Synopsis

After a transport ship crashes on a remote desert planet, its surviving passengers discover that the seemingly barren world is home to deadly nocturnal predators. As a rare eclipse approaches, the group must cross the landscape and find a way to escape before darkness falls. Their uneasy ally is Riddick, an escaped convict whose enhanced vision may be their best chance of survival.

Factoids & Trivia

• The original concept involved a planet with multiple suns that kept it in perpetual daylight, with ghostly beings emerging during an eclipse. The supernatural antagonists were later replaced by physical predators.

• Most of the exterior filming took place around Coober Pedy, South Australia. The region's harsh desert landscape provided the alien setting, while interior scenes were filmed at Village Roadshow Studios in Queensland.

• Despite the film's hot-looking desert environment, production was often carried out in cold conditions. Water was sprayed on the performers to create the appearance of sweat.

• Vin Diesel's contact lenses for Riddick's reflective eyes were an early prototype. After one lens became difficult to remove, an optometrist had to be brought in from a distant town.

• The production used a bleach bypass process to give some of the daylight scenes a harsher, more distinctive appearance and to emphasize the planet's unusual suns.

• Pitch Black was initially planned as a stand-alone film, and Riddick was originally intended to die. Interest in the character led to a revised ending and eventually to a larger franchise.

• The film was the final credited production of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, which merged with Universal Pictures while the movie was being made.

• Released in 2000 on a reported $23 million budget, the film earned more than $53 million worldwide and established Riddick as a recurring science-fiction character.