IMDb > Gattaca (1997)
Gattaca
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips
Photos (see all 64 | slideshow) Videos (see all 9 NEW)
Gattaca (1997) -- A genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.
Gattaca (1997) -- A genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.
Gattaca (1997) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
Gattaca (1997) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)
Gattaca (1997) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   64,000 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Andrew Niccol

Writer (WGA):

Andrew Niccol (written by)

Contact:

View company contact information for Gattaca on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

24 October 1997 (USA) more

Tagline:

There Is No Gene For The Human Spirit. more

Plot:

A genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel. full summary | full synopsis

Plot Keywords:

more

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations more

User Comments:

Thoughtful Science Fiction more (516 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ethan Hawke ... Vincent Freeman

Uma Thurman ... Irene Cassini
Gore Vidal ... Director Josef

Xander Berkeley ... Dr. Lamar

Jayne Brook ... Marie Freeman

Elias Koteas ... Antonio Freeman

Maya Rudolph ... Delivery Nurse
Una Damon ... Head Nurse

Elizabeth Dennehy ... Preschool Teacher

Blair Underwood ... Geneticist
Mason Gamble ... Vincent Freeman - Boy
Vincent Nielson ... Anton Freeman - Boy
Chad Christ ... Vincent Freeman - Teen

William Lee Scott ... Anton Freeman - Teen
Clarence Graham ... Personnel Officer
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:

The Eighth Day (USA) (working title)
more

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief violent images, language, and some sexuality.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Esperanto

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Filming Locations:

Barstow, California, USA more


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

The first draft of the screenplay had no title. more

Goofs:

Continuity: Jerome rips his jacket sleeve seam while punching out the police officer, yet soon after it is intact. more

Quotes:

[first lines]
Director Josef: You keep your work station so clean, Jerome.
Vincent: It's next to godliness. Isn't that what they say?
Director Josef: Godliness. I reviewed your flight plan. Not one error in a million keystrokes. Phenomenal. It's right that someone like you is taking us to Titan.
Vincent: Has the committee approved the mission? There's been talk of delay.
Director Josef: You shouldn't listen to talk. You leave in a week. You've got a substance test.
more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Lord of War' (2006) (V) more

Soundtrack:

Nuages more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
194 out of 207 people found the following comment useful.
Thoughtful Science Fiction, 15 February 1999
Author: BB-15 from California

Gattaca is in many ways the best film I have seen about prejudice. Just as people have been judged for centuries by the color of their skin, Gattaca predicts that in the future there will be a more subtle discrimination. It being a science fiction film helps make it more effective by allowing us to feel the emotions of the characters with little of our own history getting in the way. A haunting musical score goes well with the feeling of the film.

Ethan Hawke as Vincent does a fine job showing the pain of someone whose life is limited before he even tries. But just as interesting were the supposedly superior characters; Vincent's girlfriend, brother and double who suffer from the lie that genetics can perfectly predict a person's life.

The film that Gattaca most reminds me of is Blade Runner. They are both about genetic engineering gone very wrong but Gattaca takes a very different approach. The problems are more subtle in Gattaca involving our own desires for success for ourselves and through our children. Amazingly, Gattaca is a good science fiction film with a small budget, few special effects and mostly filmed in existing modern buildings.

After seeing this film for a second time I liked it even better as the plot seemed more plausible. If you would like to see a sci-fi film that is based on interesting characters and situations and not explosions or special effects, try Gattaca.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (516 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Gattaca (1997)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
How come the doctor wasn't suspicious when he passed a test tube llesly
Vertical Sit-Ups A_Music_Addict
Why did the real Gerome (Jude Law) do what he did? (definite spoiler) warthog3
Top 5 Sci-Fi's of all time dino-51
Do you find it odd... red_soxfan13
The Titan Mission TurMoiL911
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Basic Instinct Twelve Monkeys Wonderland Karakter The Lookout
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.