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Soylent Green (1973)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6/10
Reviews Counted: 34
Fresh: 24 | Rotten: 10

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 3

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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 21,797

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Movie Info

Richard Fleischer directed this nightmarish science fiction vision of an over-populated world, based on the novel by Harry Harrison. In 2022, New York City is a town bursting at the seams with a 40-million-plus population. Food is in short supply, and most of the population's food source comes from synthetics manufactured in local factories -- the dinner selections being a choice between Soylent Red, Soylent Yellow, or Soylent Green. When William Simonson (Joseph Cotten), an upper-echelon

PG, 1 hr. 37 min.

Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Richard Fleischer

Written By: Harry Harrison, Stanley R. Greenberg

In Theaters: May 9, 1973 Wide

On DVD: Aug 5, 2003

Cast

Charlton Heston
Detective Thorn
Edward G. Robinson
Sol Roth
Leigh Taylor-Young
Shirl
Chuck Connors
Tab
Joseph Cotten
Simonson
Brock Peters
Hatcher
John Barclay
Book 2
Whit Bissell
Santini
Jan Bradley
Woman with scarf
Cyril Delevanti
Book 4
John Dennis
Wagner
Jane Dulo
Mrs. Santini
Morgan Farley
Book 1
Tim Herbert
Brady
Cheri Howell
Live stock girl
Roy Jenson
Donovan
Paula Kelly
Martha
Lincoln Kilpatrick
Priest
Celia Lovsky
Exchange Leader
Belle Mitchell
Book 3
Leonard Stone
Charles
Dick Van Patten
Usher
Joyce Williams
Live stock girl
Forrest G. Wood
Attendant
Stephen Young
Gilbert
Mike Henry (I)
Kulozik
Carlos Romero
New tenant
Erica Hagen
Live stock girl
Faith Quabius
Attendant
Beverly Gill
Live stock girl

Critic Reviews for Soylent Green

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (11) | DVD (19)

The somewhat plausible and proximate horrors in the story of Soylent Green carry the production over its awkward spots to the status of a good futuristic exploitation film.

June 5, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety

Top Critic

Uneven and slightly muddled futuristic horror story -- not really science fiction, more like an antipollution PSA gone berserk.

June 5, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Their 21st-century New York occasionally is frightening but it is rarely convincingly real.

May 9, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

A.H. Weiler

New York Times

Top Critic

Not well thought-out and a genuine disappointment for all its visibility in the popular conversation

June 20, 2011 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central

| Comment

Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

Where so many science fiction visions of the era have dated, this gritty creation of a depressed (and depressing) future... looks all the more real.

April 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Seanax.com

| Comment (1)

Sean Axmaker

Seanax.com

...viewed today, Heston's sci-fi flicks seem dated and square. (Blu-ray Edition)

September 14, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment (1)

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...a movie based on an ending. And if you can't figure out that ending ten minutes into the movie, you aren't paying attention.

September 14, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

The film was a typical seventies sci-fi effort, scientifically illiterate and unimaginatively composed.

June 15, 2007 Comment

Douglas Pratt

DVDLaser

A sluggishly directed look at life and death in the 21st century.

June 5, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Modestly entertaining.

May 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Good, solid stuff, assembled efficiently enough to be pretty persuasive.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

This futuristic thriller just seems to keep getting better with age. An entertaining sci-fi flick done before special effects took over the genre.

October 10, 2005 Comment

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

The future never looked as retro...

July 5, 2004 Comment

Stefan Birgir Stefansson

sbs.is

A doozy.

October 5, 2003 Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle

| Comment

Austin Chronicle

still contains enough pleasures even with the 'secret' so well known

August 30, 2003 Full Review Source: Old School Reviews

| Comment

John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews Source: Old School Reviews

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Soylent Green

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In a near future where the world is vastly over-populated and nature's resources have become decimated, a cop investigating the murder of a rich executive uncovers his globe-spanning uber-corporation's dirty little secret. Soylent Green is clearly a victim of its own reputation as its almost inevitable that you will

May 17, 2007

xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

No idea why this movie gets so much bad reviews these days, sure, it's the "future" with people wearing 70s haircuts and clothes, big fucking surprise. The message is blunt, but still effective, and while the detective parts of the story don't go anywhere seeing the characters enjoying such mundane things that we take

February 3, 2008

Tsubaki Sanjuro

Super Reviewer

Soylent Green Quotes

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1. Detective Thorn: I can't figure this Simonson. If I was like him. Rich. Important... ...plenty to eat... ...real bourbon... ...and a girl like you... ...you wouldn't see me in church.
– Submitted by Allen D (4 months ago)
1. Sol Roth: There was a world, once, you punk.
2. Detective Thorn: Yes, so you keep telling me.
3. Sol Roth: I was there. I can prove it.
4. Detective Thorn: I know, I know. When you were young, people were better.
5. Sol Roth: Aw, nuts. People were always rotten. But the world 'was' beautiful.
– Submitted by Filipe M (8 months ago)
1. Detective Thorn: Soylent Green is People!!!!
– Submitted by Tyler C (13 months ago)