Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysHispanic & Latino VoicesSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Silent Running

  • 19721972
  • 1616
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
29K
YOUR RATING
Silent Running (1972)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:53
2 Videos
82 Photos
DramaSci-Fi

In a future where all flora is extinct on Earth, an astronaut is given orders to destroy the last of Earth's botany, kept in a greenhouse aboard a spacecraft.In a future where all flora is extinct on Earth, an astronaut is given orders to destroy the last of Earth's botany, kept in a greenhouse aboard a spacecraft.In a future where all flora is extinct on Earth, an astronaut is given orders to destroy the last of Earth's botany, kept in a greenhouse aboard a spacecraft.

IMDb RATING
6.6/10
29K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Douglas Trumbull
  • Writers
    • Deric Washburn
    • Michael Cimino
    • Steven Bochco
  • Stars
    • Bruce Dern
    • Cliff Potts
    • Ron Rifkin
  • Director
    • Douglas Trumbull
  • Writers
    • Deric Washburn
    • Michael Cimino
    • Steven Bochco
  • Stars
    • Bruce Dern
    • Cliff Potts
    • Ron Rifkin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 261User reviews
    • 119Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:53
    Watch Trailer
    Trailers From Hell - Silent Running w/Edgar Wright
    Featurette 3:04
    Watch Trailers From Hell - Silent Running w/Edgar Wright

    Photos82

    Bruce Dern in Silent Running (1972)
    Silent Running (1972)
    Silent Running (1972)
    Silent Running (1972)
    Bruce Dern in Silent Running (1972)
    Bruce Dern in Silent Running (1972)
    Silent Running (1972)
    Bruce Dern in Silent Running (1972)
    Silent Running (1972)
    Bruce Dern and Ron Rifkin in Silent Running (1972)
    Silent Running (1972)
    Bruce Dern in Silent Running (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • Freeman Lowell
    Cliff Potts
    Cliff Potts
    • John Keenan
    Ron Rifkin
    Ron Rifkin
    • Marty Barker
    Jesse Vint
    Jesse Vint
    • Andy Wolf
    Mark Persons
    • the grey Drone # 1 'Dewey'
    Steven Brown
    • the orange Drone # 2 'Huey'
    Cheryl Sparks
    • the orange Drone # 2 'Huey'
    Larry Whisenhunt
    • the green Drone # 3 'Louie'
    Joseph Campanella
    Joseph Campanella
    • Neal - Berkshire' Captain
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Roy Engel
    Roy Engel
    • Anderson
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Douglas Trumbull
    • Writers
      • Deric Washburn
      • Michael Cimino
      • Steven Bochco
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The three drone robots Huey, Dewey, and Louie (named after Donald Duck's nephews) were operated by four multiple-amputee actors: Mark Persons, Steve Brown, Cheryl Sparks, and Larry Whisenhunt.
    • Goofs
      In all the forest domes, entry to the forest is shown to be through a tunnel in the rim of the dome. However, no connection of this kind can be seen in any of the exterior shots of the domes. Moreover, when the domes are jettisoned, the shots of the pylons connecting the domes to the ship reveal barely enough room for the ejection system engines. There does not seem to be any kind of connection which would indicate an access tunnel.
    • Quotes

      Freeman Lowell: It calls back a time when there were flowers all over the Earth... and there were valleys. And there were plains of tall green grass that you could lie down in - you could go to sleep in. And there were blue skies, and there was fresh air... and there were things growing all over the place, not just in some domed enclosures blasted some millions of miles out in to space.

    • Alternate versions
      In the Italian version, the three drones are named after "Paperino", "Paperone" and "Paperina" ("Donald Duck", "Uncle Scrooge" and "Daisy Duck") because calling them "Qui", "Quo" and "Qua" ("Huey", "Dewey", "Louie") would have been cacophonous: "Vieni qui, Qui!" ("Come here, Huey!").
    • Connections
      Edited into The Making of 'Silent Running' (1974)
    • Soundtracks
      Silent Running
      Lyrics by Diane Lampert

      Music by Peter Schickele

      Performed by Joan Baez

    User reviews261

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    The Feelgood, Sci-Fi "Save the Planet" film of the '70's.
    Originally having seen this film years back, all I could remember were a few squatty little robots, some kind of personal crusade, and alot of tears from Bruce Dern. Now, after a few years of having the film in my collection, I'm relieved to say that I recall (know) alot more about the underlying storyline therein. Silent Running is by no means a great science fiction film; it is instead a simplistic story about one man's refusal to destroy that which is dear to his heart, against all odds. What makes this film stand out from others, however, is a combination of great special effects (Trumbull was, of course, mentored by Stanley Kubrick on the set of 2001), a good message and... All of that emotion from Bruce Dern. I must admit that, even after all these years, those tearful moments when Dern breaks down stick in my imagination. Looking for a fabulous, laser blastin', grostesque alien, hyperspace shoot 'em up? Then don't rent Silent Running. However, if you are in the mood for a light, (not too preachy) thoughtful, sci-fi tale of a lonely, one-way journey, check this one out.
    helpful•53
    23
    • Milpool
    • Nov 4, 1999

    FAQ1

    • Are there people inside the "Drones?"

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 31, 1980 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Muiterij in het heelal
    • Filming locations
      • Van Nuys Airport - 16461 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Trumbull/Gruskoff Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Silent Running (1972)
    Top Gap
    What is the Japanese language plot outline for Silent Running (1972)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    Trending: Stars to Watch
    See the gallery
    View image
    Photos
    Double Duty: Musicians-Turned-Actors
    See the full gallery
    View image
    Photos
    We Love These Hollywood Power Couples
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.