Silent Running

1972

Silent Running

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

67%

TOMATOMETER

Reviews Counted: 27

66%
liked it

Audience Score

User Ratings: 9,037

TOMATOMETER

N/A
All Critics | Top Critics
Average Rating: N/A
Reviews Count: 0
Fresh: 0
Rotten: 0

AUDIENCE SCORE

66%
Average Rating: 3.5/5

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Movie Info

After the end of all botanical life on Earth, ecologist Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern) maintains a greenhouse on a space station in order to preserve various plants for future generations. Assisted by three robots and a small human crew, Lowell rebels when he is ordered to destroy the greenhouse in favor of carrying cargo, a decision that puts him at odds with everyone but his mechanical companions. Lowell and his robots are forced to do anything necessary to keep their invaluable greenery alive.

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Cast

Bruce Dern
as Freeman Lowell
Jesse Vint
as Keenan
Cliff Potts
as Wolf
Ron Rifkin
as Barker
Mark Persons
as Drone
Cheryl Sparks
Steve Brown
as Drone
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Critic Reviews for Silent Running

All Critics (27) | Top Critics (5)

  • The production lacks much dramatic credibility and often teeters on the edge of the ludicrous.

    Jun 4, 2007 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • The film is enjoyable for its intimacy, seriousness, and intelligent character work, virtues not perpetuated by the subsequent new wave.

    Jun 4, 2007 | Full Review…

    Dave Kehr

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • A wonderful film.

    Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…

    Derek Adams

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Silent Running is no jerry-built science fiction film, but it's a little too simple-minded to be consistently entertaining.

    May 9, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/5

    Vincent Canby

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • A movie out of the ordinary - especially if you like science fiction.

    Oct 23, 2004 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

    Roger Ebert

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic

  • Among the most intelligent and entertaining sci-fi films of the 1970.

    Mar 2, 2012 | Full Review…

    Film4 Staff

    Film4
View All Critic Reviews (27)

Audience Reviews for Silent Running

A thought-provoking science fiction that may feel dated today even with its good visuals but raises interesting philosophical questions about solitude, the value of life and what it is like to risk everything for a conviction - which outweighs the ecological message intended.

Carlos Magalhães
Carlos Magalhães

Super Reviewer

Ma Earth can no longer grow food after we pollute the bejesus out of her and so we build a greenhouse in space to preserve the idea of growing food. "Ahhh, its only a knucklehead idea anyway. What were we thinking? We got synthetic food, don't we? Close it up!" Bruce Dern is the idealist who fights the powers-that-be in this not-too-far-from-hippie sci-fi horror story. The action's okay is all. There's terrible bits of Joan Baez singing that'll make you put the work end of a shotgun in your mouth. Eh.

Kevin M. Williams
Kevin M. Williams

Super Reviewer

Silent Running is an entertaining and exhilarating Sci Fi classic with a great cast and a good story. The film is quite engaging, and the effects are well done and like 2001 before it, have influenced the genre. Bruce Dern is great in the lead role, and this ranks up there as one of the finest examples of 1970's Sci Fi. Of course Star Wars would reinvent the genre altogether, but you simply can't deny that Silent Running broke ground in terms of effects. Though not a perfect film, Silent Running will certainly please genre fans. The idea behind its story is quite simple, but the execution is well done, and it would later set the stage for future genre films. Dern like I said is good here, and he holds things together. If you're expecting an action packed thrilled ride, you'll be disappointed. This is more of a Sci Fi drama, but it it's quite entertaining nonetheless. Silent Running is a must watch for genre fans, or anyone looking for a classic Sci Fi film that has a well structured story. Enjoyable, but slow paced, Silent Running is one of those films that you need a few viewings to get into. The film stands out as a great genre film, one that helped shape the genre for what it is. Even if it's not a great movie, it's still a Sci Fi classic for what it helps achieve in terms of ideas and concepts in the genre. Sure, it may be tedious at times, but it definitely is worth seeing if you love this genre of film.

Alex roy
Alex roy

Super Reviewer

While this Sci-Fi film from the stone ages before Trek and Wars has its heart at the right place, its message is a tad too simplistic and naive. You can't blame the film for the special effects of its time, but the pace is so slow and the timing so awkward that it's really hard to watch the film for the first time today. The robots are cute and the awareness of nature a decent intention, but beyond that the film just has very few redeeming qualities.

Jens S.
Jens S.

Super Reviewer

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