Soylent Green

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Soylent Green

PG

1973

1h 37m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

44 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In a densely overpopulated, starving New York City of the future, NYPD detective Robert Thorn investigates the murder of an executive at rations manufacturer Soylent Corporation. With the help of elderly academic Solomon "Sol" Roth, Thorn begins to make real progress -- until the governor mysteriously pulls the plug. Obsessed with the mystery, Thorn steps out from behind the badge and launches his own investigation into the murder.

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Critics Consensus

While admittedly melodramatic and uneven in spots, Soylent Green ultimately succeeds with its dark, plausible vision of a dystopian future.

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Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

Mar 2, 2024

This pompously prophetic thing of a film hasn’t a brain in its beanbag.

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Matthew Rozsa

Salon.com

Apr 24, 2023

4/4

Its greatest attribute is not that it accurately anticipated many things about humanity's future. "Soylent Green" stands the test of time because it does these things while slamming you right where real anxiety festers and brews . . . in your guts.

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Alan R. Howard

The Hollywood Reporter

Apr 23, 2019

Soylent Green is Edward G. Robinson's movie. As a man who remembers the wonders of civilization before it died, he is witty, cultivated and endlessly appealing.

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Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Aug 14, 2026

B

...a seriously entertaining watch today, no longer as frightening but still quite effective and disturbing, especially in it’s early warnings about the climate crisis as well as the notion that the rich could/would basically run roughshod over the poor.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Jul 28, 2026

4/5

A relentlessly grim and ruthlessly effective precursor to the sort of tone Paul Verhoeven would later strike during his Hollywood work

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Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

Jul 28, 2026

4/5

It's thrilling, thought-provoking, and yes, that finale still provides quite a kick even when you know it's coming, all of which has given it a great rewatchability factor over the decades.

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Yolanda

Feb 15, 2025

I really love this movie.

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bruce F

@bruce999 Aug 16, 2026

ok movie, but it lacks in believability, and helping the watcher understand what is happening. Do i have to guess ? why didn't i understand it ?

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Jonathan O

@RT41230270 Aug 14, 2026

So we're eating human!

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Harrison C

@QwopEX Aug 7, 2026

The plot gets a little confusing at times, but is still pretty interesting.

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Ashequl I

@Tofa13 Jul 12, 2026

An absolute classic of the dystopian genre that remains shockingly relevant today. Soylent Green masterfully blends a gritty detective murder-mystery with a terrifyingly atmospheric look at overpopulation and environmental collapse. The screenplay keeps a sharp, engaging pace that ensures the film never becomes boring, constantly driving the mystery forward with great mini-twists. It all builds to one of the most jaw-dropping, unbelievable ending twists in cinema history that lands with incredible emotional force. The only minor flaw is a somewhat dated and dragged romantic subplot that slows down the narrative momentum in the second act. Overall, a brilliant, essential 1973 sci-fi watch.

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MG_Claymore C

@Claymore Jul 3, 2026

I enjoy dystopian books/films. And i enjoyed this one too.

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Richard Fleischer

Director

Charlton Heston

Detective Robert Thorn

Edward G. Robinson

Sol Roth

Leigh Taylor-Young

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Chuck Connors

Tab Fielding

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Synopsis

In a densely overpopulated, starving New York City of the future, NYPD detective Robert Thorn investigates the murder of an executive at rations manufacturer Soylent Corporation. With the help of elderly academic Solomon "Sol" Roth, Thorn begins to make real progress -- until the governor mysteriously pulls the plug. Obsessed with the mystery, Thorn steps out from behind the badge and launches his own investigation into the murder.

Director: Richard Fleischer
Producer: Walter Seltzer, Russell Thacher
Screenwriter: Harry Harrison, Stanley R. Greenberg
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Vídeo Arte
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 9, 1973, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2008
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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