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The Assessment is a 2024 science fiction thriller film. Set in a future where parenthood is strictly controlled, it follows a couple who undergo a rigorous seven-day assessment to determine their suitability for raising a child. The film stars Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander, and Himesh Patel, along with Indira Varma, Nicholas Pinnock, Charlotte Ritchie, Leah Harvey, and Minnie Driver. It was written by Dave Thomas, Nell Garfath-Cox and John Donnelly and directed by Fleur Fortuné in her feature-length debut. Its producers were Stephen Woolley, Elizabeth Karlsen and Grant S. Johnson with Number 9 Films, augenschein Filmproduktion, ShivHans Pictures, and Project Infinity.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024, and was released in the United States on March 21, 2025, by Magnolia Pictures.
Contents
Plot
In the near future, society enforces strict regulations on parenthood due to environmental collapse and resource scarcity. Pharmaceutical cocktails that dramatically increase human life expectancy and healthspan also inhibit reproduction such that procreation is only possible through artificial wombs. Prospective parents must undergo a rigorous seven-day assessment to determine their suitability for raising a child. Mia and Aaryan, a married couple residing in a secluded, technologically advanced home beneath a protective dome, are eager to have a child. Mia is a dedicated botanist working on cultivating plant life, while Aaryan designs virtual reality pets to replace real animals that have been eradicated.
