| The Man Who Fell to Earth | |
|---|---|
 Original British theatrical release poster by Vic Fair | |
| Directed by | Nicolas Roeg |
| Screenplay by | Paul Mayersberg |
| Based on | The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Anthony B. Richmond |
| Edited by | Graeme Clifford |
| Music by | |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 138 minutes[1] |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.5 million[2] |
| Box office | $3 million[3] |
The Man Who Fell to Earth is a 1976 British science fantasy drama film[4] directed by Nicolas Roeg and adapted by Paul Mayersberg.[5] Based on Walter Tevis's 1963 novel of the same name, the film follows an extraterrestrial named Thomas Jerome Newton (David Bowie) who crash-lands on Earth seeking a way to ship water to his planet, which is suffering from a severe drought, but finds himself at the mercy of human vices and corruption.[6] It stars David Bowie, Candy Clark, Buck Henry, and Rip Torn.[7] It was produced by Michael Deeley and Barry Spikings.[5] The same novel was later adapted as a television film in 1987. A 2022 television series with the same name serves as a continuation of the film 45 years later, including featuring Newton as a character and showing archival footage from the film.
The Man Who Fell to Earth retains a cult following for its use of surreal imagery and Bowie's first starring film role as the alien Thomas Jerome Newton. It is considered an important work of science fiction cinema and one of the best films of Roeg's career.
- ^ "THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (X)". British Board of Film Classification. 13 February 1976. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- ^ Michael Deeley. Blade Runners, Deer Hunters and Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: My Life in Cult Movies. Pegasus Books. 2009. p. 116-127.
- ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-8357-1776-2. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
- ^ "The Man Who Fell to Earth". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ a b "The Man Who Fell to Earth". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ Rozen, Leah (1 October 1976). "'Man who Fell' baffling". Daily Collegian. Penn State University. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
- ^ Blackburn, Olly (9 July 2008). "Olly Blackburn meets Nic Roeg". Time Out London. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2008.