THX-1138

1971, Sci-fi, 1h 28m

63 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

What to know

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

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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):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast & Crew

Robert Duvall
THX 1138
Donald Pleasence
SEN 5241
Don Pedro Colley
SRT
Maggie McOmie
LUH 3417
Ian Wolfe
PTO
Sid Haig
NCH
Marshall Efron
TWA
John Pearce
DWY
Johnny Weissmuller Jr.
Chrome Robot
Irene Cagen
IMM
George Lucas
Director
George Lucas
Writer
Walter Murch
Writer
Francis Ford Coppola
Executive Producer
Larry Sturhahn
Producer
Lalo Schifrin
Original Music
Albert Kihn
Cinematographer
David Myers
Cinematographer
George Lucas
Film Editor
Michael D. Haller
Art Director
Donald Longhurst
Costume Designer
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for THX-1138

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

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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