Y2K is a 2024 American horror comedy film directed by Kyle Mooney and written by Mooney and Evan Winter. It stars Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison, The Kid Laroi, and Fred Durst, with Lachlan Watson, Daniel Zolghadri, Mason Gooding, Lauren Balone, and Eduardo Franco appearing in supporting roles. It follows a group of high school students who attempt to survive when the year 2000 problem causes all technology worldwide to gain sentience and turn against humanity. Y2K had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 9, 2024, and was released theatrically in the United States by A24 on December 6. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $4.5 million.
Plot In 1999, best friends Eli and Danny discuss plans for New Year's Eve. Eli has a crush on his classmate Laura, and Danny encourages him to kiss her at midnight. They join Laura and her friends Trevor, Madison, and Raleigh at a party held by Soccer Chris, who is also interested in Laura. At midnight, Eli watches in dismay as Chris and Laura kiss until the power suddenly goes out. As a student is found dead with a piece of a fan lodged in his head, a toy car moves on its own and kills Trevor by burning his face with a hairspray can and lighter. The terrified partygoers realize that all electrical devices have become autonomous and hostile. They attempt to leave, but many are gruesomely killed. In the ensuing chaos, a VCR smashes Madison's head with a VHS tape, Chris' head is melted by a microwave, and a Tamagotchi drills through Raleigh's head. Eli, Danny, and Laura escape with juvenile delinquents Farkas, CJ, and Ash, but Danny is fatally impaled by a blade and Farkas dies when he hits the ground while attempting to be cool on his skates. The group go to an old mill without electricity, while the machines kill several residents throughout the town. They also find VHS store clerk Garrett and Laura's ex-boyfriend Jonas, and learn the threat is a collective consciousness of all electronic devices worldwide planning to enslave humanity. Laura successfully creates a kill code to shut down the algorithm, now dubbing itself the "Amalgamation", but a computer attacks her. Eli douses it in water, shutting it down. The group is then cornered by the Amalgamation, who is using electronics to make itself bigger. Garrett tries to fend it off, but is decapitated. The group hide in a portable toilet and ride it down a hill. They take refuge in the VHS store and meet musician Fred Durst, whom they encourage to join. The group arrives at the local high school where, they learn, the machines are due to a new Internet connection installed. They sneak inside and discover the townspeople have been reduced to mindless slaves by brain-implanted chips. CJ sacrifices himself to save Fred from a machine while the group learn the Amalgamation has now grown to a monstrous size and is forcing people inside it, converting them to the aforementioned slaves. Fred, Ash, and Jonas distract the machines guarding the townspeople to let Laura make her way into the Amalgamation, but it electrocutes her. Eli arrives in time to save Laura and attempts to insert the kill code himself, but fails to do so as the Amalgamation keeps electrocuting and taunting them. Eli then uses a condom Danny had given him earlier and wraps it around Laura's hand like a protective glove. While Fred, Ash, and Jonas continue distracting the machines, Eli and Laura successfully insert the kill code, shutting down the algorithm worldwide and destroying the Amalgamation. Eli shares a kiss with Laura and they reunite with the surviving townspeople as dawn breaks. Five years later in 2005, a now college-aged Eli, Laura, and Ash visit their friends' graves. As they leave the cemetery, Ash's new iPod starts to glitch, revealing that the algorithm has not been fully destroyed.
Cast
In addition, the film's director and co-writer, Kyle Mooney, portrays Garrett.
Production It was announced in early March 2023 that Kyle Mooney would direct Y2K for A24. Jaeden Martell, Julian Dennison, Rachel Zegler, Lachlan Watson, Mason Gooding, The Kid Laroi, Eduardo Franco, Miles Robbins, Alicia Silverstone, Tim Heidecker, and Daniel Zolghadri joined the cast. Additionally, Weta Workshop worked on the effects for the film. In April 2023, Sebastian Chacon and Lauren Balone joined the cast. Jenna Ortega, Melanie Lynskey, and Fred Hechinger were also considered for the film. Principal photography began in April 2023 in Ringwood, New Jersey. The following month, filming continued in Ringwood and Chatham Borough and in Clark at the recreation center before wrapping.
Music
The soundtrack for Y2K comprises a number of songs from the 1990s; the soundtrack album was released on CD on January 17, 2025.
Release Y2K had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 9, 2024. It was released theatrically in the United States by A24 on December 6, 2024.
Home media The film was released video on demand on December 24, 2024.
Reception
Box office In the United States and Canada, Y2K was released alongside Werewolves and Pushpa 2: The Rule, and was projected to gross $3–5 million from 2,108 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $923,110 on its first day, including $300,000 from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $2.1 million, finishing in eighth.
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