The Fifth Wave (2016): film synopsis and summary

George Alvarez 18-10-2023
George Alvarez

The Fifth Wave is a movie based on the book by Rick Yancey, which tells the story of a young girl who, at all costs, seeks to survive. After an alien attack to destroy Earth, Cassie Sullivan (Moretz), the protagonist of the plot starring Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass) , brings a story of overcoming and courage .

An action and science fiction film, The Fifth Wave (2016), in which aliens, identified as "The Others". Thus, with an electromagnetic pulse, disable the world's communications and electrical power, this being the stage called the "1st Wave". In this sense follows the story, until the "5th Wave" is reached.

The 5th wave, by Rick Yancey

Based on the book by Rick Yancey, which has the same name as the movie, The Fifth Wave, the plot of which shows Cassie trying to survive an attack The protagonist, with her younger brother Sam, manages to escape, being one of the few survivors. A scenario of world destruction, with few chances for the population.

However, there are some significant differences between the film and the book, such as:

  • Crisco, an important character who died before Cassie, does not appear in the film;
  • Chris, a boy who Sam befriends and then kills, was also cut from the film;
  • in the movie shows that Colonel Vosch killed Cassie's father, but in the movie it is not clear who killed him.
  • In the plot, Ben's family is killed by an attack at home, whereas in the movie, Ben's family died of plagues during the 3rd Wave;
  • The alien mind-mapping simulation Wonderland was cut from the film.

In short, the movie The Fifth Wave is the story of Rick Yancey's first book, so we are waiting for two more movies to conclude this amazing story: The Infinite Sea and The Last Star .

Synopsis the fifth wave

A giant alien ship circles the Earth, with The Others, beginning the attack with the 1st Wave, until the call comes in as The Fifth Wave These steps followed as follows:

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At 1st Wave, Earth is hit In an electromagnetic pulse, it destroys electricity and communication all over the world. Soon after, in the 2nd Wave , a tsunami kills 40% of the world's people. So, in the 3rd Wave, birds transmit a virus killing 97% of the population left over from the previous attack.

In this sense, in Wave 4, the aliens infiltrate among humans, causing doubts among them. Finally, in the 5th Wave, the threat is greater and intends the total elimination of mankind. Then Cassie Sullivan tries to protect her brother Sam and find out who she can believe in.

But be aware that the film does not end conclusively, for obvious reasons, arousing, and very much so, our curiosity for the end of the story.

5th wave plot

As in most films, there is a romance. Cassie, the heroine of the film The Fifth Wave, is torn between two young men: her high school sweetheart Ben Parish and the one who rescued her from the middle of the forest. The latter, the mysterious young man Evan Walber (played by Alex Roe), finds Cassie in the forest and tries to help her.

During the plot, Cassie is separated from her brother Sam, who is taken to a U.S. Army training camp. Then, a relentless search begins, as well as being taken over by the approaching 5th Wave. Sam is forcibly recruited, with other children, and then The Others blend in with the people, using them as hosts.

Throughout the film the plot is in the midst of calamity, indicating that survival is practically impossible, generating expectations for the next films .

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Cast and characters of The Fifth Wave

See who the main characters in the film are:

  • Cassie Sullivan, starring Chloë Grace Moretz;
  • Like Ben Parishy, Nick Robinson;
  • Evan Walker is played by Alex Roe;
  • Ringeryston, Maika Monroe;
  • Colonel Vosch is played by Liev Schreiber;
  • Sammy Sullvan stars Zackary Arthur;
  • Oliver Sullivan, by Ron Livingston.

Curiosities of the movie the fifth wave

The super production of the film The Fifth Wave In addition, the film was inspired by John Carpenter's They Live (1988).

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In addition, actress Chloë Grace Moretz was the first and only one to apply for the role of the protagonist of the film. Another curious fact, is that the rights to The Fifth Wave were sold in March 2012, a year before the book was released. What's more, among the owners of those rights and one of the producers of the film, is Spider-Man, played by Tobey Maguire.

During the filming of the movie, there was a scene where a bus was going to explode, and then the explosion was bigger than planned. Thus, it ended up damaging surrounding homes and businesses of the recordings.

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Among the film's curiosities, he is also the composer of the film's soundtrack, the same person who did the soundtracks for the following films: Captain America 2, Captain America Civil War, Operation Big Hero, Pixels, Kingsman, Detona Ralph, Kich-Ass 2, X-man 1st Class, etc.

Where to watch the fifth wave?

If you like the story of the movie, it is currently available on the streaming platform Netflix and Prime Video, so don't miss the opportunity to watch this great production of an action-packed sci-fi movie that will possibly surprise you and keep you hooked from beginning to end.

Therefore, it is a story of strength, courage and love, where the heroine Cassie goes from a simple teenager to a great warrior, in the midst of an apocalyptic scenario. The movie The Fifth Wave is considered a great drama, a box office leader, with a breathtaking cast.

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George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.