Chris Prattis one of the biggest sci-fi stars of recent years and has been involved in some of the mostbeloved movie franchisesaround. As an actor who viewers first got to know in sitcoms likeParks and Recreation, the way Pratt has broken through as a genuine Hollywood leading man has been an incredible journey to witness.
Many of thebest Pratt movieswere in the sci-fi genre, as he achieved global recognition asStar-Lord inGuardians of the Galaxybefore quickly tapping into viewers’ nostalgia with the legacy sequelJurassic World. Whilenot all of Pratt’s sci-fi roles were acclaimed by critics, his status as one of the biggest stars of modern times is undeniable.
It’s amazing just how badly a poor sci-fi adaptation can fumble a novel as beautiful, haunting, surreal, and emotional asSimon Stålenhag’s robot war storyThe Electric State. Coming from directors Anthony and Joseph Russo, the duo failed to recapture the magic of their best work for the MCU as they delivered Chris Pratt’s worst sci-fi movie.
With Millie Bobby Brown and Pratt engaged in a lifeless, cliché-filled adventure,The Electric Statefailed to live up to expectations as it was a $320 million disaster that devolved the nuanced message of the book into generic preachiness. Telling the story of an orphan teen and smuggler trying to find her long-lost brother,The Electric Statewas mechanically misguided.
Chris Pratt’sJurassic Worldwas a major disappointment as it continued to follow the philosophy of bigger is better without realizing the franchise had already peaked back withJurassic Parkin 1993. While these movies have always fared well at the box office, from an artistic point of view,Jurassic World Dominionwas creatively bereft.
While the nostalgia of seeing Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern share the screen once again was an exciting proposition, it was a crying shame they weren’t given a much better movie in which to reunite.Jurassic World Dominioncame across as nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake, and it stands as the most unnecessary entry in an unnecessary trilogy.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdomwas the point where it was clear that Universal Pictures wasn’t going to let the firstJurassic Worldmovie be a fun, one-off trip down memory lane. Instead, they were determined to milk this franchise with consistent sequels and simply up the stakes withover-the-top CGI that never quite recaptured the magic of Steven Spielberg’s original.
With Owen Grady and Claire Dearing returning to the island of Isla Nublar to rescue remaining dinosaurs from a volcanic eruption, this disappointing sequel spiraled into a muddled thriller about weaponized dinosaurs. Those looking for action-packed, set-piece spectacle will take a lot fromFallen Kingdom, but the truth is its plot was underdeveloped and its themes were lacking depth.
The Tomorrow Warsaw Chris Pratt play the former Green Beret Dan Forester, drafted into a futuristic war against alien invaders that threaten humanity’s existence. Despite being from 2022, soldiers from 2051 require military support from the past to ensure the species' survival in the future. With an interesting sci-fi concept,The Tomorrow Warhad a lot going for it.
WhileThe Tomorrow Warplayed out like an exciting throwback to 1990s action sci-fi films, it never quite managed to reach its potential and was overwhelmed by CGI. Sadly, Dan Forester was not a memorable hero, andThe Tomorrow Warnever quite reached the lofty heights of the movies it was influenced by, likeStarship TroopersandEdge of Tomorrow.
As a sci-fi romance featuring two passengers who have awoken 90 years early during a 120-year interstellar journey,Passengerswas a fascinating exploration of control, isolation, and the complexities of human relationships. With Chris Pratt as Jim Preston, the man who selfishly awakens Jennifer Lawrence’s Aurora Lane from her sleep, there was a dimension of manipulation to this story.
Passengersdidn’t quite live up to its potential and would have been a far more interesting thriller if Preston’s questionable actions were hidden from viewers until later in the film, although the chemistry between Pratt and Lawrence made for compelling viewing. But the truth was, even thoughPassengershad the potential to be truly great, it was unfortunately only average.
The first installment in theJurassic Worldtrilogy remains its best, and it was exciting to once again see incredible rendered CGI dinosaurs on the big screen. As the Velociraptor expert and handler Owen Grady,Pratt reintroduced us to the world Steven Spielberg realized so incredibly inJurassic Parkand gave us an exciting new blockbuster adventure.
The introduction of genetically modified dinosaurs madeJurassic Worldstand out, and this dazzling, family-friendly popcorn thriller tapped into the nostalgia for a series many thought had gone extinct. There was a charm and excitement to this legacy sequel, and had it not been continued as an unnecessary trilogy, its reputation would be in far better standing today.
Many might not remember that Chris Pratt actually played Joaquin Phoenix’s character’s close friend Paul in Spike Jonze’sHer. This unique rom-com dealing with a man falling in love with artificial intelligence was oddly prophetic of modern times and stands as one of the most unique dramas of the 21st century, even earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
While Pratt’s role was limited inHer,Paul showcased an emphatic understanding of Theodore Twombly’s relationshipwith the virtual AI Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) and accepted his friend’s romance without prejudice. While the success ofHerwas down primarily to Phoenix’s earnest performance, it was supporting roles like Pratt’s that helped elevate the film and make its universe feel believable.
Director James Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise stands as the pinnacle of Chris Pratt’s work in the sci-fi genre. As Peter Quill / Star-Lord, Pratt embodied both the action and comedy instincts needed to excel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and movies like this helped him step outside of sitcom roles likeParks and Recreationtoward genuine movie stardom.
Chris Pratt also reprised his role as Peter Quill / Star-Lord inAvengers: Infinity War,Avengers: Endgame, andThor: Love and Thunder.
However, the weakest of the trilogy wasGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,as it traded much of the series emotional weight to focus more on the comedy side of things. The inclusion of action stars like Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell were exciting additions, and, despite not being the best Guardians movie,Vol. 2represented the MCU done right.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3concluded this trilogy on an emotional note with an impactful story that explored everything from animal rights to self-acceptance. As a film that very almost wasn’t made due to behind-the-scenes conflict involving director James Gunn, the series thankfully returned for a compelling last hurrah that captured everything great about this three-dimensional band of outlaws.
As one of the best MCU movies,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3was released at a time when this cinematic universe struggled with some disappointing releases. Byshowcasing that the MCU could still be exciting, emotional, and urgent, this installment wrapped up plenty of character arcs in a compelling way, particularly the way it dealt with Rocket Raccoon’s character.
Chris Pratt proved his potential as a genuine sci-fi movie star with the firstGuardians of the Galaxy. This fun-filled adventure was a breath of fresh air in 2014, as it took a little-known team beloved only by comic book enthusiasts and turned them intoa superhero crew whose popularity could rival even that of the Avengers.
Director James Gunn imbued the film with boundless energy, an unmatched soundtrack, and truly great characters. Pratt took the lessons he’d learned as a sitcom actor and used them to his advantage to lead a story that was both emotional and hilarious. Everything aboutGuardians of the Galaxyworks, and it remainsChris Pratt’scrowning achievement in the sci-fi genre.
