Powaqqatsi

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

81%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 5,137

Rent/buy from $3.99

Rent/buy

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Powaqqatsi Photos

View All Photos (11)

Movie Info

Experimental filmmaker Godfrey Reggio explores the intersection of primitive cultures and the industrial world in this documentary, chronicling the everyday lives of people living and working in impoverished countries, where modern life is fraught with difficulty. The film spans the globe, from a massive gold mine in Brazil, to small villages in Africa, to a Nepalese temple, and is accompanied by a frantic score from minimalist composer Philip Glass.

Genre:

documentary
Original Language:

English
Director:

Godfrey Reggio
Producer:

Mel Lawrence, Kurt Munkacsi, Godfrey Reggio, Lawrence Taub
Release Date (Streaming):

May 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA):

$75.8K
Runtime:

1h 37m
Production Co:

Golan-Globus Productions, Santa Fe Institute for Regional Education, NorthSouth Productions
Sound Mix:

Surround

Cast & Crew

David Brinkley

Cheryl Tiegs

Godfrey Reggio
Director

Mel Lawrence
Producer

Kurt Munkacsi
Producer

Godfrey Reggio
Producer

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Powaqqatsi

This film is not in the same league with its fine predecessor, Koyaanisqatsi.

December 6, 2018 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
There are images of astonishing beauty in Godfrey Reggio's Powaqqatsi, sequences when we marvel at the sights of the Earth, and yet when the film is over there is the feeling that we are still waiting for it to begin.

January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Reggio's work may be mesmerizing and technically engrossing, but it's also narrowly self-righteous. Instead of expanding our consciousness, he instead seeks to squeeze it into his point of view through a movie that tries to tell us what to think.

April 6, 2006 | Full Review…

Mark Bourne
DVDJournal.com
Quote not available.

August 11, 2005 | Rating: 2/5

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
'shows the consequences of what we have done in the past and the danger of where we are heading'

February 28, 2004 | Rating: 4/4

Derek Smith
Cinematic Reflections
Quote not available.

September 29, 2003 | Rating: 4/5

Ryan Cracknell
Apollo Guide
You'd be hard-pressed to find another movie that conveys the contrasts of life in the modern world more effectively.

September 20, 2002 | Rating: 77/100

Brian Webster
Apollo Guide
Quote not available.

September 19, 2002 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

Marty Mapes
Movie Habit
An exquisite combination of sound and vision.

January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

David N. Butterworth
rec.arts.movies.reviews

View All Critic Reviews (9)

Audience Reviews for Powaqqatsi

Dec 03, 2018

While Koyaanisqatsi is remarkable for its musical, almost mathematical precision, the images of abject poverty we see here seem to have been put together in a much more random fashion (like in a music video), which makes everything feel sadly repetitious and less revealing this time.

Carlos M Super Reviewer
Aug 27, 2007

Disappointing sequel to Koyaanisqatsi. The focus has shifted away from the marvellous wonders of Planet Earth and onto life in developing nations. Although a worthy, interesting portrait it doesn't capture my imagination nor hold my attention anywhere near as well its predecessor. The music is rather irritating too!

Ross C Super Reviewer
Jul 11, 2007

This movie is more personable than its predecessor Koyaanisqatsi. The music is tribal and danceable at some parts. It had people in motion with nature; I won't say I understood what it all meant.

Lafe F Super Reviewer