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Rollerball

Play trailer Poster for Rollerball R 1975 2h 8m Sci-Fi Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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56% Tomatometer 111 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
The year is 2018 in a futuristic society where corporations have replaced countries. A violent futuristic game known as Rollerball is the recreational sport of the world, with teams representing various areas. One player, Jonathan E., fights for his personal freedom and threatens the corporate control.
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Rollerball

Rollerball

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Critics Consensus

Its dystopia vision is presented with striking brutality and visual splendor, but Rollerball is often undermined by shallow characterizations and a script that delivers social critique without much conviction.

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Critics Reviews

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Martin Knelman Globe and Mail The combat brutality is strictly routine, and fails entirely to relieve the excruciating lethargy of Rollerball. Oct 8, 2025 Full Review Molly Haskell Village Voice So confused and so poorly articulated is Jewison's vision of the future, that it's hard to know what the message is. Jun 5, 2025 Full Review David Robinson The Times (UK) It is in fact a simple tale, the familiar theme of sci-fi back to Metropolis, despite the costly dressing and the confusions of William Harrison's ill-made screenplay. Jun 5, 2025 Full Review Lou Cedrone Baltimore Sun Jewison is nothing if not imaginative, and his film, while dramatically thin, is so technically, so structurally handsome, I enjoyed it throughout. Oct 7, 2025 Full Review Alan Jones Radio Times Although the Rollerball sequences are excitingly staged, director Norman Jewison's over-inflated Big Brother fable is dull and obvious when it leaves the skating arena. Rated: 3/5 Aug 31, 2025 Full Review Frances Taylor Newark Star-Ledger The story fails to involve us in the intimate lives of any of the characters. "Rollerball" becomes a long stunt. Aug 27, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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J. M. S Una película de culto. Distopia sin mensajes cursis. Puede parecer algo lenta, pero fue hecha hace 50 años sin producción mega millonaria. Cultura pop madura que no cae en mensajes para adolescentes tardíos Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/19/25 Full Review Blu B It deserves it status as a Cult Classic. It's defintely not for everyone though. It's too low at certain times to be a full blown action flick. Not enough Sci-Fi to be a full blown Sci-Fi movie either. And the sports aspects are quite odd. It's as if you took those three genres and mashed them together you'd get this. It has trouble mixing in personal drama and romance with the sports/corporate commentary at times. It can feel like two seperate films especially in the first half after the opening game. And the direction is pretty basic throughout and you wish the direction would pick it up at times. It's too slow at certain moments. But the acting is good even though at times it is a bit on the muted side. The supporting cast doesn't have much depth outside of Caan who is good in this. The physical acting is pretty good though and makes up for the more muted dramatic stuff. It can be borderline wooden sometimes. The cinematography again is basic but the setting is memorable, the game is one of the most unique things I've seen up there with Quidditch. It does a suprisngly good job explaining the rules in the opening scene in a very visual manner. There is almost no words in the rollerball scenes but you can follow it pretty well each time. I give it credit also as most corporate ruled worlds are run down or decayed. This one it seems like it's a high society world where things are actually good and normal overall. The stunts are pretty good too. The music isn't bad but it's a weird organ track throughout and most of the time it doesn't even have much soundtrack giving it a bit of a dry feel. But it is distinct. The editing is good and the pacing while it has issues isn't bad. The ending is good and the best part. It makes perfect sense throughout and does work with the underlying commentary about corporate control and comfort vs freedom. It's that underlying commentary that lies beneath the entire thing that always keeps you thinking about what does it all mean and keep you engaged even when the pacing and direction doesn't. Even though again it's not erfect it does a good job weaving a unique Sci-Fi world, unique sport, and action together. If your a big fan of any actors here, 70's Sci-Fi, the director which is such an odd film choice for Jewison, or a truly unique fictional Sports film give this a try. Very unique overall. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/04/25 Full Review john w Has aged better than most movies of its ilk, but cannot be judged by today's critics , at the time of its release it was already a cult classic , us teenagers talked of little else , it was a sensation, not many of today's movies can create such a buzz Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/01/25 Full Review Russ G James Caan and John Houseman positively rule this movie. How anyone could give it fewer than four stars is beyond me. Protagonist Jonathan E is the biggest star in the sport, but you'll be rooting for an underdog, with global elites attempting to crush the individual. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review Jordi H I saw it when it was new and I just rented it again, and it has aged very well. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/27/25 Full Review Mons G Great concept stylishly executed but the snail-like pace of the storytelling and undynamic acting make this frustrating viewing. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/14/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Rollerball

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Movie Info

Synopsis The year is 2018 in a futuristic society where corporations have replaced countries. A violent futuristic game known as Rollerball is the recreational sport of the world, with teams representing various areas. One player, Jonathan E., fights for his personal freedom and threatens the corporate control.
Director
Norman Jewison
Producer
Norman Jewison
Screenwriter
William Harrison, William Harrison
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
United Artists, Algonquin
Rating
R
Genre
Sci-Fi, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 1975, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
2h 8m
Sound Mix
Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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