Rollerball (1975)
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68% of critics liked it
(25 reviews) -
60% of users liked it
(11,839 ratings)
In the year 2018 violence has been outlawed and corporations have replaced government as the ruling party following the demise of politics. With the absence of war or conflict, a forcibly passive population's bloodlust is satisfied by a brutal new sport known as Rollerball. A high-octane melding… More In the year 2018 violence has been outlawed and corporations have replaced government as the ruling party following the demise of politics. With the absence of war or conflict, a forcibly passive population's bloodlust is satisfied by a brutal new sport known as Rollerball. A high-octane melding of the outlawed sports of the past, the worldwide phenomenon of Rollerball has resulted in a corporate-backed sensation. The most popular athlete in the world, Jonathan E. (James Caan) has steadily risen through the ranks to become a legendary veteran of the sport. When the corporate backers of Rollerball begin to fear that Jonathan's popularity has instilled him with a potentially dangerous amount of power, a thunderous struggle between man's free will and the oppression of the masses threatens to shatter the fragile strings that the puppet masters use to manipulate mankind. His determination to remain with the sport flying in the face of the very reason Rollerball was conceived, the corporate rulers hatch a plot to abandon the rules in hopes that Jonathan will be killed and their grip of power will remain an unyielding chokehold on an increasingly bloodthirsty populace. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Norman Jewison
- Written By
- William Harrison
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
- In Theaters
- Jun 25, 1975 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Jay Cocks, TIME Magazine
James Caan, on roller skates, is trying to save the world. This needs a bit of explaining, which is only the beginning of the trouble with Rollerball.
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Variety Staff, Variety
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.
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Don Druker, Chicago Reader
Lifeless, uninspired, and crammed with enough hints of intellectual consistency to give the socially conscious critical establishment shivers of excitement.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
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.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
Everyone else, including Mr. Caan and John Houseman, who plays a leading Houston executive, is more solemn and serious than the movie ever merits.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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James Caan
as Jonathan E.
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John Houseman
as Bartholomew
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Maud Adams
as Ella
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John Beck
as Moonpie
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Moses Gunn
as Cletus
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Pamela Hensley
as Mackie
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Barbara Trentham
as Daphne
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Ralph Richardson
as Librarian
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Shane Rimmer
as Team Executive
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Robert Ito
as Oriental Instructor
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Burt Kwouk
as Oriental Doctor
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Richard Le Parmentier
as Bartholomew's Aide
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Angus MacInnes
as Jonathan's Guard No. I
- John Normington
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Alfred Thomas Catalfo
as Team Trainer
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Burnell Tucker
as Jonathan's Captain of Guard
- Danny Wong

