The film was released on 22 September 2006 in the UK and on 25 December in the US . Critics noted the relationship between the US ' Christmas opening and the film 's themes of hope , redemption , and faith . Despite the limited release and low earnings at the box office compared to its budget , '' Children of Men '' received critical acclaim and was recognised for its achievements in screenwriting , cinematography , art direction , and innovative single-shot action sequences . It was nominated for three Academy Awards : Best Adapted Screenplay , Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing . It was also nominated for three BAFTA Awards , winning Best Cinematography and Best Production Design , and for three Saturn Awards , winning Best Science Fiction Film . In 2016 it was voted 13th among 100 films considered the best of the 21st century by 117 film critics from around the world
Academy Awards
79th Academy Awards
Children of Men