Rollerball

Name: Rollerball
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Sport
Released: June 25, 1975
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 56
Cast: Barbara Trentham, Burt Kwouk, James Caan, John Beck, John Houseman

1975

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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Rollerball

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: June 25, 1975 | R

Starring: Barbara Trentham, Burt Kwouk, James Caan, John Beck, John Houseman, John Normington, Maud Adams, Moses Gunn, Pamela Hensley, Shane Rimmer

Summary: In a corporate-controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world, and one of its powerful athletes is out to defy those who want him out of the game.

Director: Norman Jewison

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Sport

Rating: R

Runtime: 125 min

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Critic Reviews

Rick Sanchez

One of the most forward looking science fiction tales of the 70's. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

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. Read full review

John Bleasdale

With a fantastic stunt team, a gamely macho star and some wonderful editing, Rollerball is so convincing, urban legend had it there were fatalities during the shoot. Read full review

Eric Hynes

The skate-rink action, which culminates in an apocalyptic death match, remains rabble-rousingly brutal. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

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. Read full review

Arthur Cooper

Rollerball isn't a movie; it's a protest demonstration - producer-director Norman Jewison's feeble complaint about both the increasing brutality in professional sports and the increasing sterility of modern life. Trendy concerns, sure enough, but the movie's only contribution could well be the introduction of its brutal, eponymous game to an already sport-surfeited society. [07 July 1975, p.56]

Don Druker

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

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Came

Aug 12, 2019

Rollerball is a cool and interesting 1970s sci fi action thriller.
A very good concept were corporations control everything in the future and it's violent gladiatorial sport were a champion wants to do what he wants but can't directly do that due to corporate society. The film hasRollerball is a cool and interesting 1970s sci fi action thriller.
A very good concept were corporations control everything in the future and it's violent gladiatorial sport were a champion wants to do what he wants but can't directly do that due to corporate society. The film has interesting themes and a couple of well choreographed action scenes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Voodoo123

May 19, 2020

This 1970's dystopian 'death sports' scifi mixes action, mystery and drama and never fails to drop the ball (pun FULLY intended). I really appreciated the succinct dialogue which pleasingly doesn't bore the audience with pools of expository dialogue, often a problem in this genre. OverallThis 1970's dystopian 'death sports' scifi mixes action, mystery and drama and never fails to drop the ball (pun FULLY intended). I really appreciated the succinct dialogue which pleasingly doesn't bore the audience with pools of expository dialogue, often a problem in this genre. Overall watching in 2020 the hardest parts to enjoy are the action scenes which although pleasingly gladiatorial, have aged terribly...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CoreGamer1408

Mar 26, 2022

I was up for a 2022 rewatch and oh this is still a cracking film. Iconic music score for sure. Nearly all the performances are very subtle. Like the emotions in this world is almost stunted, beyond the outlet of the game. Visually dated so a very retro cinematic vibe. The plot is prettyI was up for a 2022 rewatch and oh this is still a cracking film. Iconic music score for sure. Nearly all the performances are very subtle. Like the emotions in this world is almost stunted, beyond the outlet of the game. Visually dated so a very retro cinematic vibe. The plot is pretty unsubtle and spelled out clearly by the main antagonist. Where the protagonist is the square peg they want to force in a round hole.… Expand

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