Prometheus (2012)

The geologist who brought the mapping drones gets lost in the cave. That’s the crew Ridley Scott sends to meet our makers: trained scientists who pull off their helmets on an alien moon because the air checks out, then poke at anything that wiggles. It looks incredible. The ship, the giant structure, the black goo, all of it feels huge and expensive, which tracks with a reported budget of up to $130 million. Michael Fassbender’s David is the reason to watch, an android who styles his hair after Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia and smiles like he already peeked at the last page. Noomi Rapace throws everything she has at it. The problem is the big questions. The movie asks where we came from, then answers with more questions and a sequel hook. It still pulled $403 million worldwide. A 5.6 because it’s the best-looking movie ever made about people who shouldn’t be trusted near a petri dish. $578 says you yell at a scientist with a doctorate to put the helmet back on.

What works: Michael Fassbender’s eerie, curious David and a production design that makes every corridor and cavern feel enormous.

What doesn’t: The scientists make baffling choices scene after scene, and the big questions about our origins get dodged instead of answered.

Who it’s for: People who want Alien-sized visuals and love arguing online about what the movie actually meant.