Is The Martian Based on a True Story or a Fiction? Ending Explained
by Rubaditsha
Updated May 02, 2023
The Martian Movie Overview
The Martian is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, released in 2015 and starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sean Bean, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Mackenzie Davis, Donald Glover, and Benedict Wong.
The film is based on the 2011 novel by Andy Weir and follows the story of an astronaut named Mark Watney, who gets stranded on Mars after his crewmates leave him behind. The movie chronicles Watney's lone struggle for survival on the planet while NASA attempts to rescue him and bring him back to Earth.
The film was produced as a co-production of the United Kingdom and the United States by 20th Century Fox. The project was initiated after Fox optioned the novel in March 2013, and producer Simon Kinberg started developing the film. Drew Goddard adapted the screenplay from the novel and was initially attached to direct, but the project did not move forward.
Ridley Scott replaced Goddard as director, and with Matt Damon cast as the main character, the production was approved. The filming started in November 2014 and lasted for around 70 days. The crew built twenty sets on one of the largest sound stages in the world in Budapest, Hungary. Exterior filming took place in Wadi Rum in Jordan.
The Martian premiered on September 11, 2015, at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film was released in the UK on September 30, 2015, and in the US on October 2, 2015, in different formats such as 2D, 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX.
It was well-received by critics and audiences, grossing over $630 million worldwide. The film was praised for its direction, visual effects, musical score, screenplay, scientific accuracy, and Matt Damon's performance as the lead character.
It received the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also won the 2016 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form. Matt Damon won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, the BAFTA Award, and the Critics' Choice Award.
Is The Martian Based on a True Story?
"The Martian" is a novel written by Andy Weir that was published in 2011. It is a work of fiction and not based on a true story. However, Weir did extensive research to ensure the scientific accuracy of the novel, which is set on Mars in the near future.
The story follows the adventures of astronaut Mark Watney, who is stranded on Mars after his team mistakenly believes he is dead and leaves him behind during an emergency evacuation. Watney must use his skills as a botanist and engineer to survive on the inhospitable planet and find a way to communicate with Earth and eventually return home.
While "The Martian" is not based on a true story, Weir was inspired by real-life Mars missions and NASA's plans for future Mars exploration. The book includes many accurate scientific details about Mars and the challenges that humans would face if they were to visit the planet. Weir worked closely with NASA scientists and engineers to ensure the scientific accuracy of the novel, and the agency has praised the book for its realistic portrayal of a Mars mission.
"The Martian" was adapted into a film directed by Ridley Scott in 2015, starring Matt Damon as Mark Watney. The movie also received praise for its scientific accuracy and attention to detail, and was nominated for seven Academy Awards.
The Martian Plot
In the year 2035, a team of astronauts on a mission to explore Mars is forced to evacuate after a severe dust storm. During the evacuation, astronaut Mark Watney is hit by debris, and his bio-monitor telemetry is damaged. He is presumed dead, and the crew leaves for their orbiting vessel, the Hermes, leaving him behind.
Watney wakes up injured but alive after the storm and returns to the crew's surface habitat to treat his wound. With no means to communicate with Earth, his only hope is the next Mars mission, the Ares IV, which will arrive in four years. Watney's immediate concern is food, and he creates a garden inside the Hab using Martian soil fertilized with the crew's bio-waste and manufactures water from leftover rocket fuel. He also modifies the rover to journey to the Ares IV MAV site.
On Earth, NASA satellite planner Mindy Park discovers that Watney is alive through satellite images, but NASA decides not to inform the crew so that they can stay focused on their mission. Watney embarks on a journey to retrieve the Pathfinder probe, which fell silent in 1997 and establishes visual contact with NASA.
NASA transmits a software patch to enable communication via text. Meanwhile, Kapoor and Ng prepare a space probe to deliver food to Watney. However, the Hab's airlock blows out, killing all the potato plants. The decision is made to use a secret booster rocket, the Taiyang Shen, to resupply Watney.
But Purnell devises an alternative plan to rendezvous with and resupply the Hermes, which will then use Earth's gravity to return to Mars two years earlier. The crew implements Purnell's plan without seeking NASA approval, and they successfully retrieve Watney. After his rescue, Watney becomes a survival instructor for astronaut candidates. Five years later, those involved in his rescue are seen in their current lives as the Ares V is about to launch.
The Martian Ending Explained
The ending of "The Martian" sees Mark Watney, the stranded astronaut, successfully rescued and returned to Earth. This is the culmination of his heroic struggle to survive alone on the harsh, unforgiving surface of Mars for over a year.
In the book, Mark's rescue involves a complex series of maneuvers by NASA and the crew of the Hermes spacecraft that had left him behind. They launch a supply ship, the Taiyang Shen, to Mars with the intention of resupplying Mark with enough food to last until the next manned mission can arrive. However, Mark discovers that the rocket fuel can be converted into water, which he desperately needs to grow potatoes and survive.
Mark's ingenuity allows him to not only extend his survival but also reach the Ares IV landing site, where he can wait for the next manned mission. In the meantime, NASA and the crew of the Hermes work out a daring plan to slingshot the spacecraft back around Earth and use its remaining fuel to intercept Mark's position on Mars. The crew then descends to the surface and picks up Mark, and they all return home safely.
The film adaptation follows a similar plot, although it makes some changes to the book's ending. In the movie, the Hermes crew decides to mutiny and use the spacecraft's remaining fuel to fly back to Mars to rescue Mark, rather than slingshotting around Earth. This adds a new level of drama and tension to the rescue, as it puts the crew's lives at risk. However, they are successful in their mission, and Mark is ultimately rescued and reunited with his fellow astronauts.
Overall, the ending of "The Martian" is a satisfying conclusion to a thrilling story of human perseverance and ingenuity in the face of extreme adversity. Mark's survival and eventual rescue are a testament to the power of human intelligence and resourcefulness, and the book and film both leave audiences with a sense of hope and triumph.
The Martian Review
"The Martian" is a thrilling and captivating science fiction film that combines elements of survival, problem-solving, and teamwork in the context of a mission to Mars. The movie follows astronaut Mark Watney, who is left behind on Mars after a dust storm forces his crew to evacuate. Despite being stranded and presumed dead, Watney manages to survive on his own for several months by using his ingenuity and resourcefulness.
The film is visually stunning, with beautiful shots of the Martian landscape and realistic depictions of space travel and exploration. The acting is also top-notch, with Matt Damon delivering a standout performance as Watney. The supporting cast, which includes Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Jeff Daniels, also deliver strong performances that add depth to their characters.
One of the strengths of "The Martian" is its emphasis on problem-solving and teamwork. Throughout the film, Watney faces numerous challenges that he must overcome in order to survive, from creating a sustainable food source to finding a way to communicate with Earth. He does this with the help of his fellow astronauts, who work tirelessly to come up with solutions to bring him home.
Overall, "The Martian" is a compelling and entertaining film that is both scientifically accurate and emotionally engaging. It combines elements of science fiction and drama to create a story that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. Whether you are a fan of space exploration or simply enjoy a good survival story, "The Martian" is definitely worth watching.
Is The Martian based on a True Story: FAQs
"The Martian" was directed by Ridley Scott.
Matt Damon played the lead role in "The Martian."
"The Martian" is based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Andy Weir.
"The Martian" was released in the US on October 2, 2015.