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Metropolis

Play trailer 2:00 Poster for Metropolis Released Mar 13, 1927 2h 3m Sci-Fi Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 138 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
This influential German science-fiction film presents a highly stylized futuristic city where a beautiful and cultured utopia exists above a bleak underworld populated by mistreated workers. When the privileged youth Freder (Gustav Fröhlich) discovers the grim scene under the city, he becomes intent on helping the workers. He befriends the rebellious teacher Maria (Brigitte Helm), but this puts him at odds with his authoritative father, leading to greater conflict.
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Metropolis

Metropolis

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Critics Consensus

A visually awe-inspiring science fiction classic from the silent era.

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Critics Reviews

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Times (UK) Staff Times (UK) The film has, in consequence, a remarkable pictorial power, and, in spite of its occasional solemnities, is one which will well repay study by those who are interested in the development of a separate cinematographic technique. Jul 8, 2020 Full Review H.G. Wells New York Times It gives in one eddying concentration almost every possible foolishness, cliché, platitude, and muddlement about mechanical progress and progress in general, served up with a sauce of sentimentality that is all its own. Mar 31, 2020 Full Review SMH Staff Sydney Morning Herald Often enough it is exciting in a broad, elemental way, just as an earthquake or a loud clap of thunder would be exciting; but when individual characters come on to the screen they rouse little Interest for their own sakes. Apr 2, 2019 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Lang’s visionary visual creation remains impressive a century later, from the densely imagined cityscape to the massive sets that dwarf the actors and the swarms of extras, and its socio-political themes are just as soft-headed and simplistic. Oct 5, 2023 Full Review Brian Susbielles InSession Film With its memorable sets and special effects courtesy of Eugen Schüfftan, the film remains a landmark of global cinema nearly 100 years later. Mar 6, 2023 Full Review David Bromwich The Nation The movie is a period piece, with roots in dystopian novels like H.G. Wells's When the Sleeper Wakes and The Time Machine; yet the stark and garish black-and-white staging here engenders an emotion oddly stronger than words. Oct 7, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Pete Amazing animation for an amazing story from a legend Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review Roman An amazing f@ck humanity movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/05/24 Full Review Micah H Thematically and visually, Metropolis is perfection. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/27/24 Full Review Jay W *The original text of this review has been lost over the years. We have compiled all the original text to keep the original intact. I will put an asterisk explaining what parts of the review are missing. * Metropolis is an influential science fiction film. Its most obvious influence is the design of the robot in the film is what George Lucas used as inspiration of C3PO. *In the original review, the reviewer lists all the sci-fi films that took inspiration from this pioneering film.* The story centers around a large working class of people making a big tower for the few wealthy elites that work way above them. *In the original review the reviewer spoke deeply on the symbolism of this class divide* Then a woman named Maria rises up as a hero among the lower class. Seeing potential for the peasants to revolt, businessman Joh Fredersen decides to put her brain in a robot that they can control. Meanwhile, Joh's son, thinks that he may be in love with Maria. This isn't the first 1920's silent film I've seen, but this is the most ambitious. Most films of this period are a lot more straightforward with their story. Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, they would typically focus on the jokes and have a simple romance storyline. It seems that in the 1920's the films that survived the test of time were either comedies or horror films. This is the first one that really leans hard into the science fiction element and grand scope of storytelling. I found it amusing how short the cast list is at the beginning, considering there are shots in this film where I think everyone from 1927 was in frame. The best part of this movie is the visual aspect of it. Makes sense, considering it is a silent film, the visuals are all it has. But beyond the simple, "impressive for its time" angle, there are some truly unique and breathtaking visuals. The set design really shows how they went above and beyond to make the city of Metropolis feel otherworldly. It hard to judge the movie on its original merits with so much of the original footage being lost to time. But measuring the film off of what we have, it is still a very strange and very influential film. *In the original review the reviewer included more details and wrapped things up with a clever robot-based pun*. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/20/24 Full Review Audience Member If you’re in India, you can watch Metropolis for free on PlexTV. I finally decided to watch it after seeing an interview of Anurag Kashyap on the Humans of Cinema YouTube channel. He talked about the filmmakers who inspire him, and how he believes that silent filmmakers were the true geniuses. That really made me curious, and I’m glad I watched it. Fritz Lang’s Metropolis is truly a film ahead of its time, solidifying his status as a cinematic genius. The film’s practical effects, intricate set design, and sheer scale are nothing short of remarkable. Lang’s vision showcases a vast imagination paired with deep, forward-thinking ideas that continue to resonate even today. The film's influence is undeniable - its impact can be seen in countless other works of cinema. It’s almost impossible to count how many filmmakers have drawn inspiration from Metropolis. With a runtime of over two and a half hours and no spoken dialogue, it's a testament to the audiences of that era, who had a far greater attention span and focus than today’s viewers. What stands out the most are the massive, futuristic structures and architecture that Lang brought to life on screen. The vision behind those buildings and the world they inhabit is awe-inspiring, revealing just how advanced Lang’s thinking was for the 1920s. For more reviews follow me on instagram - @cineculturist Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/26/24 Full Review Mix R This movie shows that you can write a simple story and still make it riveting. Watching it felt like time travel and I must say, this movie aged really well! Even the special effects! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Metropolis

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis This influential German science-fiction film presents a highly stylized futuristic city where a beautiful and cultured utopia exists above a bleak underworld populated by mistreated workers. When the privileged youth Freder (Gustav Fröhlich) discovers the grim scene under the city, he becomes intent on helping the workers. He befriends the rebellious teacher Maria (Brigitte Helm), but this puts him at odds with his authoritative father, leading to greater conflict.
Director
Fritz Lang
Producer
Erich Pommer
Screenwriter
Fritz Lang, Thea von Harbou, Thea von Harbou
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Sci-Fi, Drama
Original Language
German
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 13, 1927, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Oct 14, 2011
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.2M
Runtime
2h 3m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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