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Soylent Green

PG Released May 9, 1973 1h 37m Sci-Fi Mystery & Thriller List
71% Tomatometer 41 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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Soylent Green

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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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Critics Reviews

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Penelope Gilliatt New Yorker This pompously prophetic thing of a film hasn’t a brain in its beanbag. Mar 2, 2024 Full Review 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 Full Review Alan R. Howard 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 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The grittiness of early-70s cinema works well for this fatalistic tale. Rated: 3/4 Jun 9, 2024 Full Review 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 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Not a terribly good movie, it's nonetheless not a bad guess at a future... Jan 15, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Logan T While it can be uneven in spots and in my opinion the film would benefit from a more horror-sci-fi take Soylent Green does ultimately work due to its unique world and the uncovering of its central mystery Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/24 Full Review Jelisije J I was spoiled earlier so the twist didn't hit me as hard as it should, but still a great movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/30/23 Full Review Gustavo R This is a 1973 film. Depicts what happens in the near future of 2022 😹 in year 2022 the over populated earth , there's only Poor and the 1% are looking more like the .001% Theres also no meat nor fresh fruits nor veggies to eat. Only crackers made out of plankton or soy. Good news? in 2022 the whole world is vegan , except of course of the .001 % I give this movie the whole 🍿🍿🍿🍿/5 because this is what is going to happen if we don't take climate change seriously Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/27/23 Full Review William Joseph B Good classic drama film Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/15/23 Full Review nick s The production quality wasn't too bad, but I found the story predictable and silly. I really don't rate it as a sci fi classic. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/15/23 Full Review Lorenzo M Powerful Message That Holds Up – Using Earth's Resources – Where Do We Get Food? Circa 1973 – Spoilers ahead, directed by Richard Fleischer from a screenplay by Stanley R. Greenberg and based on Make Room! Make Room! A 1966 novel by Harry Harrison tells the story of what happens when earth loses it's resources like water, fuel and above all food. With a cast lead by #CharltonHeston, Chuck Connors, Joseph Cotton, Brock Peters and Edward G. Robinson, the story holds up and the consequences of society and the needs of humankind become brutal, dangerous and cannibalistic in a Sc-Fi way. Classic science fiction from a classic era of films that still is relevant today - Check it out! Lorenzo M. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

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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