Fantastic Voyage

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Fantastic Voyage

PG

1966

1h 40m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

The brilliant scientist Jan Benes (Jean Del Val) develops a way to shrink humans, and other objects, for brief periods of time. Benes, who is working in communist Russia, is transported by the CIA to America, but is attacked en route. In order to save the scientist, who has developed a blood clot in his brain, a team of Americans in a nuclear submarine is shrunk and injected into Benes' body. They have a finite period of time to fix the clot and get out before the miniaturization wears off.

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Critics Consensus

The special effects may be a bit dated today, but Fantastic Voyage still holds up well as an imaginative journey into the human body.

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Peter John Dyer

Sight & Sound

Technically, the film is only too obviously under all kinds of strain, as if trying to live up to a budget which it never wanted in the first place.

Apr 2, 2020

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Variety Staff

Variety

The lavish production, boasting some brilliant special effects and superior creative efforts, is an entertaining, enlightening excursion through inner space -- the body of a man.

Jun 4, 2007

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

This special effects extravaganza from 1966 has proved surprisingly enduring, despite a technical quality crude by contemporary standards; perhaps it's the screwball poetry of the plot.

Jun 4, 2007

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

With such titles as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Planet of the Apes, the 1960s proved to be a particularly rich decade for science fiction cinema, and Fantastic Voyage stands as one of the period's most imaginative efforts.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 23, 2023

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…even if the process work is poor by today’s standards, this voyage still seems fantastic today…

Rated: 4/5

Mar 9, 2023

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

The science is shaky at best but the imaginative spectacle is marvelous: scuba diving surgeons battle white blood cells, tap the lungs to replenish the oxygen supply, and shoot the aorta like daredevil surfers.

Mar 4, 2023

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Derek J.

A grand adventure into the labyrinth of human physiology. We learn about the human body as our protagonists conquer obstacle after obstacle routed in science. I wish the characters would have been more emotionally attached to the gravity of their situation. But wonderful set design and use of practical effects.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/08/25

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Morris D.

Given the special effects of the day, I thought it imaginative and well written. A number of plot holes but that’s a given for such a movie. Really enjoyed it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/20/25

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Stephen C

Successful in 1 hour and 40 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

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Rosana B

Adoro essas mentes criativas, sou apaixonada por miniaturização, mas fico a filosofar, com uma descoberta tão extraordinário, poderia simplesmente ser utilizada de forma tão ordinária, "sacrificando" 6 cientistas renomados para salvar um político (se ainda fosse uma criancinha) num ato experimental e suicida, tirando esse fato bizarro, e infelizmente não tão longe da realidade (afinal quem tem dinheiro detém o poder) o filme é realmente uma viagem fantástica… Delicioso e criativo...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/07/24

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faye o

This movie was fantastic!! In 1966 I was just 6 years old. I was so mesmerized by the color and effects that I couldn't step away! To this day, I still remember the movie clearly, and most of all, the way I felt when I was watching it. Brilliant!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/10/24

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Honest D

I watched this movie on a battered old VHS simply labeled "Nature" dozens of times. It had some truly memorable practicle effects and sets. Being an 80s and 90s baby I am no expert in older sci fi but this movie really went all out with the budget, i feel like it would have a lot of appeal for many people wether they are loking for campy B (B+?) movie sci-fi or borderline psychedelic weirness. It's non stop craziness. Rick and Morty had an episode that is basically an updated remake of this movie. In fact now that I'm thinking about it this movie would most likely appeal to fans of R and M, Adventure Time... etc. The sets and production look like campy 60s versions of modern cartoons. Oh and this film features Donald Pleasence who was one of the great supporting actors of his time no matter what role he was in.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

Full Review

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Richard Fleischer

Director

Stephen Boyd

Grant

Raquel Welch

Cora Peterson

Edmond O'Brien

General Carter

Donald Pleasence

Dr. Michaels

Arthur O'Connell

Colonel Donald Reid

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Synopsis

The brilliant scientist Jan Benes (Jean Del Val) develops a way to shrink humans, and other objects, for brief periods of time. Benes, who is working in communist Russia, is transported by the CIA to America, but is attacked en route. In order to save the scientist, who has developed a blood clot in his brain, a team of Americans in a nuclear submarine is shrunk and injected into Benes' body. They have a finite period of time to fix the clot and get out before the miniaturization wears off.

Director: Richard Fleischer
Producer: Saul David
Screenwriter: Jerome Bixby, Otto Klement, David Duncan, Harry Kleiner
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Production Co: 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 24, 1966, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 22, 2013
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Mono

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