RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Battlefield Earth
Battlefield Earth

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Battlefield Earth (2000)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
2 %
Tomatometer
Template Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:121

Fresh:3

Rotten:118

Average Rating:2.3/10

Consensus: Ugly, campy, and poorly acted, Battlefield Earth is a stunningly misguided, aggressively bad sci-fi folly.

Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: In the year 3000, there are no countries, no cities... Earth is a wasteland. And man is an endangered species. A millennium ago, vicious Psychlo aliens swept down from the skies and wiped out... In the year 3000, there are no countries, no cities... Earth is a wasteland. And man is an endangered species. A millennium ago, vicious Psychlo aliens swept down from the skies and wiped out Earth’s entire defense force in nine minutes. Now, the handfuls of surviving humans are either used as slaves, stripping the mineral resources from the planet for use by the Psychlo race, or hiding out in remote mountain villages, primitive and cut off from the rest of humanity.

One of the most powerful figures on this new Earth is Psychlo Chief of Security Terl (JOHN TRAVOLTA), a brilliant and monstrous alien who believes he was destined to conquer galaxies.

What he does not know is that one human, Jonnie Goodboy Tyler (BARRY PEPPER), is about to put a kink in his plan to exploit Earth’s human slaves for his own personal gain. A hunter who sets out to make life better for his people, Jonnie is captured and made to work as a slave in one of the Psychlos’ mines. It is here that his journey really begins – a grand adventure that will lead him to discover places and things he never knew existed.

Terl holds every advantage, with the massive strength of invincible Psychlo machinery and the vast Psychlo empire behind him. Jonnie is an insignificant animal to Terl, but he is about to turn the tables, and unleash his unfailing hope in a final showdown for the future of Earth. [More]

Starring: John Travolta, Barry Pepper, Forest Whitaker, Kim Coates

Starring: John Travolta, Barry Pepper, Forest Whitaker, Kim Coates, Sabine Karsenti, Richard Tyson, Kelly Preston, Michael Byrne, Jim Meskimen, Christian Tessier

Director: Roger Christian

Director: Roger Christian
Screenwriter: Corey Mandell
Producer: Jonathan D. Krane, Elie Samaha, John Travolta
Composer: Elia Cmiral

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 12

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Jan 16, 2001

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Battlefield Earth

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
splat
0.5/4

Felix Vasquez Jr.

There's really only one way to summarize my sheer hatred for what is possibly one of the worst movies I've ever seen. And it's through a list.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 29 2009 03:16 AM

Cinema Crazed

splat
F

Cole Smithey

"Battlefield Earth," based on a crappy 1982 sci-fi novel by cult religion dips#*t L. Ron Hubbard, is so inept and pathetic that it should forever end any questions about the validity of Hubbard's manufactured religion of Scientology.

Full Review Source: | comment 2 Comments | Apr., 12 2009 06:46 PM

ColeSmithey.com

splat

Dennis Harvey

Pretty much the Showgirls of sci-fi shoot-'em-ups.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Mar., 26 2009 03:17 AM

Variety

N/R

Steve Ryfle

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 10 2009 03:15 AM

Hollywood.com

splat
1/5

Bob Grimm

If you are looking for something to hate and despise, get thee to this movie.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 07 2008 03:16 AM

Sacramento News & Review

splat
1/5

Rob Gonsalves

A folly so supreme that it occasionally inspires awe, in the sense that so many people spent so much time and money on it without ever realizing how awful it is.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 23 2007 05:24 PM

eFilmCritic.com

splat

Lisa Alspector

This 117-minute adaptation of an 800-page SF adventure for teenagers seems like a miscalculation on multiple levels.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 06 2007 12:02 PM

Chicago Reader

splat

Mark Bourne

Watching Battlefield Earth is to a movie-watching experience what having a yeast infection is to having sex.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 06 2006 07:13 AM

DVDJournal.com

splat
0/5

Jake Euker

Place it next to The Omega Code and The Omega Code shines.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 09 2006 02:26 PM

F5 (Wichita, KS)

splat

Nigel Floyd

Travolta, it seems, had wanted to star in a film of Battlefield Earth since first reading the novel in 1982. Only the all-seeing L Ron knows why.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 26 2006 03:16 AM

Time Out

splat
F

Steve Crum

John Travolta will forever be haunted by this sci-fi travesty based on L. Ron Hubbard's novel.

comment Comment | Oct., 25 2004 07:38 PM

Kansas City Kansan

splat
0/4

Judith Egerton

Blame this mess on Travolta.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 23 2004 10:47 AM

Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

splat

Robin Clifford

Robin did not review "Battlefield Earth"

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 11 2004 06:07 AM

Reeling Reviews

splat
D-

Eugene Novikov

Scientologist or not, this is as inane as summer blockbusters get.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 22 2003 05:10 PM

Film Blather

splat
2/4

Jeanne Aufmuth

If this is what we have to look forward to in the year 3000, count me out.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 14 2003 05:11 PM

Palo Alto Weekly

splat
0/5

Brian Mckay

The sets are laughably cheap, and the aliens look like geeks from a Star Trek convention who couldn't afford to buy the "good" Klingon costumes

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 20 2003 01:55 AM

eFilmCritic.com

splat
1.5/5

John R. McEwen

This film maintains a surprising consistency of bad acting and directing almost from the first frame to the last.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 08 2003 08:20 AM

Film Quips Online

splat
0.5/5

Ron Wells

AAAAAAAAGHHHH! MY EYES! IT BURNS! IT BURNS!

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 08 2002 08:24 AM

Film Threat

splat

Kim Newman

It doesn't help that the film's premise, which sees stoneage cavemen turn into ace fighter pilots with only a week's training, is as naive as that of the 1939 serial Buck Rogers.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 02 2002 08:20 AM

Sight and Sound

splat
1/4

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Just too absurd to pay full price to see in a theater.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 11 2002 03:27 PM

Combustible Celluloid

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
all

Latest News for Battlefield Earth

September 24, 2009: How Bad Can It Get? RT's Worst of the Worst List Will Tell You!
Over the last decade, we've collected reviews for thousands of movies. Most films, even profoundly mediocre ones, can expect to receive at least cursory support from the... More...

June 15, 2009: Friedman Blames Scientologists for Firing Opens in new window
Did Roger Friedman lose his Fox News gig because he angered Scientologists? That's what Friedman and his attorney are alleging. More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% Angels & Demons
25% 25% Four Christmases
68% 68% Funny People
95% 95% Star Trek
14% 14% The Ugly Truth

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
86% 86% A Christmas Tale
60% 60% Paper Heart

More New Releases…

RT On Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196

What’s Hot On RT

Disney Countdown

Disney Countdown

Look back on Disney's best animated movies!

RT's Gift Guide

RT's Gift Guide

Give the best movies, gear, and more!

Jason Reitman

Jason Reitman

The Up in the Air director's Five Faves

Friday Harvest

Friday Harvest

This week's best pics, vids, and posters!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Spielberg Hops Away from Harvey Source: Variety
20
  • Tarantino Could Have Directed Green Lantern Source: MTV
24
  • Will Duvall be Gilliam's Don Quixote? Source: Collider.com
26
  • No Hobbit Until 2012? Source: The Wrap
22
  • Don't Hold Your Breath for Hancock 2 Source: HitFix
42
  • Peter Berg Talks Battleship Source: CHUD
2
  • Summit Ponders Twilight Finale Source: Variety
159
  • First Look at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Source: USA Today
56
  • Jeremy Renner Talks Hawkeye Possibilities Source: Superhero Hype
14
  • Todd Phillips Talks The Hangover 2 Source: Entertainment Weekly
18
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Total Recall: Natalie Portman's Best Movies
69
  • Five Favorite Films with Jason Reitman
46
  • 10 Horrifically Profitable Films
45
  • Critics Consensus: Everybody's Fine Is Just OK
44
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Vampires and Football Break Thanksgiving Records
42
  • Five Favorite Films with Jesse Ventura
39
  • Sundance 2010: RT's 10 Most Anticipated Movies
25
  • Awards Tour: National Board of Review Winners List!
23
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Terminator Salvation and a Smithsonian Battle
22
  • Weekly Ketchup: Tron Team to Remake The Black Hole
20
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
22
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
22
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Battlefield Earth at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Battlefield Earth at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
History of Disney Animation
History of Disney Animation External Link

MSN Movies offers a little background on the success of Disney Animation.

90 Years of Screen Vampires
90 Years of Screen Vampires External Link

TIME takes a look back at the history of vampires on film.

Virtuoso Vistas of Lovely Bones
Virtuoso Vistas of Lovely Bones External Link

Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.

Recent Headlines as TV Movies
Recent Headlines as TV Movies External Link

AOL put together a list of 10 recent news items that would be perfect as TV Movies.

The Death of Original Thought
The Death of Original Thought External Link

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill explores how remakes and reboots have warped our thinking.

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.