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Sci-fi horror film

Phoenix Forgotten (2017): Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Phoenix Forgotten (2017) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
53%
worldwide gross
$3.7M
Echo Score
46
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Phoenix Forgotten (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 27m (87 min)
Director
Justin Barber
Genres
Sci-Fi , Mystery , Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$2.8M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Crew

The Director of Phoenix Forgotten

Directed by Justin Barber.

Ratings

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).

46 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

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.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.7M

1.3× its budget

US & Canada
$3.6M
International
$97.6K
Budget
$2.8M
US & Canada 97% Rest of the world 3%
Videos

Phoenix Forgotten Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 clip and 1 featurette.

PHOENIX FORGOTTEN (2017) Official Teaser
  • Trailer PHOENIX FORGOTTEN (2017) Official Trailer
  • Clip PHOENIX FORGOTTEN (2017) - Clip 2
  • Featurette Phoenix Forgotten Featurette - True Crime (2017) | Movieclips Indie
Quiz

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What year does Sophie's birthday party take place in the movie?

Cars

Cars in Phoenix Forgotten

25 cars on screen, including the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 1999 Land-Rover Discovery Series II.

All 25 cars
  • 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee in Phoenix Forgotten 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Main role
  • 1999 Land-Rover Discovery Series II in Phoenix Forgotten 1999 Land-Rover Discovery Series II Main role
  • 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit V Typ 1K in Phoenix Forgotten 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit V Typ 1K Important role
  • 2016 BMW X1 F48 in Phoenix Forgotten 2016 BMW X1 F48 Minor role

Seen Phoenix Forgotten?

FAQ

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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