Battlefield Earth (2000)

2% of critics liked it
(123 reviews)
14% of users liked it
(51,679 ratings)

This big-budget science fiction adventure centers on a final battle between good and evil for control of the world. In the year 3000, Earth is ruled by the Psyclos, a vicious alien race of which Terl (John Travolta) is a member, that has laid waste to the planet, killed the majority of the… More This big-budget science fiction adventure centers on a final battle between good and evil for control of the world. In the year 3000, Earth is ruled by the Psyclos, a vicious alien race of which Terl (John Travolta) is a member, that has laid waste to the planet, killed the majority of the population, and stripped Earth of its valuable resources. Pockets of resistance remain among the surviving humans; Jonnie "Goodboy" Tyler (Barry Pepper) is one such rebel, living in hiding in the mountains near Boulder, CO. Eventually, Johnny begins organizing like-minded humans for a final stand against the Psyclos. The film is based on the novel by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction author also known as the founder of the Church of Scientology; it covers only the first half of the book, saving the remainder for a possible sequel. Battlefield Earth also stars Forest Whitaker, Kim Coates, and Kelly Preston. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Roger Christian
Written By: Corey Mandel, J D Shapiro, Corey Mandell, J.D. Shapiro
Genres: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: May 12, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Jan 16, 2001
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Dennis Harvey, Variety
Pretty much the Showgirls of sci-fi shoot-'em-ups.
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
This 117-minute adaptation of an 800-page SF adventure for teenagers seems like a miscalculation on multiple levels.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
[It looks like] Klingons having a bad hair day.
(CNN.com) Paul Clinton, CNN.com
What this movie lacks in simple logic, it makes up for in its apparent unintentional campy humor.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Battlefield Earth is just a lumbering, poorly photographed piece of derivative sci-fi drivel, full of grunting extras scampering around in animal pelts and more dank, trash-strewn sets than I ever care to see again.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
A noisy, chaotic, sloppily edited and embarrassingly banal and derivative saga.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Worst example of vanity filmmaking in years.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
There's really only one way to summarize my sheer hatred for what is possibly one of the worst movies I've ever seen. And it's through a list.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
"Battlefield Earth," based on a crappy 1982 sci-fi novel by cult religion dips#*t L. Ron Hubbard, is so inept and pathetic that it should forever end any questions about the validity of Hubbard's manufactured religion of Scientology.
Steve Ryfle, Hollywood.com
There's really nothing here you haven't seen before, except maybe the sight of John Travolta walking around with tubes in his nose.
Bob Grimm, Sacramento News & Review
If you are looking for something to hate and despise, get thee to this movie.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
A folly so supreme that it occasionally inspires awe, in the sense that so many people spent so much time and money on it without ever realizing how awful it is.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
Watching Battlefield Earth is to a movie-watching experience what having a yeast infection is to having sex.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
Warner Home Video is not marketing Battlefield Earth's inevitable DVD release as some sort of 'camp classic' in the Ed Wood so-bad-it's-good vein. Instead ... as a DVD this is a first-rate product.
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)
Place it next to The Omega Code and The Omega Code shines.
Nigel Floyd, Time Out
Travolta, it seems, had wanted to star in a film of Battlefield Earth since first reading the novel in 1982. Only the all-seeing L Ron knows why.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
John Travolta will forever be haunted by this sci-fi travesty based on L. Ron Hubbard's novel.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Blame this mess on Travolta.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Robin did not review "Battlefield Earth"
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
Scientologist or not, this is as inane as summer blockbusters get.

Read all 23 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Joe M

It's difficult to describe how bad this movie is. It's one of those movies that's so bad it deserves to be classified as a comedy.
Marc L

Well la dee dah. What do we have here? Oh yeah, one of the worst movies ever made. Terrible script, beyond awful acting, absolutely no logic, pitiful lighting, ugly sets. I truly believe that there are only about 50 or 60 people who even found this one tolerable. It may very well be… More
Well la dee dah. What do we have here? Oh yeah, one of the worst movies ever made. Terrible script, beyond awful acting, absolutely no logic, pitiful lighting, ugly sets. I truly believe that there are only about 50 or 60 people who even found this one tolerable. It may very well be one of the 10 worst movies of all time. First of all, this is pretty much the worst script I've ever heard. Seriously, ever. Even the memorable quotes were lame. It was like a 3rd grader was writing the script for a fantasy sci-fi movie he was writing for his buddies. Also, the movie is infamous for it's bad acting. And the pinnacle of all that bad acting has got to be Barry Pepper as Jonnie Tyler, leader of the human resistance. When he is not viciously overacting he is underacting, and his character comes across as INCREDIBLY annoying. John Travolta wasn't very good either, but he did a better job than most of the other cast. In addition, the lighting is horrible. It's dark when it's supposed to be light and light when it's supposed to be dark. It's all one giant mess. I felt like I was watching a home movie made by two Star Trek nerds. The sound was really messed up too. You remember how revolutionary the sound affects in Star Wars were? That would be the opposite of "Battlefield Earth". There are plenty of awkward silent sequences and even more awkward laser sounds. You know, there are some movies that make me want to yell at every one who can possibly enjoy them. This is one of them. Awful. Truly, truly awful. One of the worst films of all time awful.
Dan S

An ugly, unpleasant viewing experience worsened by horrendous acting and terrible sets, this serves as the "Plan 9 From Outer Space" movie of our time, as a horribly misguided sci-fi epic. What makes this all the more depressing is that a good cast is hurt by horrific… More
An ugly, unpleasant viewing experience worsened by horrendous acting and terrible sets, this serves as the "Plan 9 From Outer Space" movie of our time, as a horribly misguided sci-fi epic. What makes this all the more depressing is that a good cast is hurt by horrific dialogue and ridiculous camera angles and makeup, and the result is some of the worst acting ever caught on-screen (Barry Pepper is especially bad, notice how everything he does is....the most...important...thing EVER!). If you care for yourself whatsoever, do not sit through this movie, unless you are viewing the "Mystery Science Theater 3000" version of it - then it MIGHT be worth it.
Brad W

Possibly one of the worst films to ever be made. Travolta has lost all credibility. A person doesnt have to be a critic to tell what went wrong. The plot had so much holes and crsp it was kinda funny. God how I despise this movie.
Ken S

Everyone involved should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. The film is either tedious or boring at best. All of the dutch angles clearly points to a cinematographer with a peg leg.
Jay H

Quite possibly the worst film ever made.
Jeff "

Based on the Church of Scientology founder book, Battlefield Earth is coherent mess of a film. The film is painful to watch, with bad acting, dialogue and stupid storyline. This one of the worst films I have ever seen, not because it's related to Scientology, but because the film… More
Based on the Church of Scientology founder book, Battlefield Earth is coherent mess of a film. The film is painful to watch, with bad acting, dialogue and stupid storyline. This one of the worst films I have ever seen, not because it's related to Scientology, but because the film is a waste of time, and purely and simply bad.
Conner R

Bad movies don't come any finer than this. In the tradition of Waterworld, this presents a world that is both uninteresting and too wacky. Maybe if it didn't take itself serious I could find some respect in there, but this is dead serious. The acting is horrendous and almost… More
Bad movies don't come any finer than this. In the tradition of Waterworld, this presents a world that is both uninteresting and too wacky. Maybe if it didn't take itself serious I could find some respect in there, but this is dead serious. The acting is horrendous and almost scary, especially when Forest Whitaker and John Travolta aren't usually ever bad (I blame the script, those nose pieces and crazy costumes). Barry Pepper leads the human race in its fight for survival, yet he has absolutely no charisma or anything really intriguing about him. The visuals are not even the worst part, even though they are some of the worst uses of CGI. I think it's worth seeing to show what not to do when making a movie.
KJ P

This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen! The plot is lacky all over, the acting is horrible, the effects are extremely cheesy, and the dialogue is so laughable that I sort of like it! The only good thing to credit this movie with is the 1 minute that John Travolta takes to… More
This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen! The plot is lacky all over, the acting is horrible, the effects are extremely cheesy, and the dialogue is so laughable that I sort of like it! The only good thing to credit this movie with is the 1 minute that John Travolta takes to actually act and say a great line! Normally a bad movie I can say is at least good looking, but for this I cannot!
Derek A

This really ISN'T as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I can think of 100 worst movies to waste your time with. Barry Pepper is completely underrated; however, John Travolta is a really strange alien....
Mike S

The only reason this movie was somewhat watchable was to laugh at John Travolta and Forest Whitaker in their silly costumes and make-up. I can't believe I actually saw the whole film. Piece of garbage that is only viewable as a comedy.
Curtis L

Oh those scientologists.
Wildaly M

All I could think of when I watched this film was, "are these guys for real?" Good concept though.
Cindy I

Don't know if I should give this one star or five. If you are into truly terrible movies this is the flick for you. John Travolta's vision of the future through Scientology-colored glasses is a hoot. A must-see for lovers of crap cinema.
Ross C

A cliche story of a post-apocalyptic Earth, written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Possibly the worst movie of all-time, but it's still entertaining, and finds the most innovative use for a Harrier Jump Jet that I've ever seen!
Michael G

I heard you get a free e-meter reading if you see this movie.
Kalel J

John Travolta had a rebirth into cinema with Pulp Fiction, it is safe to say that this was a knife stab into the downward spiral of his career since that film. If there is to be considered a modern travesty of filmmaking after the year 2000, Battlefield Earth takes the prize. This… More
John Travolta had a rebirth into cinema with Pulp Fiction, it is safe to say that this was a knife stab into the downward spiral of his career since that film. If there is to be considered a modern travesty of filmmaking after the year 2000, Battlefield Earth takes the prize. This film is very, very bad and there are next to no redeeming qualities about it. There is only the faintest trickle of hope from reading the synopsis of this film, but everything is blasted away when it is actually watched. Just to reiterate things one more time - this is bad, absurd, and will leave a sour taste in your mouth for days. Do not watch this.
James A

I watched this on a family movie night with an ex girlfriends family. This is the exact moment in my life that I realized I hate white people.
Luke B

A mess. Not much else to say. Maybe one day it will be seen as this generation's Plan 9
Nate Z

[font=Arial][color=darkred]I don't have enough time nor the patience to actually write down a full review for this "movie" so instead I'm going to just list things that make this movie the toilet paper it is.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]1) It's… More
[font=Arial][color=darkred]I don't have enough time nor the patience to actually write down a full review for this "movie" so instead I'm going to just list things that make this movie the toilet paper it is.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]1) It's based on a 1000+ page novel that even sci-fi purests regard as corny. Writer/Religious founder L. Ron Hubburb certainitely hasn't found any grail in writing. The film of his novel only covers half of the book with the other half Travolta had planned for a sequel. Let me tell ya, you'd have to be a really REALLY devout Scientologist to believe that a sequel's on its way here. There's more of a chance that 'Howard's End' will be granted a sequel then 'Battlefield Earth'.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]2) Travolta has never been more nasal-voiced annoying before in his life. He's the snarling Security head of the vastly "advanced" alien species that has enslaved Earth yet he knows nothing about his prisoners. Doesn't sound like the person (or alien) you want in charge of... security now does it?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]3) Why are the aliens 9 feet tall? Why do they have nose tubes? Why do they have long tongues -- except for a really awful overt oral sex joke? Why do they do and look like anything if nothing happens? All they are is tall and that's it. So form a basketball team out of them and tell them to watch their heads. Nothing makes sense, it's all just added for the sake of being added - with the consistancy of chicken broth.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]4) Travolta hatches a plan to steal gold from the planet. My God, did we just fall into a Western? Because of course gold is worth the same amount and value on a distant alien homeworld as it is here. Makes total sense. This part I actually hit myself in the head over.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]5) The human survivors, minus Richard and Gervase, dupe Travolta with gold bars they find at Ft. Knox -- just stumbling onto it 1000 years later. Man who needs any sense of direction in a post apocalyptic war-world?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]6) The humans counter the aliens in the end by flying 1000 year old ARMY aircraft. These fighter planes are spic and span and fully mobile after 1000 years of rust and mildew Cascade couldn't touch?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]7) Everything is shot tilted, I mean EVERY single shot in the damn movie -- EVERYONE! You'll come out with a stiff neck to compensate. It's like the camera man fell asleep and nobody had the heart to wake him up during the whole picture. I know I'd want to get away.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]8) The aliens figure man to be incompetent and no threat despite the fact that he was highly civilized beforehand with plenty of weapons accesible. Go fig.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]9) Every action sequence in this movie is either a blithe series of close-ups or slow mo shots. And don't forget the slanted pictures.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]10) Travolta is so annoying, even his action figure I saw on a clearence sale is just as annoying, he gets mentioned twice. How the hell did he think this movie would sell I'll never know?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]11) There's only one hot girl in the entire scavenged world and she has to end up being Barry Pepper's love interest, probably because he is given his "knowledge" back which means he also is now only interested in hot girls. And what is her fate? Only to be eventually held hostage later... of course![/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]12) Travolta's character is the greatest moron in the universe! No person would even have them in charge of anything except a cafeteria lunch line.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]13) The effects are really cheesy.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]14) The dialogue is BEYOND the realm of cheese.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]15) 'Battlefield Earth' tried to brainwash me into a 9-foot tall Scientologist with a thirst for gold and a requisite for calling those around me "rat brain" to mask my own insecurities and nasal voice.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]I think The Washington Post said it best when they said "A million monkeys with a million crayons in a million years could write something better then 'Battlefield Earth'," and I'd have to agree.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: F [/color][/font]