Netflix Lands ‘Madly Original’ Sci-Fi District 9 in January

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With so many films available, Netflix is adding a popular choice in January: a highly-rated 2009 movie with a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Neill Blomkamp’s acclaimed sci-fi film, District 9, will be available to stream on Netflix starting in January 2026. Blomkamp co-wrote the movie with Terri Tatchell. The film was a major financial success, earning over $210.9 million globally on a $30 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo.

I was really blown away by District 9. It was directed by Neill Blomkamp, with David James and Jason Cope also involved, and it even got four Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture! What’s even cooler is that it was produced by Peter Jackson, the director of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit! The story feels so real, imagining what would happen if aliens actually needed to find a home on Earth. I learned it started as a short film Blomkamp made in 2005 called Alive in Joburg, and the movie is filmed in a way that makes it feel like a real documentary.

District 9 tells the story of aliens who come to Earth not to invade, but to seek refuge – a fresh take on the typical alien-arrival narrative. The film centers around Wikus van de Merwe (played by Copley), a government worker tasked with moving the aliens to a new settlement. It tackles difficult issues like prejudice, discrimination, and societal problems.

Will There Ever Be a Sequel to District 9?

Although it’s been 16 years since District 9 came out, the way the movie ended suggested a sequel could happen. There’s been talk about making another film, but currently, no sequel is being developed.

According to Blomkamp, the script for another District 9 movie is still in progress and looking promising. He explained it took ten years to find a compelling reason to make a new film, rather than just a standard sequel. He discovered a historical event in American history that perfectly fit the District 9 universe, offering a unique and exciting direction for the story. While he didn’t share specifics about the plot, he confirmed the project is actively being developed and is nearing completion.

Neill Blomkamp is known for directing films like District 9, Elysium (2013), and Chappie (2017). He also directed a series of short films based on the Halo video game franchise, called Halo Landfall. Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for their work on District 9.

District 9 heads to Netflix on Jan. 1, 2026.

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2025-12-15 17:37