Extinction (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Extinction is a 2018 action thriller directed by Ben Young, starring Michael Peña as Peter, Lizzy Caplan and Mike Colter. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $1.5 million worldwide. Critics gave it 32% on Rotten Tomatoes and 40 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.
What Is Extinction About?
The premise of Extinction without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A man's family life is thrown into turmoil by unsettling visions of an impending apocalypse. As an extraterrestrial threat emerges and descends upon Earth, he struggles to protect his loved ones. Facing a devastating crisis, he must confront the terrifying reality and fight for survival in a desperate battle against overwhelming odds.
Extinction Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- reference to stephen hawking
- invasion
- massacre
- electromagnetic pulse
- artificial intelligence
- gunfight
- shootout
- battle
- battlefield
- combat
- shot in the chest
- shot to death
+38 more Show fewer
- chest ripped open
- revelation
- machine gun
- pistol
- shotgun
- knife
- bayonet
- bombardment
- fictional war
- light
- lens flare
- survival
- disaster
- near death experience
- murder
- death
- violence
- brutality
- mercilessness
- held at gunpoint
- rescue
- escape
- deception
- blood
- corpse
- shot in the head
- fistfight
- fight
- brawl
- fight to the death
- beating
- beaten to death
- chase
- foot chase
- disarming someone
- knocked unconscious
- explosion
- exploding body
Extinction Cast & Characters
Michael Peña leads the cast as Peter, with Lizzy Caplan as Alice and Mike Colter as David. Directed by Ben Young; 13 actors are credited in all.
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Director Ben Young
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Michael Peña as Peter -
Lizzy Caplan as Alice -
Mike Colter as David -
Tom Riley as Wellness Center Patient Chris
Also Starring in Extinction
· 9 more- Lex Shrapnel Ray
- Emma Booth Samantha
- Amelia Crouch Hannah
- Lilly Aspell Megan
- Erica Tremblay Lucy
- Israel Broussard Miles
- Sandra Teles Wellness Center Woman
- Nikola Kent Luke
- Ivana Zivkovic
Extinction Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Extinction 32% on Rotten Tomatoes and 40 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 40/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in character & emotion (25).
Extinction Echo Score Breakdown
Extinction exhibits sporadic visual appeal but is undermined by inconsistent narrative momentum and underdeveloped characters. While its direction offers moments of effective suspense in dark environments, the familiar premise and predictable twist limit its engagement. Acting performances often feel stilted, reducing emotional investment. Despite some technical strengths, the overall impression remains uneven and largely forgettable.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
In terms of art and craft, the film presents a measured approach to production design and cinematography, with darkly lit corridors that occasionally heighten suspense. The visual framing benefits from strong VFX shots and futuristic explosions, though directing choices sometimes feel out of element. Editing transitions at times hinder narrative clarity. Overall, the craft work shows potential but remains uneven.
- Character & Emotion 25
When it comes to character and emotion, performances are often described as wooden or stilted, particularly from the lead. Dialogue delivery lacks chemistry, resulting in limited emotional resonance. Attempts at depth through exposition or dream sequences fail to compensate for under-emoting. As a result, viewers struggle to connect with the protagonists, leaving the emotional stakes largely unfulfilled.
- Story & Flow 30
Regarding story and flow, the narrative suffers from a familiar premise and uneven pacing that undercuts engagement. Early sections build tension effectively but give way to predictable twists and logic gaps that disrupt coherence. Exposition-heavy scenes oscillate without clear purpose, and the climax arrives without adequate setup. Ultimately, the plot’s structural weaknesses diminish its overall impact.
- Sensory Experience 60
When assessing sensory experience, the film benefits from polished VFX sequences and a soundtrack that supports its sci-fi atmosphere. Sound design at times bolsters suspense, though the heavy reliance on darkness renders key action moments difficult to perceive. Visual style fluctuates between striking futuristic imagery and overly dim compositions. Overall, sensory elements are competent but occasionally hinder clarity.
- Rewatch Factor 35
In terms of rewatch factor, limited character depth and narrative inconsistencies reduce incentives for subsequent viewings. Although certain action set pieces and the central twist may hold fleeting appeal on a second watch, pacing irregularities and dialogue shortcomings become more apparent. Consequently, the film offers minimal lasting resonance, making repeat viewings unlikely for most audiences.
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IMDb 5.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 32% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 47%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 40 Metascore
User score 5.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 60% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.5 /5
13 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 1.5 /5
See on Movie Insider
Extinction Plot Summary
What happens in Extinction from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Peter, an engineer portrayed by Michael Peña, grapples with haunting nightmares that strain both his mind and family life, as they depict intense encounters with an unknown alien adversary. As these visions escalate in intensity, they start impacting his wife, Alice Caplan, who implores him to seek professional help. At work, Peter’s episodes further disrupt his life, leading to serious workplace incidents. Concerned for his well-being, his boss, David, recommends he visit a specialized clinic.
Full summary
The whole story of Extinction, scene by scene
Extinction Box Office
Extinction grossed $1.5 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$1.5M
- International
- $1.5M
Extinction Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.
- Clip Extinction movie alien attack scene
How Well Do You Know Extinction?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What triggers Peter's quest for the truth throughout the movie?
Extinction Also Known As
19 alternative titles, including “Extinção” and “Εξόντωση”.
- Also known as
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- Extinção
- Εξόντωση
- 灭绝
- 滅絕(2018)
- Kihalás
- Закат цивилизации
- 익스팅션: 종의 구원자
- Tükeniş
- Zagłada
- Extinción
- לחיים ולמוות
- Заличаване
+7 more Show fewer
- Zánik
- 滅絕入侵
- ฝันร้ายภัยสูญพันธุ์
- Занепад цивілізації
- Tuyệt Chủng
- エクスティンクション 地球奪還
- Išnykimas
Seen Extinction?
Movies Like Extinction
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Extinction, Edge of Extinction and War of the Worlds: Extinction.
Extinction FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Extinction, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Extinction?
Extinction runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).
When was Extinction released?
Extinction was released on July 27, 2018.
Who directed Extinction?
Extinction was directed by Ben Young.
More films by Ben Young Who is in the cast of Extinction?
Extinction stars Michael Peña as Peter, Lizzy Caplan as Alice and Mike Colter as David, among 13 credited actors.
How much did Extinction make at the box office?
Extinction grossed $1.5 million worldwide.
How is Extinction rated?
Extinction has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, 40 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.
Does Extinction have a post-credit scene?
No. Extinction has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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