Can a group of passengers outrun the sun to survive a global extinction event?
In short: In the Belgian thriller Into the Night, a hijacked red-eye flight becomes a desperate race for survival. When sunlight suddenly turns lethal, killing all living organisms, a diverse group of passengers must keep the plane moving west, perpetually chasing the night to stay alive in a world gone dark.
Created by Jason George and inspired by Jacek Dukaj’s 2015 novel The Old Axolotl, Into the Night premiered on Netflix in May 2020 as the platform's first original Belgian series. The narrative centers on a hijacked flight from Brussels. Terenzio, an Italian NATO soldier, forces an early takeoff, inadvertently saving the passengers from a catastrophic global event where exposure to daylight results in instant death.
The survivors, led by pilot Mathieu and former military helicopter pilot Sylvie, face a relentless struggle to keep the Sun behind them. Their journey is defined by scarcity and tension, as they battle fuel shortages, irradiated food, and internal conflicts. By the second season, which premiered in September 2021, the group reaches a NATO bunker in Bulgaria, only to find new challenges in managing limited resources and navigating power struggles with the military personnel already stationed there.
The series explores themes of cooperation and survival under extreme pressure, featuring an ensemble cast including a climate scientist, a mechanic, and a digital influencer. The show’s success led to a Turkish-language spin-off, Yakamoz S-245, released in April 2022, which follows a researcher named Arman Kaya in a submarine-set story occurring concurrently with the main series. The first season of Into the Night received an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 18 reviews, with an average score of 8.7/10.
While the premise of a solar-related catastrophe is central, the show focuses heavily on the human element of disaster. The characters must constantly adapt to the shifting dynamics of their environment, whether in the air or underground. The series remains a notable example of international collaboration in streaming television, bridging Belgian production with global storytelling influences.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Into the Night (TV series)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-into-the-night-tv-series.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Clothing and fashion · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
