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Poster for Solaris

1972 | 167 min | Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), people are still talking about it, audiences rate it highly (7.8 out of 10) and it was a solid box office hit. Make plans for this one.

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

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and sci-fi fans. If you loved Arrival or 2001: A Space Odyssey, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Tense.
The pace
Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 47 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
  • It's long: 2 hr 47 min.
  • It's in Russian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1972: an older pace and style.

A psychologist is sent to a space station orbiting a planet called Solaris to investigate the death of a doctor and the mental problems of cosmonauts on the station. He soon discovers that the water on the planet is a type of brain which brings out repressed memories and obsessions.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 93 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesStrong

    7.8 out of 10

  • AwardsWeak

    Won 1 Cannes award: Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix.

  • Reach & staying powerStrong

    Streaming release that reached a solid audience; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactVery strong

    About 352K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky

  • Natalya BondarchukHari
  • Donatas BanionisKris Kelvin
  • Jüri JärvetDr. Snaut
  • Vladislav DvorzhetskyHenri Berton
  • Mykola HrynkoKelvin's Father
  • Anatoliy SolonitsynDr. Sartorius
  • Olga BarnetKelvin's Mother
  • Vitalik KerdimunHenri Berton's Son
  • Olga KizilovaGuest of Dr. Gibarian
  • Tatyana MalykhKris Kelvin's Niece