Logan’s Run (1976)
70%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Logan’s Run, a film that has been both praised and criticized for its execution, is a prime example of Hollywood’s tendency to reduce science fiction to its most basic and feeble stereotypes. While some may find the film to be a vast, silly extravaganza that delivers a certain amount of fun, others may find it to be seriously repetitive and aggressively tedious. Despite its poorly developed plot specifics, Logan’s Run still manages to captivate audiences as a camp curio with its odd but undeniable staying power. However, it’s sorely lacking in direction, writing, and most of the acting, leaving viewers to wonder where Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone is when we need it most. In the end, Logan’s Run allows the viewer’s imagination to run free in a whole new world, but it’s ultimately a missed opportunity to create a truly exceptional science fiction film.
Logan’s Run is a sci-fi movie that’s been around for a while, and it seems like critics can’t quite agree on whether it’s good or bad. Some say it’s a silly extravaganza that’s fun once you stop taking it seriously, while others call it numbing and tedious. Personally, I think it’s a bit of both. The special effects are definitely bungled, but there are some handsome sets that make it worth watching. Plus, it’s always fun to see what people in the past thought the future would look like. Overall, I’d say it’s a campy classic that’s worth checking out if you’re in the mood for some kitschy sci-fi.
Production Company(ies)
Genre Films, Silver Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor
United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
1976
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 58m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 23, 1976 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 29, 2008
Genre(s)
Sci-fi
Keyword(s)
starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan, Roscoe Lee Browne, Farrah Fawcett, Peter Ustinov, directed by Michael Anderson, written by William F Nolan, sci-fi, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Dave Kehr, Geoff Andrew, Roger Ebert, Eddie Harrison, Michael Anderson, PG rating, Saul David, United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Stereo, Surround, 35mm, Scope (2.35:1), 8mm, 70mm, dystopian society, rebellion, futuristic, hidden sanctuary, law enforcement officer, runners, reincarnation, hedonistic lifestyle, idyllic, protective confines, domed city, revolution, sci-fi adventure, undercooked plot, campy elements, rousing ideas, Michael York as Logan 5, Jenny Agutter as Jessica 6, Richard Jordan as Francis 7, Roscoe Lee Browne as Box, Farrah Fawcett as Holly, Peter Ustinov as Ballard: The Old Man
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jenny Agutter – Jessica 6
Richard Jordan – Francis 7, Sandman
Roscoe Lee Browne – Box
Farrah Fawcett – Holly
Peter Ustinov – Ballard: The Old Man
Director – Michael Anderson
Producer – Saul David
Writer – William F. Nolan
Director(s)
Michael Anderson
Writer(s)
William F. Nolan
Producer(s)
Saul David
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (34) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (13)
A numbing combination of sloppy writing, vulgar art direction, high school acting, and bungled special effects.
June 4, 2007
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Fundamentally, this is just further proof of Hollywood’s untiring ability to reduce all science fiction to its most feeble stereotypes.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Logan’s Run is a vast, silly extravaganza that delivers a certain amount of fun, once it stops taking itself seriously.
October 23, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
…interesting to hardcore sci-fi fans and cultural historians, Logan’s Run is all dressed-up with nowhere to go…
August 24, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Eddie Harrison
film-authority.com
Logan’s Run allows the viewer’s imagination to run free in a whole new world. And imagination is what science fiction is all about.
May 26, 2020
David A. Nardozzi
Philadelphia Gay News
…seriously repetitive and aggressively tedious…
March 29, 2020 | Rating: 1.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Kitschy sci-fi classic has some sexual content.
January 17, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Brian Costello
Common Sense Media
Where is Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone when we need it most?
October 31, 2019
Jacoba Atlas
Los Angeles Free Press
It’s a good idea. But what the movie required to set it off and make it unusual is style and this, despite a few handsome sets, is sorely lacking In the direction, writing and most of the acting.
October 23, 2019
Bernard Drew
Gannett News Service
Michael Anderson… has insisted in mixing action with spectacle, but misses the mark. The “message” of the film doesn’t go beyond its distinguished predecessors. [Full Review in Spanish]
July 25, 2019
Jesús Fernández Santos
El Pais (Spain)
… I found myself reflecting that sf writers can get away with a lot on the printed page that moviemakers just can’t.
March 10, 2012
Richard T. Jameson
Parallax View
Despite its grabber of a premise, Logan’s Run flaunts poorly developed plot specifics; as such, it’s terminally silly. Nevertheless, as a camp curio, it still has an odd but undeniable staying power. [Blu-ray]
February 16, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews…
Plot
In a hedonistic society where people are reincarnated at age 30, law enforcement officer Logan goes undercover to find a hidden sanctuary for “runners” who know the dark truth and ends up joining forces with runner Jessica to start a revolution in Logan’s Run.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Farrah Fawcett appears in Logan’s Run in a small role as Holly.
Michael-Anderson.jpg
