Oxygen (2021): Cast, Ratings & Ending
Oxygen is a 2021 sci-fi thriller directed by Alexandre Aja, starring Mélanie Laurent as Elizabeth 'Liz' Hansen, Laura Boujenah and Mathieu Amalric. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes. Critics gave it 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 40m (100 min)
- Director
- Alexandre Aja
- Original language
-
French
- Studio
- Netflix
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Oxygen About?
The premise of Oxygen without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A young woman awakens alone in a cryogenic pod, suffering from amnesia and unable to recall who she is or how she got there. With her oxygen supply rapidly decreasing, she desperately tries to recover her memories, uncovering unsettling clues about her confinement. As she fights to survive, she must confront the disturbing reality of her situation and find a way to escape the claustrophobic environment before it’s too late.
Oxygen Themes & Keywords
· 44 tags- female protagonist
- escape
- jump scare
- clone
- hallucination
- pandemic
- female scientist
- beach
- one person
- minimal cast
- replicant
- barefoot female
+32 more Show fewer
- oxygen
- air
- breath
- upskirt
- cryogenic chamber
- trapped in.a cryogenic chamber
- crying woman
- profanity
- panic
- flashback
- close up of mouth
- white rat
- running out of oxygen
- human clone
- memory transfer
- removing intravenous line
- intravenous injection
- male computer voice
- medical mask
- virus
- space travel
- reflection in eye
- eye close up
- trapped in space
- outer space
- spaceship
- psychological drama
- artificial intelligence sci fi
- isolation
- apocalypse
- close up of a woman's mouth
- title spoken by character
Oxygen Cast & Characters
Mélanie Laurent leads the cast as Elizabeth 'Liz' Hansen, with Laura Boujenah as Alice Hansen and Mathieu Amalric as M.I.L.O.. Directed by Alexandre Aja; 11 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Alexandre Aja
-
Mélanie Laurent as Elizabeth 'Liz' Hansen -
Laura Boujenah as Alice Hansen -
Mathieu Amalric as M.I.L.O. -
Malik Zidi as Léo Ferguson
Also Starring in Oxygen
· 7 more- Cathy Cerda Alice Hansen âgée
- Marc Saez Inspecteur
- Eric Herson-Macarel Capitaine Moreau
- Pascal Germain
- Anie Balestra
- Lyah Valade Liz enfant
- Marie Lemiale
Oxygen Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Oxygen 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 73/100, strongest in character & emotion (82) and weakest in sensory experience (65).
Oxygen Echo Score Breakdown
Oxygen delivers a tense, claustrophobic experience anchored by Mélanie Laurent's committed performance, but its narrative falters under a contrived climax and uneven pacing. Critics note strong direction and effective visual confinement, while some find the script incoherent and the audio work subpar. Audience reactions echo this split, praising the suspenseful moments yet criticizing predictability and a sluggish start. The film remains a modest thriller that entertains despite its structural flaws, offering limited but notable rewatch incentive.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
In terms of direction and visual execution, Oxygen benefits from a focused, confined setting that heightens tension, as noted by several reviewers praising the robust direction and bold climactic touches. However, some critics point to a less dynamic approach in the latter half and occasional editing lapses. The overall craftsmanship therefore leans positive, though not without minor inconsistencies.
- Character & Emotion 82
When it comes to character work, Laurent's performance is repeatedly highlighted as a strength, delivering nuanced shifts between fear, determination, and resolve. Supporting commentary acknowledges her ability to carry the film almost single‑handedly. A few detractors mention limited emotional depth elsewhere, yet the dominant sentiment affirms strong acting that anchors the narrative.
- Story & Flow 70
Regarding plot and pacing, Oxygen offers an engaging mystery with a rising sense of urgency that many viewers find compelling. Nonetheless, critiques cite a predictable setup, a sluggish opening, and a contrived resolution that diminish overall cohesion. The story thus sits in a mixed zone, delivering tension but suffering from uneven momentum.
- Sensory Experience 65
In the sensory realm, the film presents a cold, claustrophobic visual palette and effective sound design that reinforce the confinement theme. Positive remarks focus on striking visuals and competent dubbing, while others condemn distracting dubbing and inconsistent audio quality. Consequently, the sensory experience is generally adequate but marred by occasional technical lapses.
- Rewatch Factor 72
For rewatch value, Oxygen's blend of suspenseful twists and a tight central performance offers incentive for a second viewing, especially to catch nuanced details. Some audience members, however, note a lack of lasting impact and predictability that may reduce repeat interest. Overall, the film provides modest replay appeal rooted in its thriller elements.
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IMDb 6.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 90% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 74%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 67 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
Letterboxd 3.1 /5
50 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Oxygen Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Oxygen from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A woman named Elizabeth Hansen awakens in a sealed medical cryogenic unit, only to realize she is trapped inside as the oxygen depletes rapidly. Suffering from memory loss, she struggles to recall her identity and the circumstances that led her there. She finds some support in an advanced AI called M.I.L.O. (Medical Interface Liaison Officer), which unfortunately will not unlock the unit unless provided with an administrator code.
Full summary
The whole story of Oxygen, scene by scene, with the ending explained
How Well Do You Know Oxygen?
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 is Elizabeth Hansen's primary concern when she regains consciousness?
Oxygen Also Known As
27 alternative titles, including “O2” and “Oxygene”.
- Also known as
-
- O2
- Oxygene
- 氧气
- ออกซิเจน
- オキシジェン:2021
- Oxígeno
- Oksigen
- Oxygène
- 氧气危机
- Oxigênio
- Oxigén
- Кислород
+15 more Show fewer
- Oxigénio
- Kyslík
- Oksijen
- Кисень
- Tlen
- 氧氣危機
- อ๊อกซิเจน
- חמצן
- Happi
- Deguonis
- オキシジェン
- اکسیژن
- 囊中人, ჟანგბადი
- Кисеоник
- Oxigenul
Seen Oxygen?
Movies Like Oxygen
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Cryo, Blank and Oblivion.
Oxygen FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Oxygen, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Oxygen?
Oxygen runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was Oxygen released?
Oxygen was released on May 12, 2021.
Who directed Oxygen?
Oxygen was directed by Alexandre Aja.
More films by Alexandre Aja Who is in the cast of Oxygen?
Oxygen stars Mélanie Laurent as Elizabeth 'Liz' Hansen, Laura Boujenah as Alice Hansen and Mathieu Amalric as M.I.L.O., among 11 credited actors.
How is Oxygen rated?
Oxygen has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic and 3.1/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Oxygen have a post-credit scene?
No. Oxygen has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Oxygen in?
The original language of Oxygen is French.
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