Netflix Is Removing One of The Most Unique Sci-Fi Classics of the 21st Century

District-9-Nick-Blake — A still from Neill Blomkamp’s District 9.

They say that comedy has become obsolete because of the high bar for ridiculousness set by real-world events; plot points in shows like Veep have been replicated by real politicians. But has anyone wondered what’s going to happen to sci-fi storytelling? The genre has always been used as a conduit for commentary that couldn’t be made without aliens and gizmos as stand-ins for human beings and their many flaws. Some of the best sci-fi movies also happen to be among the best political movies; even something as mainstream as Star Wars has lots to say about global politics. George Lucas wrote the movie as a response to the Vietnam War, with the intention of portraying the Viet Cong as the Rebel Alliance. More recently, films such as Ex Machina have shown incredible foresight when it comes to technocrats controlling global decision-making. It remains one of the most brazenly political sci-fi movies of the century, and is currently available for free on the Pluto TV streaming service. Another unabashedly political sci-fi film, on the other hand, is being removed from Netflix next month.

The movie was released in 2009; it served as the feature-length directorial debut of a young Canadian filmmaker who was born in South Africa when the country was still finding its legs after a period of deep cultural upheaval. The movie found support in the form of Peter Jackson, who boarded the project as a producer and gave it the publicity that it so desperately needed to break out. And that’s exactly what it did. The film wasn’t merely a box office hit; it was also critically acclaimed. It eventually earned a Best Picture nod at the Oscars in the first year that The Academy expanded its nomination pool following The Dark Knight controversy from the previous year. It was decided that expanding the pool would lead to at least a few more box office hits being in contention, which could translate into higher viewership for the Oscarcast.

Here’s the Sci-Fi Classic That’s Leaving Netflix By the End of March

The movie in question is District 9, which, with its stark mockumentary format, exposed the racism that South Africa is dealing with to this day. It was set in an alternate world where an alien spaceship shows up on Earth seeking assistance after fleeing a dying home planet. Instead of helping the aliens, humans in power put them in refugee camps segregated from society and attempted to harness their technology. Directed by Neill Blomkamp and based on a short film that he’d previously made, District 9 grossed more than $200 million worldwide against a reported budget of $30 million. It now holds a “Certified Fresh” 90% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics’ consensus reads, “Technically brilliant and emotionally wrenching, District 9 has action, imagination, and all the elements of a thoroughly entertaining science-fiction classic.” You have only until March 31 to watch the movie on Netflix. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.