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Poster for Aelita: Queen of Mars

Aelita: Queen of Mars

Seen it?

1924 | 111 min | Science Fiction, Drama, Fantasy

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for sci-fi fans and fantasy fans. If you loved The Man Who Fell to Earth, start here.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 51 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Russian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1924: an older pace and style.

A young man travels to Mars in a rocket ship, where he leads a popular uprising against the ruling group with the support of Queen Aelita, who has fallen in love with him after watching him through a telescope.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerWeak

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 11K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Yakov Protazanov

  • Yuliya SolntsevaAelita, Queen of Mars
  • Igor IlyinskyKravtsov - amateur sleuth
  • Nikolai TseretelliEvguieni Spiridinov
  • Nikolai BatalovGusev, Red Army Soldier
  • Vera OrlovaNurse Masha, Gusev's Wife
  • Valentina KuindzhiNatasha, Los' Wife (as Vera Kuindzhi)
  • Pavel PolViktor Ehrlich, Sugar Profiteer
  • Konstantin EggertTuskub, Ruler of Mars
  • Yuri ZavadskyGol, Radiant Energy Tower Guardian
  • Aleksandra PeregonetsIhoshka, Aelita's Maidservant