Welcome to the movie club! Today’s movie is Paul Verhoeven’s satirical sci-fi action film Robocop!
Robocop is set in a dystopian version of Detroit, where crime is rampant and corporations control law enforcement. Peter Weller plays Alex Murphy, a police officer who is turned into the titular RoboCop after being murdered by a gang. The process strips him of his humanity at first, but while fighting crime throughout the city he starts to remember pieces of his past life.
Robocop had its premiere in the US on July 2, 1987, before a wider North American release on July 17 and staggered international release throughout the rest of that year and the next.1 It was shot on a budget of $13 million and was a major success in the box office, earning $58 million and spawning a multimedia franchise.2 It was also well received by critics for its style and satirical content, and currently has an 84% on RottenTomatoes.3
Trivia:4
- According to Miguel Ferrer, Peter Weller preferred to be referred to directly as “Robo” or “Murphy” while on set.
- Weller claims that the film’s pistol had to be approved by the FBI for entry into the US.
- It was so hot on set due to the film being shot in Dallas that Weller would lose, reportedly, somewhere between 3 to 8 pounds of water weight each day (I see different figures around the net) before a cooling system was eventually installed.
Up Next: Our next film will be, very fittingly, Yasujirō Ozu’s drama film The End of Summer. We will meet to discuss it on September 18, at 12PM EST. While I cannot find a trailer on YouTube, the entire movie is available on archive, although it may have some aspect ratio issues (check the comments on the page), and you can also check the streaming options below:
USA
- Stream: The Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Kanopy
- Rent or Buy: Nada!
Canada
- Stream: The Criterion Channel
- Rent or Buy: Nada!
UK
- Stream: Nada!
- Rent or Buy: Nada!
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