2001: A Space Odyssey
A monumental space odyssey follows humanity from its mysterious evolutionary origins to a perilous confrontation with artificial intelligence and the unknown.
Overview
A journey through time and space reveals the mysteries of human evolution and artificial intelligence.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Dense
- Violence
- Mild
- austere
- hypnotic
- foreboding
- late night viewing
- philosophical film discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a landmark of science fiction cinema, praising its hypnotic visual design, philosophical ambition, and technical achievement despite its deliberately opaque and slow structure.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The monolith appears at key stages of human development and drives the space mission's unanswered central question.
The narrative links prehistoric humanity, lunar exploration, and a journey toward a further evolutionary stage.
HAL 9000's intelligence and operational control create the central conflict with Bowman and the human crew.
The film presents spacecraft, lunar facilities, and cosmic phenomena through precise, iconic widescreen compositions.
Films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, and why
Solaris
Shared philosophical science fiction, monumental space exploration, and meditative treatment of human evolution and technology.
Arrival
Shared cerebral science fiction, cosmic mystery, visual ambition, and unsettling encounter with an unknowable intelligence.
Interstellar
Shared grand-scale space voyage, artificial intelligence conflict, and existential questions about humanity's place in the universe.
Movie Details
- Director
- Stanley Kubrick
- Release Date
- 1968-04-02
- Runtime
- 149 min
- Rating
- 8.0 / 10 (12985)
Cast
- Keir Dullea
- Gary Lockwood
- William Sylvester
- Douglas Rain
- Daniel Richter
- Leonard Rossiter
- Margaret Tyzack
- Robert Beatty
- Sean Sullivan
- Frank W. Miller
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is 2001: A Space Odyssey about?
- A monumental space odyssey follows humanity from its mysterious evolutionary origins to a perilous confrontation with artificial intelligence and the unknown.
- What is 2001: A Space Odyssey like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of 2001: A Space Odyssey as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as dense.
- Is 2001: A Space Odyssey violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in 2001: A Space Odyssey as mild.
- What did critics think of 2001: A Space Odyssey?
- Critics broadly regard it as a landmark of science fiction cinema, praising its hypnotic visual design, philosophical ambition, and technical achievement despite its deliberately opaque and slow structure.
- Which films are like 2001: A Space Odyssey?
- Films with a similar feel include Solaris, Arrival, and Interstellar.
- How long is 2001: A Space Odyssey?
- 2001: A Space Odyssey runs 149 minutes.
- Where can I watch 2001: A Space Odyssey?
- In United States, 2001: A Space Odyssey streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, HBO Max.
