This underrated sci-fi gem finally has a new streaming home ‣ Diverse Daily

Retiring replicants is no walk in the park. Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard learned this over the course of the 1982 film Blade Runner. This sci-fi masterwork by famed director Ridley Scott is considered a classic among fans of the genre. As a movie, Blade Runner helped define the cyberpunk subgenre of 80s sci-fi in cinema alongside other popular films like Terminator, Tron, and Robocop. The film is based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? written by the one individual many fans revere as the father of cyberpunk: Philip K. Dick. Dick’s works are often popular for their juxtaposition of key themes, including a dystopian world, an advanced technological landscape, and a philosophical examination of reality.

In 2017, the celebrated Dune director, Denis Villeneuve, put his visionary touch on Blade Runner with a striking follow-up: Blade Runner 2049. Critically, Blade Runner 2049 was praised for its stunning cinematography and thought-provoking narrative. Of course, debates have been stirred regarding the film’s standing as a competent sequel to the original, but that is to be expected. Ryan Gosling leads the story as a replicant named K, a blade runner for the Los Angeles Police Department. Blade Runner 2049 is 30 years removed from the original movie’s narrative, yet the events of the 1982 flick factor into the plot of Villeneuve’s sequel. With a TV series, Blade Runner 2099, on the horizon this November, now is a great time to revisit 2049. Or, perhaps, you’re discovering the franchise for the first time. If that is the case, the sequel film is now streaming on a new platform.

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Blade Runner 2049 deserves another look

It’s a slow-burn sci-fi with a killer payoff

While 2049 was a box office disappointment, it received critical acclaim and is a pillar of modern sci-fi cinema. Alongside Gosling, the film also features Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, and more. Like its predecessor, 2049 leverages the dystopian future even further, and frames the corporate hold on society as a catastrophic event. The sequel builds on the foundation of what Blade Runner established as a cyberpunk classic.

In the modern day, cyberpunk is an interesting form of retrofuturism. The original Blade Runner actually takes place in the year 2019. But it’s not the 2019 you remember. Visually, the world feels dark, which is a reflection of the state of society that is governed by a totalitarian cabal made up of reigning corporations that operate with impunity. The neon glow of holographic advertisements, flying vehicles, and vibrant skyscrapers represent the proliferation of the carbon footprint, unmitigated capitalism, and the destruction of the environment. Let’s not forget the concept of big business commodifying human life. Replicants are bioengineered humans capable of greater strength and intellect, but are designed by the Tyrell corporation to serve an industrial purpose. Rogue replicants who break free of their metaphorical shackles are marked for execution, or retirement, which is the job of blade runners like Rick Deckard.

Blade Runner 2049 follows K, a replicant blade runner, in Los Angeles 30 years after the events of the original film. Just like Deckard before him, K will be confronted with the question: what does it mean to be human? However, there are more developments in replicant biology that further complicate the moral fabric of K’s line of work. While the film is heavily connected to the original, newcomers can watch 2049 and still follow all the components of the film’s investigative narrative. Though, I’d recommend watching the 1982 movie first to get the most out of the experience.

Now, Blade Runner 2049 just got easier to revisit

Where to watch Blade Runner 2049

Current subscribers of Paramount+ are in luck. Blade Runner 2049 is now available to stream on that platform as of this month. However, be warned, you’ll need to block off a hefty chunk of time to digest the entire 163-minute runtime of this sci-fi juggernaut. If you’re not a current Paramount+ subscriber, you can grab a subscription for $8.99/month (with ads). For $13.99, you can remove ads, watch in 4K, download, and gain access to everything Showtime has to offer. If you have room in your budget, paying for a full year up front can further reduce your average monthly costs for both of these tiers.

Now, there is currently no existing free trial for Paramount+ directly. But there is a workaround. Walmart+ includes your choice of Peacock or Paramount+ to include with your membership. You can obtain a 30-day trial of Walmart+ for only $1. While it’s not exactly free, $1 is pretty darn close. You’ll have a full month of access to Paramount+, which will also get you access to an entire catalog of stellar Taylor Sheridan-produced shows like Lioness, all things Star Trek, and hit movies like the entire run of Mission Impossible films. Blade Runner 2049 will just be the cherry on top. Unfortunately, the original Blade Runner movie is not available on any major streaming platforms. So, if you wish to catch up with this 1982 classic, you’ll have to rent or purchase the film on video on-demand with services like Fandango or Prime Video.