=Complex Media |work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=December 13, 2017 |access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.metro.us/entertainment/movies/alex-garland-reaction-to-annihilation-released-on-netflix| title= How 'Annihilation' director Alex Garland feels about the film being released on Netflix| date= February 20, 2018| work= [[Metro (U.S. newspaper)|Metro]]| publisher= Metro Media| last= Wakeman| first= Gregory| access-date= April 18, 2018| archive-date= March 29, 2018| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180329231526/https://www.metro.us/entertainment/movies/alex-garland-reaction-to-annihilation-released-on-netflix| url-status= dead}}</ref> On January 5, 2019, the film was released digitally on Netflix's competitor [[Hulu]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/01/arts/television/best-movies-tv-netflix-amazon-hulu-hbo-january.html|title=The Best Movies and TV Shows New to Netflix, Amazon and More in January|last=Vineyard|first=Jennifer|date=2019-01-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-01-11|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/new-on-hulu-january-2019/|title=What's New to Stream on Hulu for January 2019|date=2019-01-06|website=Film School Rejects|access-date=2019-01-11|archive-date=2019-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112145939/https://filmschoolrejects.com/new-on-hulu-january-2019/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

''Annihilation'' was released on [[Digital distribution|Digital HD]] on May&nbsp;22, 2018, and on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]], [[Blu-ray]], and [[DVD]] on May&nbsp;29.<ref>{{cite web|title=Annihilation (2018)|url=https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/7850/annihilation|website=DVDs Release Dates|access-date=April 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Squires|first1=John|title=Experience 'Annihilation' on Digital, DVD and Blu-ray This May|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/home-video/3494056/experience-annihilation-digital-dvd-blu-ray-may/|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=April 17, 2018|date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
''Annihilation'' grossed $32.7 million in the United States and Canada and $10.3 million in China, for a worldwide total of $43.1 million, against a production budget of $40–55 million.<ref name=TheNumbers /> While it did not amass much in terms of box office, the film found new life in home release, with some publications arguing it could become a [[cult classic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/biggest-box-office-bombs-2018-so-far/2/|title=Biggest Box Office Bombs of 2018 So Far|work=[[Screen Rant]]|publisher= Valnet, Inc.|first= Leo|last= Faierman|date=June 23, 2018|access-date=September 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/03/2001-a-space-odyssey-annihilation-smart-science-fiction-profitable-1201941164/|title='2001,' 50 Years Later: Kubrick's Classic Showed How 'Annihilation' Could Have Been Profitable|work=[[IndieWire]]|publisher= Penske Media Corporation |first= Chris| last= O'Falt|date=May 19, 2018|access-date=September 16, 2018}}</ref>

In the United States, the film was released alongside ''[[Game Night (film)|Game Night]]'' and ''[[Every Day (2018 film)|Every Day]]'', and was projected to gross $10–12 million from 2,012 theaters during its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/black-panther-tuesday-record-second-weekend-box-office-preview-1202297438/|title='Black Panther' Posts Record $21M Pre-Summer Tuesday; Second Weekend To Reap $104M-$109M|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|publisher= Penske Business Media |first= Anthony| last= D'Alessandro|date=February 21, 2018|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> It made $3.9 million on its first day (including $900,000 from Thursday night previews at 1,850 theaters), and ended up making $11 million over the weekend, finishing fourth, behind ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'', ''Game Night'', and ''[[Peter Rabbit (film)|Peter Rabbit]]''.<ref name=opening>{{cite web| url= https://deadline.com/2018/02/black-panther-natalie-portman-annihilation-game-night-weekend-box-office-1202300998/|title='Black Panther' Breaks More Records: $108M Second Weekend Is Second-Best Ever As Marvel Movie Heads For $400M|work= Deadline Hollywood |publisher= Penske Business Media |first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=February 25, 2018|access-date=February 25, 2018}}</ref> Its second weekend, the film dropped 49% to $5.9 million, falling to 6th place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-black-panther-death-wish-bruce-willis-box-office-1202308124/|title='Black Panther' Busts Past Half Billion; 'Red Sparrow' Flies Low With $17M – Sunday AM B.O. Update|work= Deadline Hollywood |publisher= Penske Business Media |date=March 4, 2018|first=Anthony |last= D'Alessandro| access-date= April 2, 2018}}</ref>

===Critical response===
On film [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on 331 reviews, and an average score of {{RT data|average}}; the site's "critics consensus" reads: "''Annihilation'' backs up its sci-fi visual wonders and visceral genre thrills with an impressively ambitious—and surprisingly strange—exploration of challenging themes that should leave audiences pondering long after the end credits roll."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/annihilation|title=Annihilation (2018)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a [[weighted mean|weighted average]] score of 79 out of 100 based on reviews from 51 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/annihilation |title=Annihilation Reviews |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |work=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=September 28, 2020 }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "C" on an A+ to F scale, and [[PostTrak]] reported filmgoers gave it a 71% overall positive score.<ref name="opening" />

[[Richard Roeper]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film four out of four stars, praising it for taking risks, and saying: "Kudos to Garland and the cast, but bravo to Scott Rudin as well. Apparently you knew a masterpiece when you saw it, and you made sure we were able to see it as well."<ref>{{cite news |last= Roeper |first= Richard |author-link= Richard Roeper |date= February 21, 2018 |title=Annihilation': Innovations abound as Natalie Portman ventures into the unknown |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/annihilation-innovations-abound-as-natalie-portman-ventures-into-the-unknown/ |website=[[Chicago Sun Times]] |access-date=February 22, 2018 }}</ref> Writing for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', [[Peter Travers]] complimented the cast and Garland's writing and direction, giving the film three and a half stars out of four, and saying: "Garland need make no apologies for ''Annihilation''. It's a bracing brainteaser with the courage of its own ambiguity. You work out the answers in your own head, in your own time, in your own dreams, where the best sci-fi puzzles leave things."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Travers |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Travers |date=February 21, 2018 |title='Annihilation' Review: Director Alex Garland Transcends Sci-Fi Pulp |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/travers-annihilation-director-alex-garland-southern-reach-trilogy-w516809 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222230106/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/travers-annihilation-director-alex-garland-southern-reach-trilogy-w516809 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[The Economist]]'' described the film as "tightrope-walking the fine line between open-ended, mind-expanding mystery and lethargic, pretentious twaddle", but praised its final half hour.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2018/03/predator-pretensions |title=Is Netflix the new straight-to-video? "Annihilation" is the third in a series of mediocre science-fiction releases |author=<!-- No byline, Prospero psuedonym --> |date=March 12, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=March 12, 2018 }}</ref>

As part of his annual end-of-year list of favorite songs, books, and movies, former United States President [[Barack Obama]] listed ''Annihilation'' as one of his favorite films of 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |date=2018-12-28 |title=Barack Obama's Favorite Movies of 2018 Include Annihilation, Roma |url=https://collider.com/barack-obama-favorite-movies-2018-list/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref>

Critics have referred to the film as a [[sci-fi film|sci-fi]] [[horror thriller]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Benjamin |date=2018-02-21 |title=Annihilation review – Natalie Portman thriller leaves a haunting impression |url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/feb/22/annihilation-review-natalie-portman-thriller-leaves-a-haunting-impression |access-date=2024-04-30 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Brody |first=Richard |date=2018-02-23 |title=The Pseudo-Mysterious Seriousness of "Annihilation" |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-pseudo-mysterious-seriousness-of-annihilation |access-date=2024-04-30 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilhelmi |first=Jack |date=2020-01-12 |title=Annihilation Paved The Way For A Return To Sci-Fi Horror |url=https://screenrant.com/annihilation-movie-popularity-paved-scifi-horror-movie-return-reason/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> and some have said that this combination defies traditional genres and makes it part of the [[New Weird]].<ref>{{Cite web |title='Annihilation': Is the 'New Weird' too weird -- even with Natalie Portman? |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/is-annihilation-movie-based-on-jeff-vandermeer-new-weird-book-too-weird/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Grierson |first=Tim |date=2018-02-27 |title=In Praise of 'Annihilation' and the Modern 'Weird' Sci-Fi Renaissance |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/in-praise-of-annihilation-and-the-modern-weird-sci-fi-renaissance-204607/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2025, it was one of the films voted for the "Readers' Choice" edition of ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}} list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century," finishing at number 289.<ref>{{cite web |title=Readers Choose Their Top Movies of the 21st Century |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/readers-movies-21st-century.html |website=The New York Times |date=2 July 2025 |access-date=2 July 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|2798920}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|m/annihilation|Annihilation}}

{{Skydance Media}}
{{Alex Garland}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Annihilation}}
[[Category:2018 films]]
[[Category:2018 horror films]]
[[Category:2018 American films]]
[[Category:2018 English-language films]]
[[Category:2018 British films]]
[[Category:2018 science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:Films using motion capture]]
[[Category:American films about extraterrestrial life]]
[[Category:American nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:American science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:British films about extraterrestrial life]]
[[Category:British nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:British science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:Casting controversies in film]]
[[Category:Existentialist films]]
[[Category:Films about impact events]]
[[Category:Films about alien visitations]]
[[Category:Films about alien invasions]]
[[Category:Films about adultery]]
[[Category:Films about scientists]]
[[Category:Films based on American horror novels]]
[[Category:Films based on science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Alex Garland]]
[[Category:Films produced by Andrew Macdonald]]
[[Category:Films produced by Scott Rudin]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Alex Garland]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ben Salisbury]]
[[Category:Films scored by Geoff Barrow]]
[[Category:Films shot in Berkshire]]
[[Category:Films shot in London]]
[[Category:Films shot in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Films shot in Surrey]]
[[Category:Films shot at Pinewood Studios]]
[[Category:Films set in Florida]]
[[Category:Films set in swamps]]
[[Category:Films set in lighthouses]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
[[Category:Skydance Media films]]
[[Category:DNA Films films]]
[[Category:Cosmic horror films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Annihilation (film)|access_date=2026-02-25}}