Blade Runner

1982
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Blade Runner

Critics Consensus

Misunderstood when it first hit theaters, the influence of Ridley Scott's mysterious, neo-noir Blade Runner has deepened with time. A visually remarkable, achingly human sci-fi masterpiece.

90%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 112

91%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 337,094
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Movie Info

A blend of science fiction and noir detective fiction, Blade Runner (1982) was a box office and critical bust upon its initial exhibition, but its unique postmodern production design became hugely influential within the sci-fi genre, and the film gained a significant cult following that increased its stature. Harrison Ford stars as Rick Deckard, a retired cop in Los Angeles circa 2019. L.A. has become a pan-cultural dystopia of corporate advertising, pollution and flying automobiles, as well as replicants, human-like androids with short life spans built by the Tyrell Corporation for use in dangerous off-world colonization. Deckard's former job in the police department was as a talented blade runner, a euphemism for detectives that hunt down and assassinate rogue replicants. Called before his one-time superior (M. Emmett Walsh), Deckard is forced back into active duty. A quartet of replicants led by Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) has escaped and headed to Earth, killing several humans in the process. After meeting with the eccentric Eldon Tyrell (Joe Turkel), creator of the replicants, Deckard finds and eliminates Zhora (Joanna Cassidy), one of his targets. Attacked by another replicant, Leon (Brion James), Deckard is about to be killed when he's saved by Rachael (Sean Young), Tyrell's assistant and a replicant who's unaware of her true nature. In the meantime, Batty and his replicant pleasure model lover, Pris (Darryl Hannah) use a dying inventor, J.F. Sebastian (William Sanderson) to get close to Tyrell and murder him. Deckard tracks the pair to Sebastian's, where a bloody and violent final confrontation between Deckard and Batty takes place on a skyscraper rooftop high above the city. In 1992, Ridley Scott released a popular director's cut that removed Deckard's narration, added a dream sequence, and excised a happy ending imposed by the results of test screenings; these legendary behind-the-scenes battles were chronicled in a 1996 tome, Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner by Paul M. Sammon. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Cast

Harrison Ford
as Rick Deckard
Rutger Hauer
as Batty
Sean Young
as Rachael
Edward James Olmos
as Gaff
M. Emmet Walsh
as Bryant
Daryl Hannah
as Pris
William Sanderson
as J.F. Sebastian
Brion James
as Leon
Joe Turkel
as Tyrell
Joanna Cassidy
as Zhora
Morgan Paull
as Holden
Kevin Thompson (II)
as Bear
John Edward Allen
Hy Pyke
as Taffey Lewis
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Critic Reviews for Blade Runner

All Critics (112) | Top Critics (26)

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Audience Reviews for Blade Runner

  • Feb 06, 2016
    A sci-fi masterpiece indeed. Blade Runner works on every level. Dark, intelligent, visually breathtaking as well as having great performances. Blade Runner is a sci-fi masterpiece that I would implore you to watch if you haven't!
    Mr N Super Reviewer
  • Nov 18, 2015
    I understand completely why this movie was misunderstood upon its initial release in the 80's. However it's more understandable why it was so influential and has become recognized as one of the best Sci-Fi films of all time.
    Kameron W Super Reviewer
  • Sep 28, 2015
    Blade Runner is great noir sci-fi, great mood and setting. The android characters (especially Rutger Hauer) give off an aura of aliveness, which fits the story very well. The cinematography and sets are excellent (as with other Ridley Scott films). All-in-all Blade Runner lives up to its reputation as a sci-fi classic.
    Robert B Super Reviewer
  • Apr 15, 2015
    Some people will say this classic sci-fi "has nothing to offer other than overrated cult-status". To that, I would respond, "it has Rutger Hauer on a rooftop, and that's enough for me".
    Gimly M Super Reviewer
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