Colossus: The Forbin Project

PG

1969

1h 40m

Sci-Fi

List

89%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Tucked away in a secret location in the Rockies, Dr. Charles Forbin (Eric Braeden) has developed a massive computer system, dubbed "Colossus," that is supposed to ensure the nation's safety against nuclear attack. But when Colossus connects to a similar Russian computer, "Guardian," the intelligent machines begin conducting a private dialog. Nervous as to what they might be plotting, Forbin severs the connection, only to have Colossus threaten a nuclear attack if the link isn't restored.

Read More

Read Less

Tom Milne

Time Out

After an excellent beginning, the craven script (based on DF Jones' novel Colossus) develops cold feet, injects some tiresome comic relief, and gradually begins to drag the whole thing down.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

The movie is full of marvelous, absurd dialogue.

Rated: 4/5

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Above-average science fiction.

Apr 9, 2005

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

The hardware may be dated but the intelligent screenplay from James Bridges constructs a sophisticated, continually surprising thriller that pits man against a globally connected computer network which couldn’t be more contemporary.

Oct 6, 2023

Full Review

TV Guide

Taut, well-made sci-fi thriller about a massive computer.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 14, 2010

Full Review

Ian Berriman

SFX Magazine

A crisp, well-crafted movie that achieves its effects by calmly stating the facts, with the bare minimum of histrionics.

Aug 2, 2010

Full Review

Read all reviews

Blobbo X

Pale, silly, slow-moving, mostly Canadian imitation of Wargames, which came years later, so how is that possible? hahaha. Machines cannot feel or want. Computer voiced by Paul Frees --- naturally.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I liked this film. Calm, reasoned scientists trying to figure out how to defeat an empowered computer that is ready to take over the world. Clever dialogue, firm acting.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is an old movie, back when computers were in their infancy. Yet it is totally unsettling and should be watched as computers take more and more power in our lives.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Thank God for Myspace. Let me explain; so back when MySpace was still in it's peak, I was following a band called Does It Offend You, Yeah?. I don't remember the exact context, but they used clips from this video (or maybe it was a trailer) and it piqued my interest. A bit of digging led me to the movie itself, and almost ten years later it's still one of my favorite films. One of it's more unique features to me are all the in-depth character interactions. Most movies will generally gloss over small talk and banter, which is not a bad thing. While I do enjoy this movie, I can imagine it feels a bit slow to some people. However, I feel like it helps make the characters feel like real people. Watching Forbin's team interact with each other gives you a sense that these people have worked with each other for a long time and know each other quite well. The back and forth between the President and Forbin showcases that while there is a sense of trust between the two, there is still tension between a man who's creation is slowly escaping his control to a man who must decide to stand up and protect his people, or submit to the whims of a rogue AI. The only downside of this movie is that it is part one of a trilogy, and we'll never see a sequel in film form.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

not as great as you'd think slow, overly-talky, and the ending was unsatisfying I guess you could call this a pre-'War Games' but trust me that is far superior to this not my cup of tea

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's a really cool concept here, one that I should love. But my God.... it was excruciatingly dull! It actually took me three tries to get all the way through this, without falling asleep....

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/17/20

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Joseph Sargent

Director

Eric Braeden

Dr. Charles Forbin

Susan Clark

Dr. Cleo Markham

Gordon Pinsent

The President

William Schallert

CIA Director Grauber

Leonid Rostoff

Russian Chairman

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

33%

67%

The Groundstar Conspiracy

92%

68%

Fantastic Voyage

58%

67%

Logan's Run

84%

70%

Westworld

TRAILER

for Westworld

63%

30%

Son of Godzilla

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Tucked away in a secret location in the Rockies, Dr. Charles Forbin (Eric Braeden) has developed a massive computer system, dubbed "Colossus," that is supposed to ensure the nation's safety against nuclear attack. But when Colossus connects to a similar Russian computer, "Guardian," the intelligent machines begin conducting a private dialog. Nervous as to what they might be plotting, Forbin severs the connection, only to have Colossus threaten a nuclear attack if the link isn't restored.

Director: Joseph Sargent
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Nov 23, 2004
Runtime: 1h 40m