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Beyond Skyline
Beyond Skyline
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Beyond Skyline
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLiam O'Donnell
Written byLiam O'Donnell
Based onCharacters
by Joshua Cordes
Liam O'Donnell
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyChristopher Probst
Edited by
  • Sean Albertson
  • Banner Gwin
Music byNathan Whitehead
Production
companies
  • Hydraulx
  • North Hollywood Films
  • Infinite Frameworks Studios
  • Mothership Pictures
Distributed byVertical Entertainment
Release dates
  • October 14, 2017 (2017-10-14) (TADFF)
  • December 15, 2017 (2017-12-15) (United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$14 million[1]
Box office$992,181 [2][3]

Beyond Skyline is a 2017 American science fiction action film written, co-produced and directed by Liam O'Donnell in his directorial debut. It stars Frank Grillo, Bojana Novakovic, Jonny Weston, Iko Uwais, Callan Mulvey, Yayan Ruhian, Pamelyn Chee, Betty Gabriel, and Antonio Fargas. It is the sequel to the 2010 film Skyline and the second installment in the Skyline film series, set concurrently with the events of the first film.

The film was released on December 15, 2017, in the United States by Vertical Entertainment. Unlike its critically panned predecessor, Beyond Skyline received mixed reviews, with several critics calling it an improvement over the original.

Plot

[edit]

Mark Corley, a Los Angeles police detective, helps his estranged son, Trent, out of jail just as an alien invasion begins.[a] Much of the city's population is taken up into various spaceships by a blue light. Mark leads a group of surviving humans through underground subway tunnels to escape, though most of the humans are killed or abducted. The survivors, Mark, Trent, transit operator Audrey, and homeless man "Sarge" (who is immune to the blue light due to his blindness), escape to the marina following the city's nuclear destruction, only to be abducted into the alien flagship.

On board, Mark tries to find his son and storms his way into various chambers, where he meets up with survivor Elaine and her transformed husband Jarrod.[b] Elaine explains that Jarrod retains control of his mind despite being transformed into a bio-mechanical alien soldier. Though Elaine is only three months pregnant, her pregnancy has accelerated and she gives birth to a daughter.

Elaine dies during the delivery, and Mark and Jarrod team up to destroy the ship by setting alien explosives inside the control systems. When Jarrod is killed fighting the alien leader, Mark rescues Audrey but is too late to save his son. Trent has his brain taken and placed in another alien bio-mechanical machine creature. The dying Jarrod destroys the ship, which crashes in rural Laos.

Mark, Audrey, Sarge and the baby escape from the spaceship which starts to repair itself. Sarge dies from his wounds shortly after the group meets Sua and his sister Kanya, who belong to a drug cartel and fight against both aliens and local rogue ex-policemen bandits. While trekking through the jungle, they discover that the human baby grows at an accelerated rate, from an infant into a three-year-old in just one day. Sua and Kanya lead the rest to a hidden human resistance hideout located in local ruins. In addition, the leader of the rogue policemen, Huana, intercepts them but is disarmed and captured by Sua.

Harper, a medical officer and former drug chemist, examines the baby girl and learns about her unique DNA. He believes her blood may be the key to defeating the aliens. Using the child's blood and recovered alien technology, Harper develops the serum that he believes will free the bio-mechanical soldiers from alien control and restore their human personalities.

While on a patrol, Kanya encounters an alien and sacrifices herself by luring it into an old minefield left over from the Vietnam War. The ensuing explosion destroys the alien, but gives away their location to the ships searching for the baby. They converge on the human base. During the resulting battle, several members of the resistance are killed, including Harper. Mark enters an alien ship and uses his serum to turn the mind-controlling blue light into a red light that frees the mind-controlled soldiers. Before he can deploy it, the aliens attack and rip out the cannon containing the light. Sua frees a jailed Huana so that he can fight for the resistance. Mark, Audrey, Sua and Huana then make a last stand to fight back the aliens.

Trent, his mind restored after encountering his father, also fights back. During the battle, the child fixes the cannon, which Trent uses to kill the alien leader and release the red light, freeing the bio-mechanical soldiers. With Earth saved, Audrey names the girl Rose after Mark's deceased wife.

Ten years later, Rose, now a fully-grown adult, has taken control of an alien ship, and Trent is her second-in-command. Rose leads freed bio-mechanical soldiers and humans in an assault on the other alien ships around the Moon, including the mothership.

Cast

[edit]
  • Frank Grillo[4] as Mark Corley, a detective, Trent's father, and Rose's adoptive father.
  • Bojana Novakovic as Audrey, an LA transit worker.
  • Jonny Weston as Trent Corley, Mark’s estranged son and Rose's adoptive brother.[5]
  • Callan Mulvey as Harper, a doctor of the human resistance.
  • Iko Uwais as Sua, the leader of an underground human resistance.[6]
  • Pamelyn Chee as Kanya, the sister of Sua.
  • Yayan Ruhian[7] as Huana, a militia leader.
  • Betty Gabriel as Jones, an LA cop.
  • Antonio Fargas as Sarge, a blind homeless man.
  • Jacob Vargas as Garcia, a police officer and friend of Mark.
  • Lindsey Morgan as Captain Rose, leader of the resistance, Mark's adoptive daughter, and Trent's adoptive sister and daughter of the late Jarrod and Elaine.
  • Samantha Jean as Elaine, a captive woman and the biological mother of Rose. (originally played by Scottie Thompson in the previous Skyline film)
  • Tony Black as Jarrod in a flashback. (originally played by Eric Balfour in the previous Skyline film)

Production

[edit]

In November 2014, Variety announced that Iko Uwais would join the cast, alongside Frank Grillo, Bojana Novakovic, and Yayan Ruhian. Liam O’Donnell wrote the script for the film, also wrote the script for the first film, will now direct as well as produce with Greg and Colin Strause serving as producers also.[8][dubiousdiscuss] The Strause Brothers were the directors of the first film, Skyline. Matthew Chausse will also produce. Uwais and Ruhian will also serve as fight choreographers on the film.[7]

The film's visual effects and production were done by Hydraulx.[9]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography began in December 2014, with shooting in Yogyakarta and Batam, Indonesia. and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[10][11][6][12] The finale of the film was shot in the Indonesian Prambanan temple complex, though the script suggests that it is located in Laos.[13][14]

Release

[edit]

The first film had a PG-13 rating but the sequel was given an R rating by the MPAA. On Alien Day 2017, set photos were released to show what the aliens in Beyond Skyline looked like for the sequel. The first trailer was released on August 16, 2017. The film premiered at Sitges Film Festival October 8, 2017. The film went on to screen at several genre film festivals including Toronto After Dark, Trieste Science+Fiction, Austin Other Worlds, Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival, Rio Grind Vancouver, and was the closing night film at the inaugural Cinepocalypse in Chicago on November 9. Beyond Skyline was released on VOD and Digital on December 15, 2017, and on DVD and Blu-Ray on January 8, 2018.[15]

Reception

[edit]

As of May 2025, the film holds a 70% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 20 reviews with an approval rating of 5.50 out of 10.[16] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 46 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[17]

Sequels

[edit]

A third film, Skylines, again directed by O'Donnell and produced by the Strause brothers, was released on December 18, 2020.

In January 2024, it was announced XYZ Films had acquired the international rights to the fourth Skyline film, titled Skyline: Warpath.[18]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Beyond Skyline is a 2017 American science fiction action film written, co-produced, and directed by Liam O'Donnell in his feature directorial debut, serving as the second installment in the Skyline film series following the 2010 film Skyline. The story centers on Detective Mark Corley, played by Frank Grillo, who infiltrates an alien mothership to rescue his estranged son amid a massive extraterrestrial abduction in Los Angeles. After the alien vessel crashes in Southeast Asia, Corley allies with a diverse group of survivors, including a train conductor portrayed by and indigenous fighters led by as Sua and as the Chief, to battle and prevent further abductions. The supporting cast includes as Corley's son Trent, as security expert Harper, and in a cameo role. Filmed in locations such as and , the movie incorporates choreography, emphasizing hand-to-hand combat sequences against the alien threats. Released theatrically in limited fashion on December 15, 2017, by Vertical Entertainment, with a runtime of 106 minutes, Beyond Skyline was produced on a modest budget by Hydraulx and , focusing on to depict the . It earned mixed critical reception, holding a Metascore of 46 out of 100 on based on eight reviews, with praise for its energetic action and ambitious scope despite script weaknesses, while audiences rated it 5.3 out of 10 on from over 24,000 users. The film later became available on streaming platforms like , contributing to its among sci-fi enthusiasts for its over-the-top spectacle.

Plot and characters

Plot

The film opens amid an alien invasion of , where massive motherships emit hypnotic blue beams that abduct countless humans, echoing the events of the prior film. Mark Corley, a police , helps his estranged son, Trent, out of jail just as the invasion begins. Mark leads a group of surviving humans, including transit operator and blind homeless man Sarge (immune to the beams due to his blindness), through underground subway tunnels to escape, though most are killed or abducted. The survivors reach the following the city's nuclear destruction but are ultimately abducted into the alien flagship. Aboard the enormous ship, Mark searches for Trent and allies with fellow abductees , Sarge, and survivor Elaine, evading grotesque alien creatures and navigating the labyrinthine interior. Their exploration reveals the aliens' horrific process of harvesting brains to biomechanical hybrids and weaponry, including the discovery of Jarrod—the survivor from the invasion—who has been transformed into a powerful hybrid, his mind partially intact. Elaine, three months pregnant, gives accelerated birth to a hybrid daughter but dies during delivery. Mark and Jarrod team up, setting alien explosives in the control systems. Jarrod is killed fighting the alien leader, but in his dying act destroys the ship, causing it to crash-land in rural , where Mark rescues but learns too late that Trent's brain has been extracted and placed into a biomechanical machine creature. Mark, Audrey, Sarge, and the baby escape the self-repairing wreckage. Sarge dies from wounds, and the group meets Sua and his sister Kanya, members of a local drug cartel fighting aliens and rogue ex-policemen bandits. They trek through the jungle, where the baby grows rapidly from infant to three-year-old in one day, and reach a hidden human resistance hideout in local ruins. The bandit leader Huana is captured. Medical officer Harper, a former drug chemist, examines the child—named Rose after Mark's deceased wife—and determines her unique DNA and blood could defeat the aliens. Using Rose's blood and recovered alien technology, Harper develops a serum to free biomechanical soldiers from alien control and restore their human minds. Kanya sacrifices herself luring an alien into a minefield, alerting alien ships searching for . The aliens attack the base, killing several resistance members including Harper. Mark injects the serum into an alien ship, turning the mind-control blue light red to free soldiers. The aliens rip out the light cannon, but Sua frees Huana to fight. Mark, , Sua, and Huana make a . Trent, his mind restored upon encountering Mark, fights back. repairs the cannon, which Trent uses to kill the alien leader and release the red light, freeing the hybrids and saving . names the child . Ten years later, the adult has taken control of an alien ship, with Trent as her second-in-command, leading freed biomechanical soldiers and humans in an assault on alien ships, including the mothership, around the Moon.

Cast

The principal cast of Beyond Skyline features in the lead role of Mark Corley, a determined searching for his abducted son. portrays Audrey, a resourceful transit operator who aids Mark. plays Trent Corley, Mark's estranged teenage son.
ActorRole
Sua, the leader of a local resistance group
Harper, a medical officer
The Chief, a fierce local fighter
Supporting roles include Pamelyn Chee as Kanya, a key member of the resistance; as Jones, an ; as Sarge, a blind homeless man; and as Garcia, a and friend of Mark. Notable casting choices emphasized action expertise, particularly with Indonesian martial artists and , known for their roles in The Raid films, who were selected to perform the film's intense sequences.

Production

Development

Liam O'Donnell made his feature directorial debut with Beyond Skyline, having previously received a story credit on the 2010 film Skyline. As screenwriter for the sequel, O'Donnell expanded the alien invasion narrative from the original, introducing new lore elements such as human-alien hybrid brains and explorations of mothership interiors to deepen the sci-fi mythology. The project was developed as a sequel to Skyline, with production handled by companies including Hydraulx (the VFX firm behind the first film's effects), Beyond The Mothership, Infinite Frameworks Pte. Ltd., and m45 Productions. Financed through international co-productions involving the United States, Indonesia, and Singapore, the film carried an estimated budget of $14 million. This multinational approach facilitated the incorporation of Indonesian cultural elements, such as martial arts sequences, to enhance global appeal and leverage local talent. Development began when O'Donnell completed the script in 2013, following discussions with the original Skyline directors . The project was formally announced in November 2014, coinciding with the attachment of as the lead, which shifted the tone toward a grittier action focus. took place in and , setting the stage for later that year.

Filming

Principal photography for Beyond Skyline commenced in December 2014 and extended over several months, characterized by a sprawling schedule with stops and starts to accommodate cast and crew availability across international locations. The production primarily shot in and , , utilizing ancient temples like and lush jungles around Sri Gethuk Waterfall to depict alien crash sites and human resistance efforts, while Los Angeles invasion sequences were captured using interiors in and , . The film integrated practical effects with extensive visual effects work by Hydraulx, which handled alien creature designs and massive ship interiors, drawing on the company's experience from the original to realize the script's extraterrestrial concepts. This blend created dynamic sequences blending on-set prosthetics and man-in-suit elements with CGI enhancements for a grounded yet epic sci-fi aesthetic. Filming faced logistical challenges, including coordinating a multinational crew across remote Indonesian sites and navigating the humid, rugged terrain that tested endurance during extended outdoor shoots. Additionally, integrating high-energy choreography featuring and required precise collaboration between stunt coordinators and the effects team to synchronize fight scenes with alien adversaries. Cinematographer Christopher Probst employed a 2.35:1 to capture the film's expansive scope, emphasizing wide compositions that heightened the sense of global-scale and claustrophobic ship environments. , including VFX refinements by Hydraulx, wrapped with an initial cut completed in October 2016, allowing time for testing and final polish before the 2017 release.

Release

Premiere and distribution

Beyond Skyline had its world premiere at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival on October 14, 2017. The film's international rollout began with a wide release in China in 2017, followed by theatrical openings in Russia and Ukraine on October 26, 2017, and in the United Kingdom on October 28, 2017. XYZ Films handled international sales, prioritizing markets in Asia due to the film's co-production with Indonesian partners, including filming locations in Yogyakarta and the involvement of Indonesian actors Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian. In the United States, Vertical Entertainment distributed a on December 15, 2017, with the R-rated film clocking in at a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. The distribution strategy opted against a wide U.S. theatrical rollout in favor of a simultaneous video-on-demand launch. Marketing efforts centered on trailers that showcased high-octane action sequences and the alien invasion premise, while drawing ties to the preceding Skyline film to appeal to existing fans of the franchise.

Home media

Beyond Skyline became available for digital video on demand (VOD) and purchase simultaneously with its limited U.S. theatrical release on December 15, 2017, through platforms including iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. This early home media rollout allowed viewers immediate access to the film in high definition, including 4K Ultra HD options on select services. The physical home media release followed shortly after, with the DVD and Blu-ray versions distributed by Lionsgate Home Entertainment in the United States on January 16, 2018. These editions presented the film in 1080p high definition on Blu-ray with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound, though they included no supplemental features such as behind-the-scenes content or visual effects breakdowns. Internationally, home media availability expanded in 2018, with a DVD edition released in on March 16, 2018, catering to Asian markets where the film had seen earlier theatrical screenings. In , similar DVD and Blu-ray releases occurred around the same period, such as in the on January 8, 2018, via . Streaming options proliferated in subsequent years, with Beyond Skyline added to in select regions starting as early as 2018 and becoming available on April 15, 2018. The film was removed from US on October 15, 2025. As of November 2025, it streams on , including ad-supported tiers, and free services such as in certain international markets. The release of sequels like Skylines in 2020 contributed to renewed interest, prompting retrospective viewings on these services.

Reception

Critical response

Beyond Skyline received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its action and tempered by criticisms of its script and pacing. On , the film holds a 70% Tomatometer score based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10; the audience score is 37%. On , it has a weighted average score of 46 out of 100 based on 8 critic reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reception. Critics frequently commended the film's action sequences and work by Hydraulx, as well as Iko Uwais's dynamic performance as the resourceful Sua. Variety described it as "fast-paced and colorful enough to rate as a solid ." awarded it 2 out of 4 stars, calling its visual set pieces "grandiose." Genre-focused outlets like highlighted director Liam O'Donnell's debut as energetic and ambitious, appreciating how it expands the franchise's scope with international flair. However, common criticisms centered on a clichéd plot, weak dialogue, and inconsistent pacing that undermined the spectacle. The New York Times deemed the sci-fi thriller "beyond ridiculous," faulting its genre-hopping narrative for losing momentum. Mainstream reviewers often pointed to a lack of originality, viewing it as derivative B-movie fare despite its ambitions. Overall, the film was seen as a step up from the poorly received (2010), though still hampered by familiar tropes and uneven execution. The mixed critical buzz contributed to its modest performance.

Box office performance

Beyond Skyline had a of $20 million. The film earned a worldwide gross of approximately $1 million, primarily from international markets, with negligible earnings from the U.S. and . Its opening weekend in the United States generated $11,279 across three theaters. Performance peaked in , particularly due to the inclusion of local cast members like Indonesian actor , which helped drive interest in markets such as and . The limited theatrical release strategy emphasized (VOD) and digital platforms over wide theater distribution, amid competition from major holiday blockbusters during its December 2017 U.S. debut. This approach, combined with the modest budget recovery, resulted in significant financial losses for the production. Ancillary revenue provided some offset, with domestic (DVD and Blu-ray) sales estimated at $1.4 million.

Legacy

Sequels

The first direct sequel to Beyond Skyline is Skylines (2020), directed by Liam O'Donnell, which expands on the hybrid alien-human elements introduced in the series by depicting a that threatens to turn Earth-dwelling hybrids against humanity. The film stars as Captain Rose Corley and features Samantha Jean reprising the role of Elaine from the original Skyline, connecting back to the earlier invasion's survivors. Beyond Skyline's ending , involving the crashed mothership and emerging hybrids, directly sets up the events of Skylines. The series continues with the upcoming Skyline: Warpath (2025), written and directed by Liam O'Donnell, set five years after the events of Beyond Skyline and which remains unreleased as of November 2025. reprises his role as Sua, leading a human resistance against lingering alien forces, with the story centering on the discovery of a powerful alien artifact known as the Radial Gauntlet. The film adds action stars as the corrupt Eric and in a supporting role. Production on Skyline: Warpath took place in 2024 in and the , with distribution handled by .

Franchise impact

Beyond Skyline elevated the franchise from the model of the 2010 original to a more ambitious international co-production, facilitated by partnerships in where took place in locations such as and . This collaboration introduced Indonesian talent, including stars and , marking a departure from the series' initial low-budget, U.S.-centric production approach. The film's budget of around $20 million reflected this expanded scope, though its worldwide theatrical gross reached only about $1 million, underscoring the role of international distribution in sustaining the franchise. The movie's integration of Hollywood science fiction with Asian martial arts action influenced the genre within the series, paving the way for diverse casting in later installments. By featuring Uwais in high-octane fight sequences against alien threats, Beyond Skyline blended explosive choreography with extraterrestrial invasion tropes, a stylistic evolution credited with revitalizing the narrative for global audiences. This approach carried forward, as seen in the continued involvement of Indonesian actors in subsequent films like the upcoming Skyline: Warpath. Beyond Skyline developed a through its streaming availability, particularly on , where viewers appreciated its improvements over the original in action and world-building. The film's ancillary revenue from home media and digital platforms helped offset modest returns, contributing to the franchise's longevity beyond initial theatrical runs. The production of : Warpath (2025), set five years after Beyond Skyline and featuring Uwais in a lead resistance role, has further revitalized interest in the franchise, viewing the 2017 entry as a turning point that broadened the series' international appeal and narrative potential.

References

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