Rollerball

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Rollerball

R

1975

2h 8m

Sci-Fi

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

114 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The year is 2018 in a futuristic society where corporations have replaced countries. A violent futuristic game known as Rollerball is the recreational sport of the world, with teams representing various areas. One player, Jonathan E., fights for his personal freedom and threatens the corporate control.

Critics Consensus

Its dystopia vision is presented with striking brutality and visual splendor, but Rollerball is often undermined by shallow characterizations and a script that delivers social critique without much conviction.

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Martin Knelman

Globe and Mail

Oct 8

The combat brutality is strictly routine, and fails entirely to relieve the excruciating lethargy of Rollerball.

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Molly Haskell

Village Voice

06/05/2025

So confused and so poorly articulated is Jewison's vision of the future, that it's hard to know what the message is.

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David Robinson

The Times (UK)

06/05/2025

It is in fact a simple tale, the familiar theme of sci-fi back to Metropolis, despite the costly dressing and the confusions of William Harrison's ill-made screenplay.

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Frank Gagnard

Times-Picayune

Mar 30

"Rollerball" sounds more meaningful and exciting in summary than it is as spelled out in Harrison's screenplay and under Norman Jewison's direction.

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Charles Brock

Florida Times-Union

Jan 15

It is viscerally exciting, at times gut twisting.

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Lou Cedrone

Baltimore Sun

Oct 7

Jewison is nothing if not imaginative, and his film, while dramatically thin, is so technically, so structurally handsome, I enjoyed it throughout.

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Derek C

@aquickone May 15

The brilliance of Rollerball is that it makes you cheer for the violence while simultaneously making you feel guilty for doing so. You become part of the bloodthirsty crowd chanting "Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!" at the screen. If you've only ever seen the disastrous 2002 remake, please wipe it from your memory immediately. The 1975 original is a gritty, thought-provoking, and visually stunning classic that has aged like fine wine.

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Robbie V.

@RT18780650 Apr 5

A classic that many fans forget James Caan starred in. Awesome ending and is kind of cool to think what people from the 70s thought 2018 would be like.

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Christian K

@ckacar Apr 2

Everything outside of the rollerball action is a massive ? I love the corporate wars, though, big corporate war guy.

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Carlos I

@carlosFibarra Jan 15

Revisiting Rollerball proved to be a revelation; when I last saw this I thought it was boring, but oh, the folly of youth! What I once mistook for a slow pace I now recognize as a deliberate, chilling build-up that places this film right up there with some classic sci-fi. This satirizes society in the way only the best sci-fi can, by deconstructing the soullessness of corporate rule and the manipulation of the masses.

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Raymond A

@icjacoach39 Jan 13

Incredible movie with an incredible cast. John Housman is haunting as the executive. James. Caan is perfect for the role of the "hero." Outstanding score. Holds up well.

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J. M. S

@RT50278945 Nov 19

Una película de culto. Distopia sin mensajes cursis. Puede parecer algo lenta, pero fue hecha hace 50 años sin producción mega millonaria. Cultura pop madura que no cae en mensajes para adolescentes tardíos

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Norman Jewison

Director

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Jonathan E.

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Synopsis

The year is 2018 in a futuristic society where corporations have replaced countries. A violent futuristic game known as Rollerball is the recreational sport of the world, with teams representing various areas. One player, Jonathan E., fights for his personal freedom and threatens the corporate control.

Director: Norman Jewison
Producer: Norman Jewison
Screenwriter: William Harrison, William Harrison
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists, Algonquin
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1975, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 2h 8m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)