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

Koyaanisqatsi

  • 19821982
  • SS
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
39K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
7,359
25
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on nature, humanity and the relationship between them.
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
92 Photos
DocumentaryMusic

A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on nature, humanity, and the relationship between them.A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on nature, humanity, and the relationship between them.A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on nature, humanity, and the relationship between them.

IMDb RATING
8.2/10
39K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
7,359
25
  • Director
    • Godfrey Reggio
  • Writers
    • Ron Fricke(scenario)
    • Godfrey Reggio(scenario)
    • Michael Hoenig(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Edward Asner(archive footage)
    • Pat Benatar(archive footage)
    • Jerry Brown(archive footage)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Godfrey Reggio
  • Writers
    • Ron Fricke(scenario)
    • Godfrey Reggio(scenario)
    • Michael Hoenig(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Edward Asner(archive footage)
    • Pat Benatar(archive footage)
    • Jerry Brown(archive footage)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 232User reviews
    • 88Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Trailer

    Photos92

    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward Asner
    Edward Asner
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Pat Benatar
    Pat Benatar
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Jerry Brown
    Jerry Brown
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Johnny Carson
    Johnny Carson
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Cavett
    Dick Cavett
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Marilyn Chambers
    Marilyn Chambers
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Sammy Davis Jr.
    Sammy Davis Jr.
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Lou Dobbs
    Lou Dobbs
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Thomas Dolby
    Thomas Dolby
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Linda Ellerbee
    Linda Ellerbee
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Jerry Falwell
    Jerry Falwell
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Mark J. Goodman
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Ted Koppel
    Ted Koppel
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Sellers
    Peter Sellers
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Tush
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Godfrey Reggio
    • Writers
      • Ron Fricke(scenario)
      • Godfrey Reggio(scenario)
      • Michael Hoenig(scenario)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Godfrey Reggio was hooked on Philip Glass doing the music. He approached Glass through a mutual friend, and Glass replied, "I don't do film music." Reggio persisted, and finally the friend told Glass that the tenacious guy was not going to go away without at least an audience. Glass relented, though he still insisted he wasn't doing the music. Reggio put together a photo montage with Glass' music as the soundtrack, which he presented to Glass at a private screening in New York. Immediately following the screening, Glass agreed to score the film.
    • Goofs
      The two explosions at about 18 minutes into the film were shot with anamorphic lenses and not properly desqueezed for the film's 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      title card: Translation of the Hopi Prophecies sung in the film: "If we dig precious things from the land, we will invite disaster." - "Near the Day of Purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky." - "A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans."

    • Crazy credits
      End credits go over mashed voice recordings in English ranging from call operator answers to television news.
    • Connections
      Edited into Wide Awake (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Koyaanisqatsi
      Written by Philip Glass

      Vocals performed by Albert de Ruiter

    User reviews232

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Very interesting
    This movie has no script, just visions and music. It is very nice to watch. The photography is amazing. This, along with the music, make it a very surreal experience to watch. I bought the DVD and just love it. The music is terrific and the commentary in the special features section is just out of this world.
    helpful•34
    15
    • DJAkin
    • Nov 8, 2002

    FAQ3

    • What does Koyaanisqatsi mean?
    • What buildings are being demolished?
    • What is the rocket that explodes?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 21, 1986 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Qatsi Trilogy site
    • Languages
      • None
      • Hopi
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance
    • Filming locations
      • Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA
    • Production companies
      • American Zoetrope
      • IRE Productions
      • Santa Fe Institute for Regional Education
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,723,872
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,723,872
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Koyaanisqatsi (1982) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows in September
    See the IMDb Editors' picks
    View list
    List
    IMDb's Top 50 TV Dramas
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    New & Upcoming Sequels, Prequels, and Spin-Offs
    See the full list

    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.