Set in the near future, the story revolves around astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew during a manned mission to Mars. 

But, Watney survives and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal Earth that he is alive.

Based on the novel by Andy Weir, the premise of the film begs the question, “Can humans really survive on Mars?”