2001: A Space Odyssey Poster
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2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

G 141 min  -  Adventure | Sci-Fi  -   6 April 1968 (USA)
8.4
Your rating:
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Ratings: 8.4/10 from 212,850 users   Metascore: 86/100 
Reviews: 1,456 user | 200 critic | 14 from Metacritic.com

Mankind finds a mysterious, obviously artificial, artifact buried on the moon and, with the intelligent computer HAL, sets off on a quest.

Director:

Stanley Kubrick

Writers:

Stanley Kubrick (screenplay), Arthur C. Clarke (screenplay), and 1 more credit »
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Top 250 #92 | Won Oscar. Another 11 wins & 6 nominations See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keir Dullea ...
Gary Lockwood ...
William Sylvester ...
Daniel Richter Daniel Richter ...
Leonard Rossiter Leonard Rossiter ...
Margaret Tyzack ...
Robert Beatty Robert Beatty ...
Sean Sullivan Sean Sullivan ...
Douglas Rain Douglas Rain ...
HAL 9000 (voice)
Frank Miller Frank Miller ...
Bill Weston Bill Weston ...
Ed Bishop Ed Bishop ...
Aries-1B Lunar Shuttle Captain (as Edward Bishop)
Glenn Beck Glenn Beck ...
Alan Gifford Alan Gifford ...
Ann Gillis Ann Gillis ...
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Storyline

"2001" is a story of evolution. Sometime in the distant past, someone or something nudged evolution by placing a monolith on Earth (presumably elsewhere throughout the universe as well). Evolution then enabled humankind to reach the moon's surface, where yet another monolith is found, one that signals the monolith placers that humankind has evolved that far. Now a race begins between computers (HAL) and human (Bowman) to reach the monolith placers. The winner will achieve the next step in evolution, whatever that may be. Written by Larry Cousins  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Monolith | Computer | Moon | Evolution | Ape  | See more »

Taglines:

Still The Ultimate Trip. [2001 re-release] See more »

Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Russian (only a few words)

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

2001: Odisea del espacio See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$10,500,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$190,700,000 (Worldwide) (31 December 1984)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

 | (premiere cut)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | DTS 70 mm (2001 re-release)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Stanley Kubrick worked for several months with effects technicians to come up with a convincing effect for the floating pen in the shuttle sequence. After trying many different techniques, without success, Kubrick decided to simply use a pen that was taped to a sheet of glass and suspended in front of the camera. In fact, the shuttle attendant can be seen to "pull" the pen off the glass when she takes hold of it. See more »

Goofs

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When Bowman is carrying out the EVA to replace the AE-35 unit, Discovery's aerial is seen rotating. Normally the aerial is directed to Earth, and unless the ship itself was changing position the aerial would appear stationary. However, the device which controls the positioning mechanisms of the aerial is the AE-35 unit-the unit being replaced. During the time Bowman is exchanging the AE-35s the aerial would have no hardware control, and there is also a small but real possibility that the replacement AE-35 might be faulty. It is reasonable to assume that the aerial would first be rotated to its default position (facing forward, away from Earth) and mechanically locked down until the new AE-35 unit is installed and checked out. The rotation visible in the scene is consistent with that. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Aries-1B stewardess: Here you are, sir, main level please.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The traditional "roaring lion" logo for MGM was not used in this film.
Instead, the newly designed corporate logo for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was
used, along with the letters "MGM", all in white against a blue background. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Sydney White (2007) See more »

Soundtracks

"Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built for Two)"
(1893) (uncredited)
Composed by Harry Dacre
Sung by Douglas Rain See more »