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Outland

Play trailer Poster for Outland R Released May 22, 1981 1h 49m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
54% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
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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Outland

Critics Reviews

View All (28) Critics Reviews
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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (496) audience reviews
Timothy P This is an amazing sci-fi. If you liked Blade Runner you will love Outland. By today's standards it would be considered a low budget film, but it out shines movies like (the current) F451 by its screen play scripting, directing, story line and acting quality. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/22/24 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
Outland

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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
Producer
Richard A. Roth
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
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Surround
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