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In Rollerball, social commentary collides with high-speed action -- and the audience is the winner. Read critic reviews

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Rollerball Photos

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Movie Info

The year is 2018 in a futuristic society where corporations have replaced countries. A violent futuristic game known as Rollerball is the recreational sport of the world, with teams representing various areas. One player, Jonathan E., fights for his personal freedom and threatens the corporate control.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    sci-fi, action
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Norman Jewison
  • Producer:
    Norman Jewison
  • Writer:
    William Harrison, William Harrison
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Algonquin
  • Sound Mix:
    Stereo
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

James Caan
Jonathan E.
John Houseman
Bartholomew
Maud Adams
Ella
John Beck
Moonpie
Moses Gunn
Cletus
Pamela Hensley
Mackie
Barbara Trentham
Daphne
John Normington
Executive
Norman Jewison
Director
William Harrison
Writer
William Harrison
Writer
Norman Jewison
Producer
Patrick J. Palmer
Associate Producer
Tomaso Albinoni
Music
Johann Sebastian Bach
Music
Dmitri Shostakovich
Music
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Music
Douglas Slocombe
Cinematographer
Antony Gibbs
Film Editor
Lynn Stalmaster
Casting
John Box
Production Designer
Robert W. Laing
Art Direction
Julie Harris
Costume Designer
Wally Schneiderman
Makeup Supervisor
Ted Lloyd
Production Manager
Kip Gowans
First Assistant Director
Chris Kenny
Assistant Director
Dietmar Siegert
Assistant Director
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Rollerball

All Critics (32) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (11)

  • Jewison's extreme-sports future shock bundles together a paranoid political thriller, a McLuhan-drunk media satire, ultraviolent exploitation, reverent respect for faddish athletic pursuits and enough zoom shots to make Robert Altman blush.

    May 30, 2018 | Full Review…

    Eric Hynes

    Rolling Stone

  • James Caan, on roller skates, is trying to save the world. This needs a bit of explaining, which is only the beginning of the trouble with Rollerball.

    August 4, 2008 | Full Review…

    Jay Cocks

    TIME Magazine

  • Norman Jewison's sensational futuristic drama about a world of Corporate States stars James Caan in an excellent performance as a famed athlete who fights for his identity and free will.

    August 4, 2008 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety

  • Lifeless, uninspired, and crammed with enough hints of intellectual consistency to give the socially conscious critical establishment shivers of excitement.

    June 5, 2007 | Full Review…

    Don Druker

    Chicago Reader

  • Ultimately, Rollerball gets by on its sheer monolithic quality - an abundance of quantity. Despite indifferent direction and dire humour, it is well mounted and photographed.

    February 9, 2006 | Full Review…

    Geoff Andrew

    Time Out

  • Everyone else, including Mr. Caan and John Houseman, who plays a leading Houston executive, is more solemn and serious than the movie ever merits.

    May 9, 2005 | Rating: 1.5/5 | Full Review…

    Vincent Canby

    New York Times
View All Critic Reviews (32)

Audience Reviews for Rollerball

  • Jan 22, 2018
    This is one of the better 70s films that takes a closer look at corporations taking over everything. The film has lived on with the cutting edge stunts and the depiction of a world that is quite frightening with the general push for capitalism in our modern age. James Caan is a great actor and is anchors a film that should not have seen the light of day, it's an odd studio film but Jewison brings that quality he has been well known for. The game is the true reason for the film and it is relentless, you never feel safe while these guys are playing such a ruthless game. This film has stood the test of time and is one of my favourite cult films, even though it did good business at the box office. More films should have this style of filmmaking and a lot less remakes that are extremely empty. A remake of this film has the chance to take the social aspect of this film and dial it up, the reboot ramped up the game which was a bad mistake. 20-01-2017 .
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
  • Dec 03, 2016
    In a future where corporations run pretty much everything and individualism is a big no-no, James Caan is our noble savage, curious as to why he is being asked to retire. Unfortunately that's all there is to this attempt at social commentary which is more flash than dash. Eat your popcorn quickly so as to get a good nap in for the last quarter.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Nov 27, 2016
    Oh my word does this film d-r-a-g. It's not that it's "deliberate" or "thoughtfully paced" - it's just largely very dull, which I was not expecting. The actual games are reasonably exciting and well edited, but the tedium that surrounds them and the utter deficit of interesting characters bores. This film may very well have been an influence on The Running Man and The Hunger Games, but those films (and the books they were based on) are entertaining, clever and sometimes profound. Rollerball just exists.
    Daniel P Super Reviewer
  • Oct 08, 2015
    Rollerball is in many ways the perfect four star sci-fi movie. While it is not at the level of a Star Wars, it is a cut above films such as Logan's Run or Soylent Green. It is both dated and futuristic. The filmmaking and acting are very 70s, yet well-done and have a charm (in some ways reminiscent of classic Star Trek). While the film does feature action segments, it is more about the concept world (material utopia, spiritual dystopia) and the quiet hero. Rollerball is a must-see for fans of intelligent sci-fi.
    Robert B Super Reviewer
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