Max Headroom (1985)

In the dystopic near future, a crusading TV reporter investigates news stories with the help of a wisecracking computer version of himself.

Directors:

Annabel Jankel, Rocky Morton

Writers:

Steve Roberts (screenplay), George Stone (story)

Stars:

Matt Frewer, Nickolas Grace, Hilary Tindall

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matt Frewer	...	Edison Carter / Max Headroom
Nickolas Grace	...	Grossman
Hilary Tindall	...	Dominique
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Blank Reg (as Morgan Sheppard)
Amanda Pays	...	Theora Jones
Paul Spurrier	...	Bryce Lynch
Hilton McRae	...	Breugal
George Rossi	...	Mahler
Roger Sloman	...	Murray
Anthony Dutton	...	Gorrister
Constantine Gregory	...	Ben Cheviot
Lloyd McGuire	...	Edwards
Elizabeth Richardson	...	Ms. Formby
Gary Hope	...	Ashwell
Joane Hall	...	Body Bank Receptionist

Storyline

In the post-apocalyptic future where television sets are more important than food, TV ratings are the all important currency of the nation. A new technique of preventing viewers from channel surfing proves somewhat detrimental to particularly sedentary couch potatoes. The top studio becomes concerned: dead viewers make for low ratings. Edison Carter, top news reporter, is sent to find out more. After a motorcycle accident, his mind is preserved by wizz-kid Bryce and becomes his wise cracking, computer generated alter-ego: Max Headroom, who manages to boost ratings above those of any live hosts to date. This made for TV movie was later remade (sanitized version) as the first episode of the series.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | max headroom character | television | woman sweating | alternate reality | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Max Headroom would re-appear in 2007, in a series of 6 adverts for Channel Four's "Get Set for Digital" awareness campaign. Within the adverts Max, still played by Matt Frewer, had aged and become bitter and twisted about how Channel Four had treated him. In one, Max also makes a bitingly pointed comment that Jim Carey stole Max's schtick. (It has been noticed that Jim and Max do have very similar manic personas).

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Quotes

Theora Jones: How's your head?
Edison Carter: Fine. How's yours?

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Crazy Credits

The credits roll over a shot of the overpass that our heroes just passed under. After a few minutes the van owned by the thugs that "killed" Edison passes under it - apparently going after our heroes.

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Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: Wheel of the Worst #3 (2013)

User Reviews

Phenomenal future-shock sci-fi!

Like the TV show that followed it, the "Max Headroom" movie was a great grim look into a bleak, Blade-Runner-esque future ruled by corporations who keep the proletariat down by anesthetizing them with junk food and mind-numbing television pageantry. The parallels are frightening, or haven't you seen a Jerry Springer audience lately? The UK movie is, if anything, even grittier and more creepy than the eventual US pilot and TV series. It's out of print, but well worth searching out -- a dramatic, thought-provoking example of everything that's good about science fiction.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 April 1985 (UK)

Also Known As:

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future

Filming Locations:

East Ham, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chrysalis

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)