Rollerball

"In the not-too-distant future, wars will no longer exist. But there WILL be...The Game"

1975 2h 5m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 650

Science FictionDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In a corporate-controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world, and one of its powerful athletes is out to defy those who want him out of the game.

“In the not-too-distant future, wars will no longer exist. But there WILL be...The Game”

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Cast

James Caan
Jonathan E.
John Houseman
Bartholomew
Maud Adams
Ella
John Beck
Moonpie
Moses Gunn
Cletus
Pamela Hensley
Mackie
Barbara Trentham
Daphne
Shane Rimmer
Rusty, Team Executive

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Norman Jewison
Writers: William Harrison, William Harrison
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 5.0× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

51 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Norman Jewison, shot by Douglas Slocombe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by André Previn. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Antony Gibbs shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

James Caan and John Houseman and Maud Adams carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In the not-too-distant future, wars will no longer exist. But there WILL be...The Game".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Norman Jewison directs. Douglas Slocombe behind the camera. André Previn scores. Antony Gibbs cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 5.0× over at the box office.
251 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3International production across 3 countries: United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom.
4Directed by Norman Jewison, shot by Douglas Slocombe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by André Previn. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Antony Gibbs shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7James Caan and John Houseman and Maud Adams carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "In the not-too-distant future, wars will no longer exist. But there WILL be...The Game".
9IMDB entry: tt0073631 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Douglas Slocombe
Original score: André Previn
Editing: Antony Gibbs
Production design: John Box
Costume design: Julie Harris
Stunt coordinator: Max Kleven
Runtime: 125 min · 2h 5m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $6,000,000
Box office: $30,000,000
Return: 500% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Rollerball (1975)

Awards

Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Norman Jewison

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2014-12-29
★ 7.5/10
2018… Norman Jewison and William Harrison expand Harrison’s short story into a full length feature film, with great results. Story takes place in 2018 and the world is a global corporate state, a hegemony of six ruling cartels. There are no wars, poverty and etc, so the cartels provide the antidote to pent up frustrations with Rollerball, a bloodthirsty arena sport where no quarter is given or taken. But when the sports number one star, Jonathan E, becomes a free spirit and too big for the sport, the corporations aim to retire him… Headed by a superb James Caan as Jonathan, the performances are from the high end, the photography superb and the action during the games themselves is beautifully choreographed. The use of classical music to run concurrent with the themes in the narrative is smartly rendered to the tricksy plot, while the writing is sharp and deserving of the utmost attention from the viewer. It’s folly to suggest that when the film is away from the Rollerball ring it sags a touch, so patience is required and a respect of literate posturing is also expected to get the most out of it. A deft crafted dystopian sci-fier with literate smarts and lusty blood letting. 7.5/10
CinemaSerf2024-07-07
★ 6/10
"Rollerball" is a violent, quickly paced and ruthless sport and "Jonathan E" (James Caan) is it's acclaimed hero. Dominant and popular, the crowd love him - but his boss "Bartholomew" (John Houseman) tells him it's time to retire. Their world is run by big corporations and these are not to be readily defied - but "Jonathan" isn't going to play ball. He is not going to sacrifice his fame, fortune and adulation without exacting some conditions of his own. One of which is that he be reunited by his wife (Maud Adams) who was apparently "reallocated" at the behest of another company bigwig. He also tries to find out just who is behind his dismissal - and why, and luckily has the help of "Cletus" (Moses Gunn) on that particular quest as his options narrow and "Bartholomew" becomes ever so slightly more menacing. The action scenes with the ball and skaters racing around the track is quite scintillating to watch with intense photography and plenty of high-speed tumbles, but the rest of it is all sort of "Logan's Run" with an Houseman who really only knew how to play one role. That worked well in the "Paper Chase" (1973) but here, it's just a bit underwhelming. Caan puts his heart and soul into the story, but there are too many holes in that to resonate beyond the obvious and rather undercooked swipe at a sterile authoritarianism that reminds us of the Nero and the Coliseum style of entertainment for the obedient (or else!) masses. It's fine - but nothing more.