Lost in Space (1998)

The Robinson family was going into space to fight for a chance for humanity. Now they are fighting to live long enough to find a way home.

Director:

Stephen Hopkins

Writers:

Irwin Allen (television series), Akiva Goldsman

Stars:

Gary Oldman, William Hurt, Matt LeBlanc

1 win & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Oldman	...	Dr. Zachary Smith / Spider Smith
William Hurt	...	Prof. John Robinson
Matt LeBlanc	...	Maj. Don West
Mimi Rogers	...	Dr. Maureen Robinson
Heather Graham	...	Dr. Judy Robinson
Lacey Chabert	...	Penny Robinson
Jack Johnson	...	Will Robinson
Jared Harris	...	Older Will Robinson
Mark Goddard	...	General
Lennie James	...	Jeb Walker
Marta Kristen	...	Reporter #1
June Lockhart	...	Principal Cartwright
Edward Fox	...	Businessman
Adam Sims	...	Lab Technician
Angela Cartwright	...	Reporter #2

Storyline

In the year 2058, the Earth will soon be uninhabitable after the irreversible effects of pollution and global warming! Professor John Robinson, lead scientist of the Jupiter 2 Mission, will lead his family to the habitable planet Alpha Prime to prep it for colonization. The Jupiter 2 is equipped with a hyperdrive that allows faster-than-light travel, which will eventually be employed to evacuate the citizens of Earth. However hypergates must be constructed on Earth and Alpha Prime to provide stable points of departure and arrival. Dr. Zachary Smith is bribed by a terrorist organization to sabotage the mission, and ends up an unwilling stowaway as the ship blasts off.

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Plot Keywords:

planet | sabotage | scientist | sun | fighter pilot | 

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Taglines:

Get Lost!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some intense sci-fi action

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 April 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

LS

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$46,800,000 (Non-US) (2 October 1998)

Gross:

£10,625,503 (UK) (2 October 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Saltire Entertainment, Irwin Allen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dick Tufeld reprises his role from Lost in Space as the voice of the Robot.

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Goofs

When the robot is removing the restraining bolt, a close-up shot shows him using his left arm. The long shot of the robot removing the bolt shows all his arms (including the left one) waving about in the air.

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Quotes

Maureen Robinson: Am I interrupting something? No really, I think you two should go ahead and slug it out. I mean, here we are on an alien world and you boys want to get into a pissing contest? Please, go for it. I'll have Judy down here in a heartbeat to declare you both unfit, and I'll take over this mission. Now I don't want to hear another word from either of you, is THAT clear?

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Crazy Credits

First segment of end credits intermixed with quick-flashed images from the movie, accompanied by Apollo 440's electronica version of John Williams' third season Lost in Space TV theme.

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Connections

References Back to the Future (1985)

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Soundtracks

"I'm Here...Another Planet"
Written by The Creatures & Juno Reactor
Performed by Juno Reactor & The Creatures
Courtesy of Blueroom Released & The Creatures

User Reviews

A Near Miss

Frankly, I don't think this movie is as bad as some people make it out to be. I like the early episodes of the original series (particulary the first six), when the show had a more serious tone (and before Jonathan Harris sabotaged it by turning up the comic antics as Dr. Smith) and it's nice to see the film stay closer to that serious tone and not emulate the more campy aspects of the series from its later episodes. The cast is good for the most part and I love the visual FX.

However, once the Jupiter 2 crashes on the planet and we get caught up in the time travel older Will Robinson bit, that's when the movie falls apart completely. And the biggest mistake of all is that the older Will Robinson is not played by original Will Robinson, Bill Mumy, even though he badly wanted to play the part. Having listened to the comments of the director on why he didn't cast Mumy on the DVD, I have to say his explanation doesn't wash. Especially when both he and the scriptwriter concede that the device of using the "older Will Robinson" didn't work on the screen as it did in writing. It never occurs to them that maybe the scene would have worked if this new character sprung on us was someone with a definable connection to the old show.