The Man Who Fell to Earth
An ethereal alien entrepreneur seeks salvation for his dying home world but is gradually consumed by Earth’s wealth, appetites, and loneliness.
Overview
An alien arrives on Earth, driven by desperation and hope, but finds a world driven by greed.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- meditative
- surreal
- late night viewing
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly acclaimed the film's stunning imagery, meditative atmosphere, and Bowie’s magnetic casting while acknowledging its cryptic, sometimes incoherent plot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Thomas Newton's attempt to save his dying planet is steadily obstructed by earthly greed, desire, and institutional power.
Newton creates a high technology company to fund a spacecraft, but corporate wealth draws him into the appetites and ruthlessness of Earth.
Nicolas Roeg's direction, elliptical storytelling, and striking imagery produce the calm yet destabilizing experience noted by critics.
David Bowie's ethereal performance and Newton's relationship with Mary-Lou frame alienness through intimacy, fascination, and isolation.
Films like The Man Who Fell to Earth, and why
Solaris
meditative arthouse science fiction, alienation, and critique of consumer culture
Blade Runner
stylized dystopian science fiction with philosophical themes and striking imagery
Stalker
dreamlike speculative drama about an outsider confronting human desire and social systems
Under the Skin
surreal science fiction, eroticized otherness, and visually bold direction
Movie Details
- Director
- Nicolas Roeg
- Release Date
- 1976-03-18
- Runtime
- 139 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (625)
Cast
- David Bowie
- Rip Torn
- Candy Clark
- Tony Mascia
- Buck Henry
- Bernie Casey
- Adrienne La Russa
- Claudia Jennings
- Rick Riccardo
- Jim Lovell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, BFI Player Amazon Channel, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 The Man Who Fell to Earth about?
- An ethereal alien entrepreneur seeks salvation for his dying home world but is gradually consumed by Earth’s wealth, appetites, and loneliness.
- What is The Man Who Fell to Earth like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Man Who Fell to Earth as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Man Who Fell to Earth violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Man Who Fell to Earth as mild.
- What did critics think of The Man Who Fell to Earth?
- Critics broadly acclaimed the film's stunning imagery, meditative atmosphere, and Bowie’s magnetic casting while acknowledging its cryptic, sometimes incoherent plot.
- Which films are like The Man Who Fell to Earth?
- Films with a similar feel include Solaris, Blade Runner, Stalker, and Under the Skin.
- How long is The Man Who Fell to Earth?
- The Man Who Fell to Earth runs 139 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Man Who Fell to Earth?
- In United States, The Man Who Fell to Earth streams on Philo, BFI Player Amazon Channel, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
