The Black Hole

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The Black Hole

PG

Released Dec 18, 1979

1h 37m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In the future, a spaceship dubbed the USS Palomino is on its way back to Earth when it discovers another ship that had been assumed missing, the USS Cygnus. Kate McCrae (Yvette Mimieux), a scientist aboard the Palomino, learns that it's the same ship upon which her father had served as a crew member. When the Palomino's crew boards the Cygnus, they are met by Dr. Reindhardt (Maximilian Schell) and a bizarre, faceless army who plan to be the first people ever to explore a black hole.

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Critics Consensus

While lavishly crafted and brimming with ambitious ideas, The Black Hole probes the depths of space with an unexciting story and hokey melodrama.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

It is good to see the Disney craftsmen doing what they do best on such a grand and risky scale. If one has time for only one space opera this season, this is the one to choose.

Mar 9, 2009

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Time Out

Disney's most ambitious and costly production to date -- about a spaceship crew which encounters a Black Hole and a long-lost madman -- and if looks were everything, you could hardly fault it.

Feb 9, 2006

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

It cost half as much as Star Trek and looks better -- not as lavish, perhaps, but more original. The special effects are fancy, and the design even more so.

May 9, 2005

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Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

A bizarre Disney-fied mash-up of FORBIDDEN PLANET and STAR WARS, this darker existential story is imperfect but also fascinating.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 24, 2024

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

If you have a child in need of distracting, take them without fear to this inoffensive entertainment. In any other case, fear this black hole without end. [Full review in Spanish]

Jan 16, 2024

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John Brosnan

Starburst

For all its undoubted spectacle The Black Hole is fundamentally a disappointment. Buried within it somewhere is a serious picture with an adult theme but only fragments of it remain.

Jul 25, 2022

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Prospero E

I can't believe the negativity this cult classic receives. It's an amazing and iconic film that blew me away as a child in 1979 and blows me away as an adult in 2025. Easily one of the better movies I have seen in my life. The final psychedelic part is so deep and beautiful. The image of Maximilian atop a rock of Hell merging with Reinhart's eyes.... stunning! I love the part where Kate's brain is about to be drilled. Reinhart is a dark and psychologically manipulative villain. So much to love!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/25

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This Old G

You could consider this a so bad it's good movie. it's got some neat visuals but it's very laughable. And that music score is excruciating

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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Ninja W

Fantastic old style movie, for a low budget movie delivers a pretty nice and fun story

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/26/24

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David W

I absolutely loved this movie on its release and having recently rewatched it I still do. There's a wonderful cast who all give strong performances, an iconic pair of robots, great set design, a strong script, incredible special effects for its time and for me, one of the most memorable endings in sci-fi. The musics absolutely fantastic as well. Adore this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

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Satin B

💩 the first time and still 💩 the second 🥱⚠️

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

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Alec B

Obviously made to capitalize on the success of "Star Wars" but this movie is far stranger and all the better for it. Hard for me to dislike something that ends with such brazenly surreal and gorgeous imagery.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

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Gary Nelson

Director

Maximilian Schell

Dr. Hans Reinhardt

Anthony Perkins

Dr. Alex Durant

Yvette Mimieux

Dr. Kate McCrae

Robert Forster

Captain Dan Holland

Joseph Bottoms

Lieutenant Charles Pizer

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Synopsis

In the future, a spaceship dubbed the USS Palomino is on its way back to Earth when it discovers another ship that had been assumed missing, the USS Cygnus. Kate McCrae (Yvette Mimieux), a scientist aboard the Palomino, learns that it's the same ship upon which her father had served as a crew member. When the Palomino's crew boards the Cygnus, they are met by Dr. Reindhardt (Maximilian Schell) and a bizarre, faceless army who plan to be the first people ever to explore a black hole.

Director: Gary Nelson
Producer: Ron Miller
Screenwriter: Jeb Rosebrook, Gerry Day
Production Co: Walt Disney Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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