16 Years Later, This Cult Classic Sci-Fi Thriller Is Finally Making a Free Streaming Comeback

16 years after its theatrical release, Moonis all set to find a new audience once again. Duncan Jones’ acclaimed sci-fi thriller is one of the most talked-about independent science fiction films of the late 2000s, and it will be available to stream for free on Tubi starting January 2026.

Moon was Jones’ directorial debut, and it quickly stood out for its restrained approach to science fiction. The film was written by Nathan Parker and stars Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell, a solitary worker nearing the end of a three-year contract on a lunar mining base. As his time on the Moon comes to a close, a series of unsettling discoveries forces him to question the reality of his mission and the corporation he works for. In 2009, at its release, the film had a very limited theatrical rollout. It opened in just a handful of U.S. theaters, which affected its box office success as well. Despite a modest budget of around $5 million, it earned just over $10 million worldwide. However, its impact extended far beyond the box office.

The film received strong critical attention upon release, and currently has an 89% audience score and a 90% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Moon was widely praised and was nominated for two BAFTA Awards later on: one for Director Duncan Jones for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, which it won, and another for Outstanding British Film.

Moon’s Spiritual Follow-Up ‘Mute’ Failed to Replicate Its Impact

While Moon gradually built its reputation through word of mouth and critical appreciation, its successor struggled to deliver a similar blow. Nearly a decade later, Duncan Jones returned to the same universe with Mute, a sci-fi noir thriller released in 2018, which did not resonate with audiences.

Mute is purely focused on a futuristic Berlin and stars Alexander Skarsgård as a mute bartender who is searching for his missing partner, with Paul Ruddand Justin Theroux in supporting roles. In an interview with Collider, Jones revealed that Mute had been in development long before Moon and was originally intended to be his feature debut. He described the project as an experiment, as it was built around a protagonist with no dialogue. However, the film received a far more muted response compared to Moon, despite having a strong cast.

The movie was released directly on Netflix and was criticized mainly because of its cluttered narrative and tonal inconsistency. That is why it currently holds a disappointing 20% critics’ score and a below-average 47% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Moon will stream free on Tubi starting January 26, 2026, and is available to stream onNetflix.