The 10/10 Sci-Fi Masterpiece Leonardo DiCaprio Called a ‘Spiritual Experience’

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He doesn’t often publicly compliment other movies, so when he does, you know it’s something special. He really seems to reserve his praise for films and filmmakers he truly admires. I was really excited when he shared some of his favorite movies in 2022 – it included a lot of cool, classic films! He mentioned everything from *Taxi Driver* to *Princess Mononoke*, but one movie really stood out to him. He actually called watching it a ‘spiritual experience,’ which is a pretty powerful statement!

Leonardo DiCaprio is a big admirer of Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking 1968 science fiction film, *2001: A Space Odyssey*, a thought-provoking story about humanity’s journey through evolution, technology, and faith. In 2025, DiCaprio revealed he’s producing a documentary called *Monolith* alongside Mike Medavoy and a team of collaborators. The documentary, set to be released in 2026 and directed by Stevan Riley, will delve into the lasting influence of the iconic film, despite the fact that it originally received negative reviews from critics.

2001: A Space Odyssey Was Initially Negatively Received

Today, *2001: A Space Odyssey* is considered a classic, but when it was released in 1968, it was widely panned. Like many groundbreaking works, it faced a lot of initial resistance. Critics were sharply divided after early screenings – some walked out, while others loved it. *The New York Times* review captured the general feeling: the film was visually stunning and thought-provoking, but also slow-paced and incredibly dull. The slow rhythm and complex story kept many critics from enjoying it, and most predicted it would be a box office failure, believing audiences wouldn’t connect with a film like *2001: A Space Odyssey*.

Critics initially found Stanley Kubrick’s *A Space Odyssey* slow-paced, but history has proven them wrong. The film was a box office hit, becoming the second-highest-grossing movie of its year and eventually the highest-grossing film of 1968. Beyond its financial success, the movie gained widespread critical praise and now boasts impressive scores on Rotten Tomatoes: 90% from critics and 89% from audiences.

2001: A Space Odyssey Has Filmmakers And Actors Obsessed With

Leonardo DiCaprio recently called Stanley Kubrick’s *2001: A Space Odyssey* a deeply moving, almost religious experience in a cover story for *Esquire* magazine. He believes the film is more than just entertainment, explaining that it’s designed to make viewers contemplate our place in the universe. DiCaprio, known for his role in *Titanic*, thinks *2001* is a film you can – and should – watch again and again, because each viewing reveals new layers of meaning. He suggests that while the first time you watch it, you’re trying to figure out what’s happening, subsequent viewings allow you to truly lose yourself in its unique and immersive world.

With its revolutionary special effects and thought-provoking ideas about AI and space travel, *2001: A Space Odyssey* remains remarkably prescient, even today. While countless stories have since explored themes of artificial intelligence, alien life, religion, and evolution, few manage to present complex philosophical ideas so subtly. The film poses more questions than a typical essay, but does so with incredible conciseness. Often, the scenes without dialogue are more powerful and impactful than those that include it.

Leonardo DiCaprio isn’t the only famous person with a deep love for *2001: A Space Odyssey*. Director David Fincher shared a similar experience, saying the film “blew his mind.” He recalled watching it and feeling compelled to prepare for space travel, explaining that as a child, he always saw movies as a form of preparation for future events. In fact, *2001* left such an impression that it even led him to contemplate preparing for what happens after death.

Steven Spielberg appreciated how Stanley Kubrick pushed the boundaries of filmmaking. Kubrick wasn’t afraid to jump around in time within his stories, and his 1968 film, *2001: A Space Odyssey*, initially confused many viewers with its complex narrative and its opening sequence that depicted prehistoric times. As Martin Scorsese put it, Kubrick aimed to create a truly unique experience for the audience, showing them something they hadn’t seen before. This ambitious approach ultimately led George Lucas to declare *2001* the film that finally established science fiction as a respected genre.

2001: A Space Odyssey profoundly influenced science fiction filmmakers and became a beloved classic, earning praise from many in the entertainment industry. The film is visually stunning, and while the story is straightforward on the surface, it offers enough complexity to engage thoughtful viewers. Even decades after its release, people continue to analyze and debate its meaning. Many online viewers agree with Leonardo DiCaprio’s assessment: the more you watch the film, the more questions it raises.

2001: A Space Odyssey Is One Of The Most Discussed Movies On The Internet

Stanley Kubrick’s *2001: A Space Odyssey* is a complex film that has sparked countless debates and interpretations among fans. While some view it as a straightforward story of human evolution – from early apes to space exploration – others focus on the mysterious monoliths and their role in guiding humanity’s development. Kubrick skillfully used classical music to enhance key moments in the film. Many see the monoliths as a divine force, prompting crucial advancements. In the film, apes are inspired to use tools after encountering a monolith, and later, humans discover another on the moon, which transmits a signal towards Jupiter. This signal is often seen as a sign of a new evolutionary stage, with astronaut Dave Bowman’s journey to Jupiter and transformation into the ‘starchild’ representing the next step in human development – making him a kind of chosen one.

The film’s deliberate ambiguity initially captivated audiences and sparked years of debate and theorizing. Director Stanley Kubrick intended the film to be open to interpretation, but later offered some explanations through interviews and a novel co-written with Arthur C. Clarke. He resisted directly explaining the film for a long time, believing the ideas would sound silly when spoken, but more powerful when shown. Ultimately, he revealed the core concept: a man is taken by advanced, god-like beings – creatures of pure energy and intelligence without physical form – and placed in a kind of human zoo to be studied. From that point forward, his life unfolds within this confined space, devoid of a sense of time, playing out as seen in the film.

The movie’s ending is incredibly thought-provoking, showing David encountering versions of himself from different ages. He witnesses his own aging process and sees himself as an old man in the room with the pod that held him. While the film doesn’t show traditional aliens, it sticks closely to David’s perspective until the very end of his life. Notably, director Kubrick intentionally used a flawed recreation of French architecture to emphasize a particular idea—similar to how zoos create artificial environments for animals. After David’s death, the evolutionary theme returns through the music, as he transforms into a ‘star child,’ representing a new form of life.

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2025-10-18 16:11