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The Cold Equations

Play trailer Poster for The Cold Equations 1996 1h 36m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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A pilot (Bill Campbell) delivering medicine to a remote planet must eject a stowaway (Poppy Montgomery) from his spacecraft so she won't affect fuel consumption.

Audience Reviews

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12/24/2019 This has some special emotional significance for me, because I saw part of it on tv in 1996, on my dad's recommendation (he'd read the short story), but then I couldn't remember the name. I searched for ages. Just the other week I finally figured it out, read the short story, and watched the whole made-for-tv movie. The short story is a classic, but you have to suspend disbelief about everything that happens before the first word of the story. Then it's emotionally a knock-out. This rendition is more believable in some sense - it tries to establish the premise, and at the very end this does pay off. The acting isn't great. The story was probably better the other way, in spite of the issues it had. However, I actually really appreciate what this version adds. It goes in a slightly different direction. See more 04/12/2015 This made for TV movie is based on a 1954 short story, by Tom Godwin, in Astounding Magazine. It addresses the difficult moral and ethical issue of what to do when an innocent life must be sacrificed in order to save other lives. Like the story, the movie doesn't pull its punches and come up with a happy ending. This isn't Star Wars or Alien, so don't expect gun battles or monsters. The drama here is the interaction between two people struggling with emotional, moral and ethical issues. See more 08/08/2009 Although somewhat low budget in make, this movie is an excellent thriller with an excellent ethical theme! See more 12/10/2008 well written in sci fi staring Bill cambell, no action per se but an amazing story and moving drama, in a compelling sci fi setting! See more Read all reviews
The Cold Equations

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Movie Info

Synopsis A pilot (Bill Campbell) delivering medicine to a remote planet must eject a stowaway (Poppy Montgomery) from his spacecraft so she won't affect fuel consumption.
Director
Peter Geiger
Producer
Yoram Barzilai
Screenwriter
Peter Geiger, Stephen Berger, Norman Plotkin
Production Co
Chanticleer Films, Alliance Communications Corporation, USA Pictures
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 21, 2017
Runtime
1h 36m