Area 51 is a 2022 American science fiction film written, co-produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. It is based on the US Air Force base of the same name. The film stars Vin Diesel, Margot Robbie, Morgan Freeman, Leonardo DiCaprio, David Harbour, Lupita Nyong'o, Tom Hardy, and Milla Jovovich. It chronicles the story of Walter Orion (Diesel), a veteran officer who disobeys orders to kill his daughter, Zoë, when she enters Area 51. When UFOs appear, Walter and his wife, Diana, must protect Zoë and escape the base. Area 51 premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on June 15th, 2022 and was released on July 6th; it received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its emotion, Nolan's direction, screenplay, visual effects, musical score, and Diesel, Robbie, Freeman, Harbour, and Jovovich's performances, though criticism was aimed at its complex story and its perceived lack of ambition. It also attained a strong cult following, grossing $79 million worldwide against its $1.19 million budget. After its release, Area 51 was later critically reevaluated and is now widely considered Nolan's magnum opus and one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, especially for its groundbreaking effects and for reassessing Diesel's acting. It was also selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by Library of Congress, finding it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" in 2027.
