The Man Who Fell to Earth
1976 · Movie · R · 139 min · ★ 6.5 · 82% critics
An alien arrives on Earth with a desperate mission to find water for a dying home world. With help from a lawyer, he turns advanced know-how into a booming business, but human temptations and shifting loyalties complicate his plans as powerful forces begin to take notice.
Based on The Man Who Fell to Earth
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Details
- Years
- 1976
- Release date
- 1976-03-18
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 139 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 82/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.5/10 (601 votes)
About
If you enjoy offbeat, surreal sci-fi that feels more like a strange mood piece than a straightforward adventure, this could click—especially if you like The Lobster; Not for you if you want clear plotting, brisk pacing, or easy answers.
Pros: intriguing weird vibe; memorable lead presence; imaginative sci-fi premise | Cons: long and draggy; confusing, disjointed story; uneven acting
Themes
- based on novel or book
- extraterrestrial technology
- dystopia
- alien life-form
- depressing
Awards & recognition
- Hugo Award — Best Dramatic Presentation · 1977 · nominated
Cast & crew
David Bowie
as Thomas Jerome Newton
Rip Torn
as Nathan Bryce
Candy Clark
as Mary-Lou
Tony Mascia
as Arthur
Buck Henry
as Oliver Farnsworth
Bernie Casey
as Peters
Adrienne La Russa
as Helen
Claudia Jennings
as Peters' Wife (uncredited)
Rick Riccardo
as Trevor
Jim Lovell
as James Lovell
Directed by Nicolas Roeg