Gattaca

"There is no gene for the human spirit."

1997 1h 47m EN

🙌

7.6

BANGER

🍅

82%

FRESH

👌

METACRITIC

⭐

7.7

IMDB

★7.6TMDB · 7,196🍅82%Rotten Tomatoes●64Metacritic★7.7IMDB · 344,754

Science FictionDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Vincent is an all-too-human man who dares to defy a system obsessed with genetic perfection. He is an "In-Valid" who assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation.

“There is no gene for the human spirit.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Sony Pictures Core Amazon ChannelSubscription

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Ethan Hawke
Vincent Freeman
Uma Thurman
Irene Cassini
Jude Law
Jerome Eugene Morrow
Alan Arkin
Detective Hugo
Loren Dean
Adult Anton Freeman
Gore Vidal
Director Josef
Tony Shalhoub
"German"
Ernest Borgnine
Caesar

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Andrew Niccol
Writers: Andrew Niccol, Chris Buchinsky
Languages: English, Esperanto
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 35% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Esperanto.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Andrew Niccol, shot by Sławomir Idziak. 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 Michael Nyman. 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 Lisa Zeno Churgin 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

Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman and Jude Law carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "There is no gene for the human spirit.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Andrew Niccol directs. Sławomir Idziak behind the camera. Michael Nyman scores. Lisa Zeno Churgin cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Esperanto.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 35% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
229 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Esperanto.
4Directed by Andrew Niccol, shot by Sławomir Idziak. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Michael Nyman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Lisa Zeno Churgin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman and Jude Law carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "There is no gene for the human spirit.".
9IMDB entry: tt0119177 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 24 themes, including "genetics", "cheating", "paraplegic", "suicide attempt".
11Released under 11 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Sławomir Idziak
Original score: Michael Nyman
Editing: Lisa Zeno Churgin
Production design: Jan Roelfs
Costume design: Colleen Atwood
Makeup / hair: Lizbeth Williamson
VFX supervisor: Daniele Colajacomo
Sound: Paul Massey
Stunt coordinator: Norman Howell
Runtime: 107 min · 1h 47m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.78:1 (16:9)
Status: Released
Budget: $36,000,000
Box office: $12,532,777
Return: 35% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Gattaca (1997)
Rotten Tomatoes: 82% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 64/100
IMDB rating: 7.7/10 · 344,754 votes
MPAA: PG-13

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 6 wins & 16 nominations total

Sitges Film Festival Best Feature-Length Film award

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

Also by

Andrew Niccol

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2019-12-22
★ 6/10
The eugenics-obsessed future in 40s/50s noir Several decades in the future liberal eugenics is normal and discrimination is practiced to distinguish "valids" from "in-valids," the latter conceived by natural means and therefore more susceptible to genetic defects. Vincent (Ethan Hawke) is an in-valid who assumes the identity of a disabled valid (Jude Law) in order to fulfill his dream of space travel. Uma Thurman and Gore Vidal are also on hand. "Gattaca" (1997) is a sci-fi drama “tech noir,” which combines futuristic science-fiction with 40s/50s noir. It’s not just the suits & hats, the cars look like 50s/60s coupes, but whine because they’re electric. It’s similar in this respect to “Dark City” (1998), but more dramatic. Imagine if “Dick Tracy” (1990) was a somber space-age sci-fi and you’d have a pretty good idea. The film flopped at the box office while critics generally praised it. It plays better if you have an interest in eugenics and the philosophies thereof. For me, it’s decent, but too low-key. I prefer “Dark City” if I’m going to watch a film of this sort. The movie runs 1 hour, 46 minutes, and was shot in Southern Cal: Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael; Otis College of Art and Design; CLA Building on the campus of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; the spillway of the Sepulveda Dam; outside The Forum in Inglewood; and Kramer Junction Solar Electric Generating Station. GRADE: B-
TheRealMina2021-08-24
★ 10/10
Simply put, Gattaca is one of the greatest movies ever made. Some might think that's going too far but it truly is a masterpiece. Everything from the casting, set design, cinematography, writing and the Universe in which the story takes place. It is not only a great source of entertainment but an inspiring work of art. By far the most poetic movie I have had the pleasure of watching. Every line is elegiac and truly beautiful. It's the type of movie that keeps you thinking days after the credits have rolled. Not because it is fast-paced, intense or has a crazy twist ending but for its tranquil philosophical ideas. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a jaw-dropping movie night. It should be on every cinephile's list of must-watch.
CaseyReese2023-02-05
★ 8/10
.