Neill Blomkamp has built a career centered on social commentary, with his masterpiece being <em>District 9</em>. This early collaboration with Sharlto Copley is a nearly flawless film that tackles the issues of racism and xenophobia. The film’s enduring popularity continues to inspire fans to seek a sequel, although its release date remains uncertain. Blomkamp and Copley have assured that a follow-up is still in development, but for now, viewers can enjoy the original film on streaming platforms.

District 9 is set in a world where an alien spacecraft arrives on Earth, hovering over Johannesburg, South Africa. Confounded by this phenomenon, the government breaches the ship to discover aliens in dire conditions. They are relocated to a slum where they are segregated from the rest of Johannesburg, derogatorily referred to as “prawns.” Over the course of 20 years, tensions escalate, prompting the government to evict them and relocate them outside the city.

On this particular day, MNU promotes Wikus (Copley), leading to disastrous consequences. After coming into contact with alien technology, he rapidly deteriorates. Initially a company man, Wikus shares the xenophobic sentiments of those around him but finds himself in the position of the very aliens he despises. District 9 stands out as a seminal sci-fi film that offers profound social commentary within its genre. It effectively draws parallels between the aliens in this narrative and the treatment of real-life refugees.

‘District 9’ Is an Emotionally Devastating Alien Film

Mockumentary-style films have had varying degrees of success, but Neill Blomkamp has perfected this approach in District 9. In a documentary-like fashion, talking heads narrate the origins of District 9 and Wikus’ journey. This format is particularly effective as it instills a sense of foreboding about the impending events. As Wikus prepares for his day of evicting aliens from their homes, dramatic irony unfolds through interviews that hint at something tragic about to happen. Meanwhile, viewers observe as the so-called prawns are scapegoated, subjected to slurs, and exploited for their unfamiliarity with human customs. The children of the aliens are treated with shocking cruelty, as government officials take pleasure in hunting them for sport.

Wikus becomes an ideal catalyst for change due to his initial hardline stance against the prawns. He supports government actions, making his eventual transformation significant. As alien material begins altering him into a prawn, he loses his humanity in the eyes of others, including his father-in-law. He becomes just another subject for experimentation. Throughout the film, Wikus gradually realizes that the aliens deserve humane treatment as he uncovers the truth about their dire circumstances.

The central message of District 9 is to highlight the horrors of xenophobia. The film skillfully fosters empathy for beings that appear less than human while drawing a stark connection to how humans are often dehumanized. Although Wikus is ultimately a tragic figure, his actions become heroic as he aids the aliens he once loathed in their quest for home. District 9 marked the beginning of Blomkamp’s socially conscious filmmaking that continues to resonate with audiences. Fans can currently stream the film on Hulu.