Chapter 726: More Than Just a Film

As night faded over Los Angeles, dawn broke.

It was now Saturday, June 16.

District 9 had officially launched its global release.

And as early audiences exited theaters, the first wave of movie buffs took to IMDb to cast their votes.

At present, over 127,000 users had rated the film, and the main page showed an astonishing score of 9.1.

From the Top 250 list, 76,892 users had voted, landing the film a score of 8.9—enough to surpass The Dark Knight (8.8), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (8.8), and charge all the way up to 8th place, right ahead of Schindler's List.

Of course, the score was temporary. As more votes poured in, it inevitably dropped.

Indeed, once the vote count surpassed 150,000, District Nine settled at 8.8—now tied with The Dark Knight, Return of the King, Fight Club, placing it in a shared 9th to 11th ranking.

…

The major media outlets soon published their reviews.

"A film whose philosophical weight exceeds expectations. A metaphorical fable on the value of life. Martin Meyers, through his lens, tells a powerful story about the human condition—and Robert Downey Jr. elevates that story to something transcendent." —The New York Times

"This proves that science fiction doesn't need A-list stars, massive budgets, or bombastic visuals. It doesn't even have to be pure entertainment." —USA Today

"A true, unadulterated work of science fiction. From the first frame, it grabs you and refuses to let go—until the final scene fades to black." —Hollywood Insider

And from Entertainment Weekly, film critic Colette offered an in-depth commentary:

"People often say that Transformers represents the pinnacle of science fiction. If they mean in terms of visual spectacle—fine. But beyond special effects, Transformers offers nothing that surpasses District 9. In direction, writing, and thematic ambition, District 9 dominates."

"Particularly in concept, District 9 towers above Transformers. It wins with narrative structure and character depth, told from a unique angle and with a rare lens. The pseudo-documentary style lays bare humanity's greed and desire, even weaving in a surprisingly touching thread of love."

"In this film, I saw reflections of issues many refuse to face—racism, wealth inequality, social alienation. These problems, driven by capitalist mentalities, are becoming more pronounced in our daily lives. As society rushes forward in its urbanized frenzy, they lie buried deeper and deeper… until one day, they erupt in the most extreme forms."

"I often say that the relationship between cinema and reality is not that of a mirror or a photograph—but that of allegory. Limited in form, infinite in meaning."

"District 9 achieves this to perfection."

"To question the nature of humanity is one of cinema's grandest challenges."

"And in District 9, Martin Meyers doesn't rely on flashy CGI. Instead, he merges documentary footage with cinematic storytelling, creating a hyperreal visual experience. There are no sweeping epics or dazzling explosions—just gritty, stylized shots and haunting close-ups that present violence not as spectacle, but as news footage. It makes us feel the violence—then reject it."

"Many viewers will recognize the Kafkaesque lineage—drawing from The Metamorphosis, where the protagonist turns into the very creature he once despised. As Carl endures one tragic twist after another, both he and the audience undergo a transformation."

"I, and most viewers I spoke with, found ourselves siding with the aliens. Humanity, so faded and ugly on screen, seemed more monstrous than the 'prawns'—who were, ironically, the ones displaying human virtues."

"Martin Meyers manipulates emotion with a master's touch. Viewers willingly switch allegiances, growing disgusted with the human characters and beginning to reflect deeply on their own nature."

"This is what art should do—awaken the conscience."

"Martin Meyers has succeeded spectacularly."

"And in the end, I must say: This isn't just a film. It is a chronicle of civilization."

Even James Cameron publicly praised District 9—a rare move.

"To me, District Nine is a film of grand vision, deep storytelling, and an incredibly distinct style. What's even more remarkable is how little it cost to make."

"Alright, I'll admit—that's something I couldn't pull off."

"Martin blazed a new path. With minimal investment, he created maximum impact—and told a perfect story."

"The most powerful moment of the film is the emotional arc of Carl—from hating the prawns and destroying their eggs, to gradually seeing them as fellow beings, and finally… sacrificing his own hope of becoming human again to help them escape Earth."

"That final scene, where Carl sits amid trash and lifts a metal rose—it hit me hard. The beauty of humanity shone brightest… after he had lost all traces of it physically."

…

Amid this tidal wave of acclaim, District 9's opening weekend box office results were finally announced.

It dethroned Martin's other sci-fi hit Iron Man and claimed the number-one spot.

In just three days, across 3,642 theaters, it grossed $87.44 million.

This shocking success caused every studio in Hollywood to stop and think.

How could a film this "uncommercial" perform this well?

Was it Martin Meyers' draw?

Was it Robert Downey Jr. star power?

Or… was it the film itself?

…

Robert Downey Jr. stared blankly at the contract before him.

It was an offer from Surprise Pictures—a $20 million deal for Iron Man 2.

"This is… for me?" he asked his agent, Jeff Raymond, in disbelief.

Jeff smiled. "Yup. Welcome to the $20 Million Club."

He couldn't help but recall the day Martin had pulled him aside and said:

"Robert, trust me—this film's going to put you in the big leagues."

Motherfucker… he was right!!!

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[GodOfReader: I'm tired—please stop asking me for more chapters! Argh! Tbh, I planned to upload 3 new chapters today, but I don't wanna leave you guys hanging so i ended up uploading 9 chapters. So throw me some Power Stones, Fuck you!]