Do you want to see ‘The Omega Man’?

The Omega Man (1971)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.6/10
Reviews Counted: 32
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 13

It may not live up to its classic source material, but The Omega Man transcends its limitations often enough to offer some mildly entertaining post-apocalyptic thrills.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 2

It may not live up to its classic source material, but The Omega Man transcends its limitations often enough to offer some mildly entertaining post-apocalyptic thrills.

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Movie Info

This second film adaptation of Richard Matheson's science-fiction novel I Am Legend (the first version being The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price) unfolds in a post-apocalyptic 1976. Charlton Heston is Robert Neville, the sole recipient of a serum that enabled him to survive an onslaught of germ warfare between Russia and China - which seemingly rendered him the last (normal) human alive. Neville lives in a garish, antique-strewn L.A. penthouse. During the day, he roams through the vacant

PG, 1 hr. 39 min.

Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Boris Sagal

Written By: John William Corrington, Joyce H. Corrington

In Theaters: Aug 1, 1971 Wide

On DVD: Mar 6, 2000

Cast

Charlton Heston
Neville
Anthony Zerbe
Matthias
Rosalind Cash
Lisa
Paul Koslo
Dutch
Lincoln Kilpatrick
Zachary
Eric Laneuville
Richie
Anna Aries
Woman in Cemetery Crypt
John Dierkes
Family Member
Jill Giraldi
Little Girl
Monika Henreid
Family Member
Brian Tochi
Tommy
Forrest G. Wood
Family Member
DeVeren Bookwalter
Linda Redfearn
Family Member

Critic Reviews for The Omega Man

All Critics (32) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (15) | DVD (19)

Not bad, but far from a classic.

December 10, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

An extremely literate science-fiction drama.

September 19, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Peppered with some sharp, even amusing dialogue, the story temporarily shelves the heavy allegory and slips into good, slam-bang suspense. But it doesn't last.

May 9, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times

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Howard Thompson

New York Times

Top Critic

The ghouls are a little too ridiculous to quite fulfill their function in the movie. They make all the wrong decisions, are incompetent and ill-coordinated.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Unsatisfying sci-fi thriller, though it's not Charlton Heston's fault

August 28, 2011 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

The greatest benefit of viewing the new DVD ... is that the crisp, clear image strips away the varnish to reveal the truth underneath, which is that this is not a very good film.

July 5, 2008 Full Review Source: ESplatter

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Steve Biodrowski

ESplatter

Sadly another film to file under 'not as good as the book.'

April 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

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Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

Despite not having aged particularly well, the opening sections of this sci-fi allegory remain potent, although the rest of its apocalyptic storyline is decidedly leaden.

April 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

Most of the story moves along at a crawl, with a horrendous musical track that almost single-handedly destroys any atmosphere the film tries to create. (HD DVD Edition)

December 22, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...not an awful film, just a remarkably dull one.

December 22, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

A breezy film about the death of mankind in a way that only the '70s could have provided.

December 19, 2007 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy

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Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

Downbeat survivalist sci-fi, early-1970s style.

December 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

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Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

Another misfired adaptation of Richard Matheson's fine science fiction novel I Am Legend.

September 19, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

Averagely competent exercise in comic strip sci-fi.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Time Out

Despite being baked in early '70s cheese, The Omega Man is easily the most entertaining film version of Richard Matheson's sci-fi novel, I Am Legend

October 9, 2005 Comment

Chuck O'Leary

FulvueDrive-in.com

Ainda eficaz, mais de 30 anos depois de seu lan�amento.

October 3, 2005 Comment

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

Lacks the power and cleverness of the Matheson book, but worth viewing just for Heston's sake.

August 11, 2005 Comment

Widgett Walls

Needcoffee.com

Lights on! Not bad sci-fi with Heston in hiding.

October 25, 2004 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

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Audience Reviews for The Omega Man

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A jive-talking leading lady out of a blaxploitation film and fatuous mutants in monk robes are among the most blighting of Omega Man's failures. Heston is his usual stoic, gravelly self but the atmosphere has been leached of its isolation and the pasty white makeup gives all the mutants a case of powdery vitiligo. A

August 28, 2011

Cory Taylor

Super Reviewer

This is another adaptation of the "I am Legend" story, the second one I believe, anyway it's the 70s version. Heston is a good choice for this movie, and he does a good job too. That doesn't mean this movie is great, though, it's just okay.

September 5, 2010