THX-1138

1971, Sci-fi, 1h 28m

63 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

George Lucas' feature debut presents a spare, bleak, dystopian future, and features evocatively minimal set design and creepy sound effects. Read critic reviews

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THX-1138 Photos

THX-1138 (1971)

THX-1138 (1971)

THX-1138 (1971)

THX-1138 (1971)

THX-1138 (1971)

THX-1138 (1971)

THX-1138 (1971)

THX-1138 (1971)

THX-1138 (1971)

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Movie Info

In the future, mankind lives in vast underground cities and free will is outlawed by means of mandatory medication that controls human emotion. But when THX 1138 (Robert Duvall) and LUH 3417 (Maggie McOmie) stop taking their meds, they wake up to the bleak reality of their own existence and fall in love with each other in the process. But love is also illegal in this Orwellian dystopia, and the act of making love has made both of them outlaws on the run from an army of robotic police.

Rating:

PG (Some Sexuality|Some Nudity)
Genre:

Sci-fi
Original Language:

English
Director:

George Lucas
Producer:

Larry Sturhahn
Writer:

George Lucas, Walter Murch
Release Date (Theaters):

Mar 11, 1971 original
Release Date (Streaming):

Sep 14, 2004
Runtime:

1h 28m
Distributor:

Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros.

Cast & Crew

Robert Duvall
THX 1138

Donald Pleasence
SEN 5241

Don Pedro Colley
SRT

Maggie McOmie
LUH 3417

Ian Wolfe
PTO

Sid Haig
NCH

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Critic Reviews for THX-1138

All Critics (63) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (54) | Rotten (9)

Full Review… Stefan Kanfer TIME Magazine

Full Review… William Paul Village Voice

Full Review… A.D. Murphy Variety

Full Review… Geoff Andrew Time Out

Full Review… Roger Greenspun New York Times

Full Review… Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness

Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews

Full Review… Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net

Full Review… Kevin Carr 7M Pictures

Full Review… David Gurney Common Sense Media

Full Review… Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com

Full Review… Russ Breimeier Christianity Today

View All Critic Reviews (63)

Audience Reviews for THX-1138

Jun 16, 2016

George Lucas who created the Star Wars saga, THX & Star Wars, both the same categories but very different from on and other. It looks iconic for the first time I've watched it.

Film C Super Reviewer
Oct 08, 2015

THX 1138 is in many ways a proto-Star Wars. Lucas does a fantastic job creating what feels like a complete futuristic world. The sets, the costuming, etc. are all great. In the sound you can hear what is to come in Star Wars. The film itself is mainly a vehicle for exploring that world and is not great in terms of plot, but for acting it is fine. Overall, the film has the vibe of an intense dystopia that might have followed the 1950s in some alternate history. Definitely recommended for sci-fi fans.

Robert B Super Reviewer
Aug 11, 2014

Mildly interesting. You can see some of the influences of this film on Star Wars. Otherwise, it is just something to check of the list to say that you saw an early George Lucas film and then just move on.

John B Super Reviewer
Jun 06, 2014

An excessively cold sci-fi that doesn't deserve credit for its plot (Lucas doesn't seem to care enough about exploring his ideas to come up with a consistent social commentary) as it does for its technical merits, with a great use of visual effects and nice sound design.

Carlos M Super Reviewer

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