Soylent Green

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Soylent Green

PG

Released May 9, 1973

1h 37m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In a densely overpopulated, starving New York City of the future, NYPD detective Robert Thorn (Charlton Heston) investigates the murder of an executive at rations manufacturer Soylent Corporation. With the help of elderly academic Solomon Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson), Thorn begins to make real progress -- until the governor mysteriously pulls the plug. Obsessed with the mystery, Thorn steps out from behind the badge and launches his own investigation into the murder.

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Critics Consensus

While admittedly melodramatic and uneven in spots, Soylent Green ultimately succeeds with its dark, plausible vision of a dystopian future.

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Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

This pompously prophetic thing of a film hasn’t a brain in its beanbag.

Mar 2, 2024

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Matthew Rozsa

Salon.com

Its greatest attribute is not that it accurately anticipated many things about humanity's future. "Soylent Green" stands the test of time because it does these things while slamming you right where real anxiety festers and brews . . . in your guts.

Rated: 4/4

Apr 24, 2023

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Alan R. Howard

The Hollywood Reporter

Soylent Green is Edward G. Robinson's movie. As a man who remembers the wonders of civilization before it died, he is witty, cultivated and endlessly appealing.

Apr 23, 2019

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The grittiness of early-70s cinema works well for this fatalistic tale.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 9, 2024

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Where so many science fiction visions of the era have dated, this gritty creation of a depressed (and depressing) future recycling the junk of the past, and where assisted suicide has become simply another social option, looks all the more real.

Oct 28, 2023

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Not a terribly good movie, it's nonetheless not a bad guess at a future...

Jan 15, 2022

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Yolanda

I really love this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

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Audience Member

While this was filmed in the 1970's- this tale of a dark dystopian future where you are what you eat as some people would reference it- takes hold through great story telling and provides a look into a future we would want to avoid. As this was Edward G. Robinson's last film or his "farewell" film- he gives a phenomenal performance as Sol Roth- who is devastated by finding out what the secret of Soylent Green is and decides to end his time on Earth- while Thorn- played by legendary actor Charlton Heston- must find out what the secret is so that he can solve the case he is on and put a stop to what Soylent Green is. Also starring Leigh Taylor-Young, Chuck Connors, Jospeh Cotton, Paula Kelly, Brock Peters and others in a supporting cast- this movie- even for the year it was filmed- 1973- is a phenomenal classic sci-fi film with a warning- don't ever let our planet get to this point. 5/5 stars and this will be worth the time to watch it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

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Daniel C. M

A extremely disturbing, bleak, and misanthropic yet heartwarming at times mix between sci-fi, neo-noir, thriller and a little of action. Absolutly amazing performance by Edward as Solomon, which was one of the most effective performances of that year, and it's a shame it didn't nominated for an Academy Award. Very nice and intringuing story with a few engaging subplots and nice action every now and then. It's horror is extremely effective and chilling, bound to make you...well, horrified.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

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Audience Member

A classic with themes that still hold relevance even in the 21st Century.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/06/24

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G K

Dystopian in theme, this movie is a stronger critique of authoritarianism than population control. Charles Heston is perfect as a tough guy detective, but Edward G. Robinson is the heart of the movie. Leigh Taylor-Young makes a great "Hooker with a heart of gold" and adds to the overall heart of the movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/24/24

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Susan M

This movie, though 51 years old is all too relevant in today's world. The year in which the movie is set, 2022, has come and gone, but the effects of pollution, overpopulation, super hot temperatures, rising sea levels are also all too real. It does a great job of world building, and is quite the mystery story too.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/14/24

Full Review

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Richard Fleischer

Director

Charlton Heston

Detective Robert Thorn

Edward G. Robinson

Sol Roth

Leigh Taylor-Young

Shirl

Chuck Connors

Tab Fielding

Brock Peters

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Soylent Green: Trailer 1

3:25

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Synopsis

In a densely overpopulated, starving New York City of the future, NYPD detective Robert Thorn (Charlton Heston) investigates the murder of an executive at rations manufacturer Soylent Corporation. With the help of elderly academic Solomon Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson), Thorn begins to make real progress -- until the governor mysteriously pulls the plug. Obsessed with the mystery, Thorn steps out from behind the badge and launches his own investigation into the murder.

Director: Richard Fleischer
Producer: Walter Seltzer, Russell Thacher
Screenwriter: Harry Harrison, Stanley R. Greenberg
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Vídeo Arte
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 9, 1973, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2008
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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