Outland

R

Released May 22, 1981

1 hr. 49 min.

Sci-Fi

List

54%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Thriller about an honest marshal in a corrupt mining colony on Io, Jupiter's sunless third moon, who is determined to confront a violent drug ring even though it may cost him his life. After his wife angrily deserts him, he waits alone for the arrival of killers hired by the company to eliminate him. Futuristic remake of "High Noon".

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Blu B

Ever wonder what would happen if you combined a Crime Drama in a Sci-Fi setting ripping off Alien almost to a Tee and High Noon? You'd get this and the results are interesting enough particulary in the second half when it becomes High Noon in space effectively. The problem is it isn't anywhere near as good as the films it's inspired by (or ripping off). Connery is solid in this and is the best thing overall. Everyone else is just kind of ok and forgettable for the most part. No one gets that much devlopment or screen time aside from the doctor who is ok I guess. The cinematography isn't bad with some solid camerawork, lots of production value, and mood and atmosphere. The problem is if you told me acouple of these sets were directly recycled from Alien two years earlier I'd believe you because it is almost exactly the asetics of the Nostromo and colony from Aliens. It makes me wish and think about watching Alien constantly and its distracting more than immersive. Also sometimes it's boring to look at especially in the first half ebcause shots linger for a long time, sometimes it's hard too see, and some shots are lifeless. The music is ok and very boring and forgettable. The editing is and the pacing isn't bad. It does get better in the first half but man the first half is a slog at points. It bounces around a lot setting up the crime backdrop and it does so in a very convuluted, slow, and boring way that isn't very cohesive despite always focusing on Connery. However, in the second half it abandons the complex plot for a straight Sci-Fi action style ending that makes up for the slow burn first. Some of the special effects especially the gore is laughably bad though. This should've cut about 30 minutes off the first half and this wouldbe significantly better. It didn't need all the setting up and jumping around with throwaway characters. It's a interesting mess and miracle at the same time. Anyone who is a big Connery fan will like this though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

Alec B

A compelling remake of "High Noon" (with the design elements from "Alien") that adds an interesting twist . . . What if rather than being afraid to help the Marshall, the people simply didn't care enough to do anything?

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

DanTheMan 2

Is it too soon to call Peter Hyams one of the most underappreciated directors of all time yet? He really doesn't screw around with Outland, a space western with Sean Connery as the lead, it takes Ridley Scott's Alien's dirty, grungy, well-used set design and inner blue-collar workings, then adds in the former James Bond as a lonely space sheriff on a one-man war on drugs, how could one not love this movie? It's got all those elements that made Alien work and just repurposes them into something so radically different, complete with a haunting Jerry Goldsmith score and awesome use of miniatures. In many ways, Hyams has made a film that is more frightening than Alien, because he surmises that space will change us very little and the real monsters we are liable to encounter will be in the next space suit. Of all the Hyams films I've seen, it's a tough call as to whether this or 2010 is his best but both are brilliant for vastly distinct reasons, 2010 had Roy Scheider try and untie humanity over the perils of the vast unknown while Outland sees Sean Connery engage in tension cat and mouse shootouts while staring down the barrel of a shotgun with that signature smile, I love them both. Outland is just so much fun and the fact it's so brilliantly made as well is the icing on the top of this beautiful cake.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/09/23

Full Review

Aaron Y

It's High Noon in Outer Space. While the character development is a bit thin, the film has an intriguing premise, especially in the first two acts and has the same production values as Alien (1979) There's a fan theory that Alien and Outland take place in the same universe and I have to agree. Sean Connery gives a solid performance, as does Peter Boyle and Francis Sturgeon. Great score from Jerry Goldsmith. A space western that would make a really fun video game if the right company got behind it. An underrated sci-fi gem of the early 80's, check this one out!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/06/23

Full Review

Tom E

It's amazing how wrong review scores can be, this is a great film!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/22/23

Full Review

Jack O

After The Star Chamber I decided to give it a try on Outland starring who else, Sean Connery. While Peter Hyams isn't everybody's favorite director in the world, he does get s&%t when he tries to make his films more memorable and not something bland. Years ago in the morning when I was watching The Star Chamber waiting to watch the chase scene at the end I was falling asleep. It never happened to me before. But I'm sure it doesn't do a same thing to Outland, and yeah, I didn't fall asleep but it sure is mediocre. I liked the chase scenes in this like in The Star Chamber. It sure has some gory scenes and it really did had some scary moments. This sci-fi thriller is sure looks like the space like in Alien. Even the music score is familiar, he's name is Jerry Goldsmith and he did make the score with the space look so similar, okay, not in the ship but in the Jupiter where drugs exists. It's been run by Sheppard who's been selling drugs in space. No matter how I try, this movie is dull and mediocre to say the least. Yeah, the writing isn't all that great and, hell, even all the Peter Hyams films ain't all that great! Outland is a really forgettable movie and it sometimes has nothing for sci-fi fans to get into, well, they can just manage it to be okay at least. If you are a huge sci-fi fan, go check out the Alien films and Star Wars films. Surely you can get some enjoyment out of them.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/19/23

Full Review

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Peter Hyams

Director

Sean Connery

Marshal William T. O'Niel

Peter Boyle

Mark Sheppard

Frances Sternhagen

Dr. Lazarus

James B. Sikking

Sgt. Montone

Kika Markham

Carol O'Niel

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Variety Staff

Variety

While there are several mile-wide plot holes and one key under-developed main character, the film emerges as a tight, intriguing old-fashioned drama that gives audiences a hero worth rooting for.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

The failure of director-writer Peter Hyams to put any weight whatever behind the moral issues (crude as they are) makes this merely violent nonsense.

Jun 5, 2007

Full Review

Time Out

Because both dialogue and direction are none too exciting, one's tired eyes wander endlessly over the space base sets.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Boasting an energizing blend of Western showdowns in sci-fi environs at the climax, this space-going actioner is an entertaining, competent, unique mix of genre films.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 22, 2022

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Not as awful as some have said, but not equal to its production and sound design.

Rated: C

Aug 30, 2022

Full Review

John Brosnan

Starburst

It is a beautifully photographed façade of a real movie.

Jul 27, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Thriller about an honest marshal in a corrupt mining colony on Io, Jupiter's sunless third moon, who is determined to confront a violent drug ring even though it may cost him his life. After his wife angrily deserts him, he waits alone for the arrival of killers hired by the company to eliminate him. Futuristic remake of "High Noon".

Director: Peter Hyams
Executive Producer: Stanley O'Toole
Screenwriter: Peter Hyams
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: The Ladd Company
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2008
Sound Mix: Surround

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