Solarbabies

"From a distant star a powerful and mystical force comes to Earth. And for those brave enough to follow, it will change their lives forever."

1986 1h 34m EN

😐

5.3

MID

★5.3TMDB · 90

Science FictionActionAdventureRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In a future in which most water has disappeared from the Earth, we find a group of children, mostly teenagers, who are living at an orphanage, run by the despotic rulers of the new Earth. The group in question plays a hockey based game on roller skates and is quite good. It has given them a unity that transcends the attempts to bring them to heel by the government. Finding an orb of special power, they find it has unusual effects on them. They escape from the orphanage (on skates) and try to cross the wasteland looking for a place they can live free as the storm-troopers search for them and the orb.

“From a distant star a powerful and mystical force comes to Earth. And for those brave enough to follow, it will change their lives forever.”

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Cast

Richard Jordan
Grock
Jami Gertz
Terra
Jason Patric
Jason
Lukas Haas
Daniel
James Le Gros
Metron
Claude Brooks
Rabbit
Peter DeLuise
Tug
Peter Kowanko
Gavial

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Alan Johnson
Writers: D.A. Metrov, Walon Green
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

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

Earned back only 6% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

40 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Alan Johnson, shot by Peter MacDonald. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Richard Jordan and Jami Gertz and Jason Patric carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "From a distant star a powerful and mystical force comes to Earth. And for those brave enough to follow, it will change their lives forever.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0091981 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Alan Johnson directs. Peter MacDonald behind the camera. Maurice Jarre scores. Conrad Buff IV cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 6% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
240 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Alan Johnson, shot by Peter MacDonald. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Maurice Jarre. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Conrad Buff IV shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Richard Jordan and Jami Gertz and Jason Patric carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "From a distant star a powerful and mystical force comes to Earth. And for those brave enough to follow, it will change their lives forever.".
8IMDB entry: tt0091981 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 90 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Peter MacDonald
Original score: Maurice Jarre
Editing: Conrad Buff IV
Production design: Anthony Pratt
Costume design: Bob Ringwood
Makeup / hair: Paquita Núñez
Sound: Michael J. Kohut
Runtime: 94 min · 1h 34m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $25,000,000
Box office: $1,579,260
Return: 6% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Solarbabies (1986)

Also by

Alan Johnson

To Be or Not to Be
1983 · ★ 6.7

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Community reviews

What people are saying

GenerationofSwine2023-01-12
★ 10/10
Well, I don't know what to say...honestly. I guess I can say that I loved it as a child, and it's getting the 10 of 10 based on remembering when I watched it through a child's eyes. But there are certain tropes with this genre, and it hits the shortage of water trope, and the roller skate trope, but misses a lot of the others. So I do feel like it doesn't really sit well with the genre it's made to be a part of. But then, it's made to appeal to kids AND teens, and it certainly did. The magic glowing ball from outer space with it's feel good happy vibes does give it a very Disney inspired feel... 1980s Disney. And it is kind of rife with political messaging... and by that I mean 1980s political messaging, as in it's NOT overt, it's NOT in your face, it doesn't dominate the film... and because of that, unlike modern films, anyone can sit down, watch it, and get the points without feeling like they are being lectured to... but that was also when liberal political messaging was about love and peace and not violence and hate. So it is probably going to clash with modern norms that like propaganda. And it is CERTAINLY going to clash with people that sit down and think they are watching a genre film.... because, again, it doesn't hit the beloved tropes of that genre and tries to tell a more original story within the confines. It does work. Watching it in 2020 as opposed to when I first saw it when I was 6 and, it is dated, it did age, but it didn't turn to vinegar. It didn't turn to fine wine either. It just kind of aged with a little more grace than you would expect and still felt enjoyable and entertaining. It just didn't feel as epically good as it did when I was 6 and fell in love with the film. It still deserves praise, even if it's intended audience are aging and expect something more, or at least more trope filled cheese. If you see it, it's still worth a watch... but if you saw it in 86 it was fantastic.

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