Phoenix Forgotten (2017): Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Phoenix Forgotten is a 2017 sci-fi horror film directed by Justin Barber. It runs 1 hour 27 minutes and earned $3.7 million worldwide on a $2.8 million budget. Critics gave it 53% on Rotten Tomatoes and 33 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 27m (87 min)
- Director
- Justin Barber
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Cinelou Releasing
- Budget
- $2.8M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Phoenix Forgotten About?
The premise of Phoenix Forgotten without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1997, three teenagers disappeared near Phoenix following a widely reported UFO encounter. Years later, recovered video footage reveals their desperate search for answers in the surrounding desert. As they investigate the strange event, the teens uncover disturbing secrets and unwittingly stumble upon a terrifying presence, leading to their sudden and unexplained disappearance. The recovered tapes offer a haunting look into their final, fateful journey.
Phoenix Forgotten Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- found footage
- talking to the camera
- looking at the camera
- mockumentary
- video camera
- arizona territory
- phoenix lights
- reference to harrison ford
- missing teenager
- search for a missing person
- year 1997
- meteorite
+38 more Show fewer
- reference to area 51
- jeep grand cherokee
- co written by director
- no survivors
- psychotronic film
- unidentified flying object
- unidentified flying object sighting
- girl wears eyeglasses
- man wears eyeglasses
- watching tv
- woman wears eyeglasses
- low budget sci fi movie
- alien abduction
- alien
- teenager
- reference to phoenix arizona
- reference to arizona
- analog horror
- reference to x files
- found footage horror
- expedition
- night
- mysterious light
- light
- desert
- arizona
- disappearance
- phoenix arizona
- anguish
- desperation
- sadness
- bitterness
- hill
- tragedy
- loss of control
- out of control
- delirium
- high school student
The Director of Phoenix Forgotten
Directed by Justin Barber.
- Director Justin Barber
Phoenix Forgotten Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Phoenix Forgotten 53% on Rotten Tomatoes and 33 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 46/100, strongest in character & emotion (50) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).
Phoenix Forgotten Echo Score Breakdown
In general, Phoenix Forgotten presents a familiar found-footage framework that frequently resorts to shaky visuals and conventional tropes. While its slow-burning structure builds occasional suspense and some viewers note engaging documentary-style moments, the narrative often feels derivative and unevenly paced. The film’s period footage achieves modest dramatic development, yet the abrupt climax leaves unanswered questions that undermine its impact. Overall, the film offers sporadic intrigue for genre enthusiasts but lacks the cohesion and originality to sustain broader appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 45
In terms of visual craft, the direction relies heavily on unsteady framing and faux cinéma vérité, producing a raw but often disorienting aesthetic. Critics have noted the home-movie quality of the period footage and repetitive shaky-camera patterns. User feedback credits the nostalgic 1990s tones and occasional effective effects, yet these moments are sporadic. Overall, the visual execution feels uneven and underdeveloped.
- Character & Emotion 50
When it comes to character portrayal, performances are generally low-key and restrained, focusing on subtle relationship moments in the past timeline. Observations point to modestly convincing interactions but limited emotional depth overall. While some viewers appreciate the restrained acting style for its authenticity, character arcs rarely generate strong empathy. Consequently, the emotional resonance remains modest.
- Story & Flow 50
In terms of narrative structure, the plot follows a familiar found-footage formula that many perceive as derivative. Early suspense builds gradually with intriguing mysteries about missing children and UFO phenomena, yet the pacing often feels uneven and the conclusion arrives abruptly. While the blend of documentary-style intrigue holds attention for some genre fans, the overall originality and coherence are limited.
- Sensory Experience 45
When considering sensory elements, the soundscape leans on standard suspense cues and intermittent static effects characteristic of found-footage films. The score and sound design contribute occasional tension, particularly during climactic UFO sequences, but lack distinctiveness. Visual coherence is hampered by persistent grain and camera distortion. Overall, the sensory experience delivers periodic engagement but remains fairly conventional.
- Rewatch Factor 40
When assessing rewatch potential, repeated viewings offer limited new discoveries due to the film’s adherence to familiar genre conventions. The mystery elements maintain slight curiosity on a second viewing, but the lack of narrative surprises and derivative structure reduce replay appeal. In sum, the rewatch factor remains modest and uneven.
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IMDb 5.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 53% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 40%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 33 Metascore
User score 4.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 60% User score
See on TMDB -
Movie Insider 3.4 /5
See on Movie Insider
Phoenix Forgotten Plot Summary
What happens in Phoenix Forgotten from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film begins with nostalgic video footage from a little girl’s birthday celebration in Phoenix, Arizona, captured by Josh Bishop (Luke Spencer Roberts). It’s his younger sister Sophie’s sixth birthday, and he roams around, asking guests to record messages for her future self. While recording, his grandfather shares some cringe-worthy advice about obedience in marriage, prompting Josh to quickly change the subject. After capturing a heartfelt message from their mother, she flips the camera around, urging Josh to say something sweet to Sophie. Overtly uncomfortable in front of the camera, Josh fumbles through his words. Suddenly, laughter and wonder erupt from the guests, pulling his attention away. Snatching the camera up, he documents the Phoenix Lights—a set of mysterious luminescent formations in the sky above.
Full summary
The whole story of Phoenix Forgotten, scene by scene
Phoenix Forgotten Box Office & Budget
Phoenix Forgotten grossed $3.7 million worldwide on a $2.8 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost. $3.6 million came from the US and Canada and $97,583 (3%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$3.7M
1.3× its budget
- US & Canada
- $3.6M
- International
- $97.6K
- Budget
- $2.8M
Phoenix Forgotten Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 clip and 1 featurette.
- Trailer PHOENIX FORGOTTEN (2017) Official Trailer
- Clip PHOENIX FORGOTTEN (2017) - Clip 2
- Featurette Phoenix Forgotten Featurette - True Crime (2017) | Movieclips Indie
How Well Do You Know Phoenix Forgotten?
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 year does Sophie's birthday party take place in the movie?
Cars in Phoenix Forgotten
25 cars on screen, including the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 1999 Land-Rover Discovery Series II.
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1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Main role -
1999 Land-Rover Discovery Series II Main role -
2006 Volkswagen Rabbit V Typ 1K Important role -
2016 BMW X1 F48 Minor role
Seen Phoenix Forgotten?
Movies Like Phoenix Forgotten
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Phoenix Incident, Night Skies and The Forgotten.
Phoenix Forgotten FAQ: Box Office, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Phoenix Forgotten, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Phoenix Forgotten?
Phoenix Forgotten runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).
When was Phoenix Forgotten released?
Phoenix Forgotten was released on April 21, 2017.
Who directed Phoenix Forgotten?
Phoenix Forgotten was directed by Justin Barber.
How much did Phoenix Forgotten make at the box office?
Phoenix Forgotten grossed $3.7 million worldwide ($3.6 million domestic, $97,583 international) on a budget of $2.8 million.
How is Phoenix Forgotten rated?
Phoenix Forgotten has 5.4/10 on IMDb, 53% on Rotten Tomatoes, 33 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.
Does Phoenix Forgotten have a post-credit scene?
No. Phoenix Forgotten has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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