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{{This|the 1982 film|Bladerunner (disambiguation)}} {{Short description|1982 film by Ridley Scott}}
{{About|the 1982 film|the franchise based on the film |Blade Runner (franchise){{!}}''Blade Runner'' (franchise)||Blade Runner (disambiguation)}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Blade Runner | name = Blade Runner
| image = Blade Runner poster.jpg | image = Blade Runner (1982 poster).png
| alt = Collage of a man holding a gun, a woman holding a cigarette, and a futuristic city-scape.
| image_size = 215px
| caption = original theatrical poster | caption = Theatrical release poster by ]
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = ] | producer = ]
| writer =
| writer = '''Screenplay:'''<br />]<br />]<br />'''Novel:'''<br />]
| screenplay = {{unbulleted list|]|]}}
| narrator =
| based_on = {{Based on|'']''|]}}
| starring = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]
| starring = {{Plain list|<!-- Per billing block in the film poster -->
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| music = ] | music = ]
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = ]<br />Marsha Nakashima<br />Les Healey ''(dir. cut)'' | editing = {{unbulleted list|]|Marsha Nakashima}}
| studio = ] | studio = {{unbulleted list|]|]|Blade Runner Partnership}}
| distributor = ] | distributor = ] (Worldwide)<br />Shaw Brothers (Hong Kong)
| released = June 25, {{fy|1982}} ''(])'' | released = {{Film date|1982|06|25|United States|1982|12|22|Hong Kong}}
| runtime = '''U.S. cut:'''<br />116 minutes<br />'''International cut:'''<br />117 minutes<br />'''Director's cut:'''<br />116 minutes<br />'''Final cut:'''<br />117 minutes | runtime = 117 minutes<!-- First theatrical run, not the later Director's or Final Cut --><!-- Theatrical runtime: 117:04 --><ref name=bbfcoriginal />
| country = United States<ref>{{cite web |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/68260-BLADE-RUNNER?sid=8a7ed183-727e-4335-9da7-16ffd47b588f&sr=34.601395&cp=1&pos=0 |website=AFI.com |publisher=] |title=Blade Runner |access-date=December 3, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151106110252/http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=68260 |archive-date=November 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk//whats-on/bfi-film-releases/blade-runner-final-cut |website=BFI.org |publisher=] |title=Blade Runner |access-date=December 3, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151206122316/http://www.bfi.org.uk/whats-on/bfi-film-releases/blade-runner-final-cut |archive-date=December 6, 2015}}</ref><br />Hong Kong<ref name=bfi.org.uk>{{cite web |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b69ac89d8 |title=Blade Runner (1982) |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=April 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215022709/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b69ac89d8 |archive-date=February 15, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| country = {{FilmUS}}
| language = {{English}} | language = English
| budget = $30&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Gray |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/blade-runner-1982-unloved-classic-1202476755/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705010740/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/blade-runner-1982-unloved-classic-1202476755/ |title='Blade Runner' Turns 35: Ridley Scott's Unloved Film That Became a Classic |website=] |date=June 24, 2017 |archive-date=July 5, 2017 |access-date=July 31, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| budget = ]28,000,000
| gross = $41.8&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0083658/ |title=Blade Runner (1982) |website=] |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515161512/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0083658/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| gross = $32,768,670
}} }}
'''''Blade Runner''''' is a ] ] ], directed by ] and starring ], ], and ]. The screenplay, written by ] and ], is based on the novel '']'' by ]. The film depicts a ]n ] in November 2019 in which genetically manufactured beings called ]s—visually indistinguishable from adult humans—are used for dangerous or menial work on Earth's "]". Following a replicant uprising, replicants become illegal on Earth and specialist police called "blade runners" are trained to hunt down and "retire" escaped replicants on Earth. The plot focuses on a brutal and cunning group of recently escaped replicants hiding in Los Angeles and the semi-retired blade runner, ], who reluctantly agrees to take on one more assignment.


'''''Blade Runner''''' is a 1982 <!-- Do not add Neo-noir here, only the primary genre should be listed, which is science fiction. Neo-noir is detailed later in the article. -->] directed by ] from a screenplay by ] and ].<ref name="LAT-19920913">{{cite news |last=Turan |first=Kenneth |title=From the Archives: 'Blade Runner' went from Harrison Ford's 'miserable' production to Ridley Scott's unicorn scene, ending as a cult classic |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-blade-runner-2-turan-19920913-story.html |date=September 13, 1992 |newspaper=] |access-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205013633/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-blade-runner-2-turan-19920913-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GZM-20210204">{{cite news |last=Lussier |first=German |title=The Mistake That Changed the History of Blade Runner |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-mistake-that-changed-the-history-of-blade-runner-1846198955 |date=February 4, 2021 |work=] |access-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205010545/https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-mistake-that-changed-the-history-of-blade-runner-1846198955 |url-status=live}}</ref> Starring ], ], ], and ], it is an adaptation of ]'s 1968 novel '']'' The film is set in a ]n future Los Angeles of 2019, in which ] known as '']s'' are ] by the powerful Tyrell Corporation to work on ]. When a fugitive group of advanced replicants led by ] (Hauer) escapes back to Earth, burnt-out cop ] (Ford) reluctantly agrees to hunt them down.
''Blade Runner'' initially polarized ]: some were displeased with the pacing, while others enjoyed its thematic complexity. The film performed poorly in North American theaters. Despite the box office failure of the film, it has since become a ].<ref>{{cite book | last=Sammon | first=Paul M. | year=1996 | title=Future Noir: the Making of Blade Runner | isbn = 0-06-105314-7 | location=London | publisher=Orion Media | pages=xvi–xviii | nopp=true}}</ref> ''Blade Runner'' has been hailed for its production design, depicting a "retrofitted" future.<ref>Sammon, p. 79</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Bukatman | first=Scott | year=1997 | title=BFI Modern Classics: Blade Runner | isbn = 0-85170-623-1 | place=London | publisher=BFI (British Film Institute) | page=21}}</ref> It remains a leading example of the ] genre.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.kentuckypress.com/viewbook.cfm?Group=42&ID=1339&Category_ID=1|title=The Philosophy of Neo-Noir|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|accessdate=2008-01-29|last=Conard|first=Mark T.|year=2006|isbn=0-8131-2422-3}}</ref> ''Blade Runner'' brought the work of author Philip K. Dick to the attention of ], and several more films have since been based on his work.<ref>Bukatman, p. 41</ref> Ridley Scott regards ''Blade Runner'' as "probably" his most complete and personal film.<ref>{{citation|author=Greenwald, Ted|url=http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/15-10/ff_bladerunner_full?currentPage=all|title=Read the Full Transcript of Wired's Interview with Ridley Scott|journal=Wired Magazine Issue 15.10|accessdate=2008-01-22|date=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref name="scottobserver">{{citation|title=Scott's Corner|journal=The Observer|date=2002-01-06|first=Lynn|last=Barber|url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,628186,00.html|accessdate=2007-02-22}}</ref> In 1993, ''Blade Runner'' was selected for preservation in the United States ] by the ] as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In 2007, the ] named it the 97th greatest American film of all time in the 10th-anniversary edition of its '']'' list.


''Blade Runner'' initially underperformed in North American theaters and polarized critics; some praised its thematic complexity and visuals, while others critiqued its slow pacing and lack of action. The ], composed by ], was nominated in 1982 for ] and ] as best original ]. ''Blade Runner'' later became a ], and has since come to be regarded as one of the ]. Hailed for its production design depicting a ] but decaying future, the film is often regarded as both a leading example of ] cinema and a foundational work of the ]<ref name="Torres Cruz 2014" /> genre. It has influenced many science fiction films, ], ], and television series. It also brought the work of Dick to Hollywood's attention and led to ]. In 1993, it was selected for preservation in the ] by the ].
Seven versions of the film have been shown, for various markets, and as a result of controversial changes made by film executives. A rushed ] was released in 1992 after a strong response to workprint screenings. This, in conjunction with its popularity as a video rental, made it one of the first films released on ], resulting in a basic disc with mediocre video and audio quality.<ref name="hunt">{{citation|author=Hunt, Bill|date=2007-12-12|url=http://www.thedigitalbits.com/reviewshd/bladerunnerfinalallver01.html|title=Blade Runner: The Final Cut – All Versions|publisher=The Digital Bits, Inc|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref> In 2007, ] released in select theaters and on DVD/HD DVD/Blu-ray, the 25th anniversary digitally remastered definitive Final Cut by Scott.<ref name="thedigitalbits">{{citation|url=http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/br2007/announce.html|title=Blade Runner: The Final Cut|publisher=The Digital Bits, Inc|accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref>


Seven different ] exist as a result of controversial changes requested by studio executives. A ] was released in 1992 after a strong response to test screenings of a ]. This, in conjunction with the film's popularity as a video rental, made it one of the earliest movies to be released on ]. In 2007, ]&nbsp;released '']'', a 25th-anniversary digitally remastered version; this is the only version over which Scott retained artistic control.
==Plot==
:''Note: There are several ].''


The film is the first of ]. A sequel, titled '']'', was released in 2017 alongside a trilogy of short films covering the thirty-year span between the two films' settings. The anime series '']'' was released in 2021.
In ], November 2019, ] (]) a retired police officer, is apparently arrested at a noodle bar by another officer, ] (]). At the police station his former supervisor, ] (]), tells him that several "]s", sophisticated biologically engineered ] beings that serve as soldiers and slaves in colonies on other planets, have escaped and come to Earth, in violation of law. As a "blade runner" while active, Deckard's job was to track down replicants who had come to Earth and "retire" them.
{{TOC limit|3}}


== Plot ==
Bryant shows him video of another blade runner, (]) administering a ], which distinguishes humans from replicants by the presence or lack of an ] reponse to questions. The subject of the test, ] (]), shoots the tester when it is likely he will be exposed as a replicant.
{{Hatnote|Note: Since there are several versions of ''Blade Runner'', this summary excludes version-specific events. See the ] article for discussion of version-specific plot elements.}}
<!-- Note: The plot summary serves as an overview of the film's events. Per WP:FILMPLOT, the word count in this section should be 400-700 words. -->


In 2019 Los Angeles, former police officer ] is detained by Officer ], who likes to make ] figures, and is brought to his former supervisor, ]. Deckard, whose job as a "blade runner" was to track down bioengineered humanoids known as ]s and terminally "retire" them, is informed that four replicants are on Earth illegally. Deckard begins to leave, but Bryant ambiguously threatens him and Deckard stays. The two watch a video of a blade runner named ] administering the Voight-Kampff test, which is designed to distinguish replicants from humans based on their emotional responses to questions. The test subject, ], shoots Holden on the second question. Bryant wants Deckard to retire Leon and three other Nexus-6 replicants: ], ], and ].
Deckard agrees to help track down Leon and the other three replicants (], (])), ] (]), and ] (])) only after Bryant threatens him. These newer Mexus-6 models have a four-year lifespan as a ] to prevent them from developing emotions and desire for independence. They may have come to Earth to try to have these lifespans extended.


Deckard is then teamed with Gaff and sent to the ] to ensure that the Voight-Kampff test works on Nexus-6 models. While there, Deckard discovers that ] (]) young assistant ] (]) is an experimental replicant who believes she is a human; Rachael's consciousness has been enhanced with implanted memories from Tyrell's niece. As a result, it requires a more extensive Voight-Kampff test to identify her as a replicant. Bryant has Deckard meet with the CEO of the company that creates the replicants, ], so he can administer the test on a Nexus-6 to see if it works. Tyrell expresses his interest in seeing the test fail first and asks him to administer it on his assistant ]. After a much longer than standard test, Deckard concludes privately to Tyrell that Rachael is a replicant who believes she is human. Tyrell explains that she is an experiment who has been given false memories to provide an "emotional cushion", and that she has no knowledge of her true nature.


In searching Leon's hotel room, Deckard finds photos and a scale from the skin of an animal, which is later identified as a synthetic snake scale. Deckard returns to his apartment where Rachael is waiting. She tries to prove her humanity by showing him a family photo, but Deckard reveals that her memories are implants from Tyrell's niece, and she leaves in tears.
Roy and Leon enter the eye manufactory of ] (]); under interrogation, Chew directs them to ] (]) as their best chance of meeting Tyrell. Later, Rachael visits Deckard at his apartment to prove her humanity to him but leaves in tears after Deckard tells her that her memories are implants. Meanwhile, Pris meets J.F. Sebastian and he invites her into his apartment in the ] where he lives with his manufactured companions. Deckard uses a computer scanner to find an image of Zhora in Leon's photos.


Replicants Roy and Leon meanwhile investigate a replicant eye-manufacturing laboratory and learn of ], a gifted genetic designer who works closely with Tyrell. Pris locates Sebastian and manipulates him to gain his trust.
Deckard goes to an area of the city where genetically engineered artificial animals are sold to analyze a scale found in Leon's bathroom. He learns that it came from a snake made by Abdul Ben Hassan (]). After a rough interrogation, the snake dealer directs Deckard to a strip club where Zhora works. After a struggle in Zhora's changing room and a chase through the crowded streets, Deckard retires Zhora, whose death takes place in ] as she struggles to flee. Deckard meets with Bryant shortly after and is told to add Rachael to his list of retirements, as she has disappeared from the Tyrell Corporation headquarters. Deckard spots Rachael in the crowd and follows her but is grabbed and brutally beaten by Leon. Rachael saves Deckard by shooting and killing Leon, and the two head back to Deckard's apartment, where they have sex.


A photograph from Leon's apartment and the snake scale lead Deckard to a strip club, where Zhora works. After a confrontation and chase, Deckard kills Zhora. Bryant also orders him to retire Rachael, who has disappeared from the Tyrell Corporation. Deckard spots Rachael in a crowd, but he is ambushed by Leon, who knocks the gun out of Deckard's hand and beats him. As Leon is about to kill Deckard, Rachael saves him by using Deckard's gun to kill Leon. They return to Deckard's apartment and, during a discussion, he promises not to track her down. As Rachael abruptly tries to leave, Deckard restrains her and forces her to kiss him, and she ultimately relents. Deckard leaves Rachael at his apartment and departs to search for the remaining replicants.
Back at Sebastian's apartment Roy arrives, kisses Pris deeply and tells her they are the only ones left. They gain Sebastian's help by explaining their plight in a subtly threatening manner. Roy discovers that Sebastian, though human, is suffering from a genetic disorder that accelerates his aging; he sympathizes with Sebastian because of their common fate. Under the pretext of Sebastian informing Tyrell of a move for a game of ] that the two are playing, Roy and Sebastian enter Tyrell's penthouse. Roy demands an extension to his lifespan from his maker. Tyrell refuses to help because of natural limitations on doing so. Roy then asks absolution of his sins, confessing that he has done "questionable things". Tyrell arrogantly dismisses this, praising Roy's advanced design and his amazing accomplishments. He tells Roy to "revel in his time", to which Roy comments "Nothing the god of biomechanics wouldn't let you into heaven for." Roy then holds Tyrell's head in his hands, gives him a kiss, and kills him. Sebastian, watching in horror, begins to run for the elevator, with Roy following. Roy rides the elevator down alone, and Sebastian is not seen again.<ref>Sebastian's death was never shot because of concerns over too much violence in the film (Sammon, p. 175). In ''The Final Cut'', Deckard is told Sebastian's body was found as well.</ref>


Roy arrives at Sebastian's apartment and tells Pris that the other replicants are dead. Sebastian reveals that because of a genetic ] disorder, his life will be cut short, like the replicants that were built with a four-year lifespan. Roy uses Sebastian to gain entrance to Tyrell's penthouse. He demands more life from his maker, which Tyrell says is impossible. Roy confesses that he has done "questionable things" but Tyrell dismisses this, praising Roy's advanced design and accomplishments in his short life. Roy kisses Tyrell and then kills him by crushing his skull. Sebastian tries to flee and is later reported dead.{{#tag:ref|Sebastian's death was never shot because of concerns over too much violence in the film.{{sfn|Sammon|p=175}}|group=nb}}
Deckard arrives at Sebastian's apartment and is ambushed by Pris. He retires her just as Roy returns. Angrily, Roy manages to punch through a wall and grab Deckard's right arm, and proceeds to break two of his fingers in ] for killing Zhora and Pris. Roy releases Deckard and gives him a little time to run before he begins to hunt him through the dilapidated ]. However, not too long into the hunt, the symptoms of Roy's limited lifespan worsen and his right hand begins to cramp, so he jabs a nail through it to regain control. Able again, albeit temporarily, Roy eventually forces Deckard to the roof, as Deckard attempts to escape Roy, he leaps across to another building but falls short and ends up hanging from a rain-slicked girder. Roy easily vaults the same distance and is left standing above his struggling opponent. As Deckard loses his grip, Roy seizes his arm and hauls him onto the roof, saving Deckard. As Roy's life fades away, he sits and delivers a brief soliloquy about the experiences of his life "I've ... seen things you people wouldn't believe ... All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain." He then dies, as a dove he holds flies away into the only blue sky seen in the film.


At Sebastian's apartment, Deckard is ambushed by Pris, but he kills her as Roy returns. Roy's body begins to fail as the end of his lifespan nears. He chases Deckard through the building and onto the roof. Deckard tries to jump onto another roof but is left hanging on the edge. Roy makes the jump with ease and, as Deckard's grip loosens, Roy hoists him onto the roof to save him. Before Roy dies, he laments that his memories "]". Gaff arrives to congratulate Deckard, also reminding him that Rachael will not live, but "then again, who does?" Deckard returns to his apartment to retrieve Rachael. While escorting her to the elevator, he notices a small origami ] on the floor. He recalls Gaff's words and departs with Rachael.
From a distance, Gaff shouts over to Deckard, "It's too bad she won't live; but then again, who does?" A worried Deckard returns to his apartment and is relieved to find Rachael alive. As they leave, Deckard finds an ] unicorn, a calling card left by Gaff. Depending on the version, the film ends with Deckard and Rachael either leaving the apartment block to an uncertain future or driving through an idyllic pastoral landscape.


===Comparison with novel=== == Cast ==
{{cast listing|
As a result of Fancher's divergence from the novel, numerous re-writes before and throughout shooting the film, and the fact that Ridley Scott never entirely read the novel on which the film was based, the film diverged significantly from its original inspiration. Some of the themes in the novel that were minimized or entirely removed include: fertility/sterility of the population, ], ], Deckard's uncertainty that he is human, and real versus synthetic pets and emotions.
*] as ]
*] as Roy Batty
*] as Rachael
*] as Gaff
*] as Bryant
*] as Pris
*] as J.F. Sebastian
*] as Leon Kowalski
*] as Eldon Tyrell
*] as Zhora Salome
*] as Hannibal Chew
*] as Dave Holden
*] as Taffey Lewis
}}


== Production ==
Philip K. Dick refused an offer of $400,000 to write a ] of the ''Blade Runner'' screenplay, saying: " told the cheapo novelization would have to appeal to the twelve-year-old audience" and " would have probably been disastrous to me artistically." He added, "That insistence on my part of bringing out the original novel and not doing the novelization—they were just furious. They finally recognized that there was a legitimate reason for reissuing the novel, even though it cost them money. It was a victory not just of contractual obligations but of theoretical principles."<ref name="Dick's final interview">{{citation|last=Boonstra|first=John|title=A final interview with science fiction's boldest visionary, who talks candidly about ''Blade Runner'', inner voices and the temptations of Hollywood|journal=Rod Serling's the Twilight Zone Magazine|volume=2|issue=3|date=June 1982|pages=47–52|url=http://www.philipkdick.com/media_twilightzone.html|accessdate=2008-02-06}} (Available from the Philip K. Dick Trust)</ref> In the end, '']'' was reprinted as a ] with the film poster as a cover and the original title in parentheses below the ''Blade Runner'' title.
=== Development ===
] (])]]


{{Anchor|Writing|Development}}
The producers of the film arranged for a screening of some special effects rough cuts for Philip K. Dick shortly before he died in early 1982. Despite his well known skepticism of ] in principle, he became quite enthusiastic about the film. He said, "I saw a segment of Douglas Trumbull's special effects for ''Blade Runner'' on the KNBC-TV news. I recognized it immediately. It was my own interior world. They caught it perfectly." He also approved of the film's script, saying, "After I finished reading the screenplay, I got the novel out and looked through it. The two reinforce each other, so that someone who started with the novel would enjoy the movie and someone who started with the movie would enjoy the novel."<ref name="Dick's final interview" />
Interest in adapting ]'s novel '']'' developed shortly after its 1968 publication. Director ] was interested in filming the novel, but never ] it.{{Sfnm|1a1=Bukatman|1p=13|2a1=Sammon|2p=23}} Producer ] optioned it in the early 1970s, but Dick was unimpressed with the screenplay written by Herb's son ], saying, "Jaffe's screenplay was so terribly done&nbsp;... Robert flew down to Santa Ana to speak with me about the project. And the first thing I said to him when he got off the plane was, 'Shall I beat you up here at the airport, or shall I beat you up back at my apartment?{{' "}}<ref>Dick quoted in {{harvnb|Sammon|p=23}}</ref>


The screenplay by ]<!-- Not titled "Android" initially&nbsp;– See Sammon, pp. 32 and 38 for explanation --> was optioned in 1977.{{sfn|Sammon|p=23–30}} Producer ] became interested in Fancher's draft and convinced director Ridley Scott to film it. Scott had previously declined the project but, after leaving the slow production of '']'', wanted a faster-paced project to take his mind off his older brother's recent death.{{sfn|Sammon|p=43–49}} He joined the project on February 21, 1980, and managed to push up the promised ] financing from US$13&nbsp;million to $15&nbsp;million. Fancher's script focused more on environmental issues and less on issues of humanity and religion, which are prominent in the novel, and Scott wanted changes. Fancher found a cinema treatment by ] for ]'s novel '']'' (1974), titled '']''.{{refn|Some editions of Nourse's novel use the two-word spacing ''Blade Runner'', as does the Burroughs book.|group=nb}} Scott liked the name, so Deeley obtained the rights to the titles.<ref>Abraham Riesman,
==Cast==
{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010170059/http://www.vulture.com/2017/10/why-is-blade-runner-the-title-of-blade-runner.html |date=October 10, 2017 }}, Vulture, October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017.</ref> Eventually, he hired ] to rewrite the script and Fancher left the job over the issue on December 21, 1980, although he later returned to contribute additional rewrites.{{sfn|Sammon|p=49–63}}
{{Main|List of Blade Runner characters}}
With the exception of Harrison Ford, ''Blade Runner'' used a number of then-unknown actors such as Daryl Hannah and Sean Young.<ref>Sammon, pp. 92–93</ref> The cast included:


Having invested more than $2.5&nbsp;million in pre-production,{{sfn|Sammon|p=49}} as the date of commencement of principal photography neared, Filmways withdrew financial backing. In ten days Deeley had secured $21.5&nbsp;million in financing through a three-way deal between ] (through Warner Bros.), the Hong Kong-based producer ] and ].{{Sfnm|1a1=Bukatman|1p=18–19|2a1=Sammon|2p=64–67}}
*''']''' as ''']'''. Coming off some success with '']'' (1977), '']'' (1980) and '']'' (1981), Ford was looking for a role with dramatic depth. After ] praised Ford, he was hired for ''Blade Runner''. In 1992, Ford revealed, "''Blade Runner'' is not one of my favorite films. I tangled with Ridley."<ref>Sammon, p. 211</ref> Apart from friction with the director, Ford also disliked the voiceovers: "When we started shooting it had been tacitly agreed that the version of the film that we had agreed upon was the version without voiceover narration. It was a f*<!--This is a direct quote, and is correct as written with two asterisks.-->*king{{sic}} nightmare. I thought that the film had worked without the narration. But now I was stuck re-creating that narration. And I was obliged to do the voiceovers for people that did not represent the director's interests."<ref>{{citation
| date=2007-07-05
| url=http://www.moono.com/news/news05091.html
| title=Ford: "'Blade Runner'" Was a Nightmare"
| publisher=Moono.com
| accessdate=2008-02-01
}}</ref> "I went kicking and screaming to the studio to record it."<ref>Sammon, p. 296</ref>
*''']''' as '''Roy Batty''', the violent yet thoughtful leader of ]s;<ref name="Ebert">{{citation
| last=Ebert
| first=Roger
| date=1992-09-11
| url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19920911/REVIEWS/209110301/1023
| title=Blade Runner: Director's Cut
| publisher=rogerebert.com
| accessdate=2006-08-28
}}</ref> and was regarded by Philip K. Dick as "the perfect Batty—cold, ], flawless".<ref name="FutureNoir-p284" /> Of the many films Hauer has done, ''Blade Runner'' is his favorite. As he explained in a live chat in 2001, <!-- PLEASE READ THIS: This quote is Literally what is said on the website. Please do not correct it. Thank you for your help. PLEASE READ THIS!!! -->"BLADE RUNNER needs no explanation. It just IZZ {{sic}}. All of the best. There is nothing like it. To be part of a real MASTERPIECE which changed the world's thinking. It's awesome."<ref>{{citation|author=Hauer, Rutger|url=http://www.rutgerhauer.org/chatroom/transcript05.php|title=Live Chat – February 7, 2001|publisher=Rutger Hauer|accessdate=2008-02-01}}</ref>
*''']''' as '''Rachael'''. Tyrell's assistant. Rachael is a replicant with memories that belonged to Tyrell's niece.
*''']''' as '''Gaff'''. Olmos used his diverse ethnic background, and some in-depth personal research, to help create the fictional "Cityspeak" language his character uses in the film.<ref name="FutureNoir-p115">Sammon, pp. 115–116</ref> His initial addresses to Deckard at the noodle bar is partly in ], and means, "Horse dick! No way. You are the Blade ... Blade Runner."<ref name="FutureNoir-p115" />
*''']''' as '''Pris'''. A "basic pleasure model".
*''']''' as '''Captain Bryant'''. Walsh lived up to his reputation as a great character actor with the role of a hard-drinking, sleazy and underhanded police veteran typical of the Film Noir genre.
*''']''' as '''Dr. Eldon Tyrell'''. This corporate mogul has built an empire on genetically manipulated humanoid ].
*''']''' as '''J. F. Sebastian''', a quiet and lonely genius who provides a compassionate yet compliant portrait of humanity. J.F. is able to sympathize with the replicants' short lifespan because he has ], a genetic disease that causes faster aging and a short lifespan.
*''']''' as '''Leon Kowalski'''{{ndash}} A replicant masquerading as a waste disposal engineer.
*''']''' as '''Zhora'''. Cassidy portrays a strong female replicant who has seen the worst humanity has to offer.
*''']''' as '''Holden'''. The Blade Runner initially assigned to the case, he is shot by Leon while screening new Tyrell employees in an attempt to find the replicants, prompting his replacement with Deckard.
*''']''' as '''Hannibal Chew'''. An elderly Asian geneticist specializing in synthetic eyes.
*''']''' as '''Taffey Lewis'''. Pyke conveys Lewis' sleaziness with ease and with one take; something almost unheard-of with Scott's drive for perfection resulting at times in double-digit takes.<ref>Sammon, p. 150</ref>


Dick became concerned that no one had informed him about the film's production, which added to his distrust of Hollywood.{{sfn|Sammon|p=63–64}} After Dick criticized an early version of Fancher's script in an article written for the Los Angeles ''Select TV Guide'', the studio sent Dick the Peoples rewrite.{{sfn|Sammon|p=67–69}} Although Dick died shortly before the film's release, he was pleased with the rewritten script and with a 20-minute special effects test reel that was screened for him when he was invited to the studio. Despite his well-known skepticism of Hollywood in principle, Dick enthused to Scott that the world created for the film looked exactly as he had imagined it.{{sfn|Sammon|p=284}} He said, "I saw a segment of ]'s special effects for ''Blade Runner'' on the ] news. I recognized it immediately. It was my own interior world. They caught it perfectly." He also approved of the film's script, saying: "After I finished reading the screenplay, I got the novel out and looked through it. The two reinforce each other so that someone who started with the novel would enjoy the movie and someone who started with the movie would enjoy the novel."<ref name="Dick's final interview">{{citation |last=Boonstra |first=John |title=A final interview with science fiction's boldest visionary, who talks candidly about ''Blade Runner'', inner voices and the temptations of Hollywood |work=] |via=Philip K. Dick |volume=2 |issue=3 |date=June 1982 |pages=47–52 |url=http://www.philipkdick.com/media_twilightzone.html |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130528112644/http://www.philipkdick.com/media_twilightzone.html |archive-date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> The motion picture was dedicated to Dick.<ref>Blade Runner film, dedication after credits, 1:51:30</ref> Principal photography of ''Blade Runner'' began on March 9, 1981, and ended four months later.{{sfn|Sammon|p=98}}
==Production==
Interest in adapting ]'s novel '']'' developed shortly after its 1968 publication. According to Dick, director ] was interested in filming the novel, but never ] it.<ref name="PKDonBR">James Van Hise, ''Philip K. Dick on Blade Runner'', .</ref> Producer Herb Jaffe optioned it in the early 1970s, but Dick wasn't impressed with the screenplay: "Robert Jaffe, who wrote the screenplay, flew down here to Orange County. I said to him then that it was so bad that I wanted to know if he wanted me to beat him up there at the airport or wait till we got to my apartment."<ref name="PKDonBR" /> The ] by ]<!--Not entitled “Android” initially – See Sammon, pp. 32 and 38 for explanation--> was optioned in 1977.<ref>Sammon, pp. 23–30</ref>


In 1992, Ford revealed, "''Blade Runner'' is not one of my favorite films. I tangled with Ridley."{{sfn|Sammon|p=211}} Apart from friction with the director, Ford also disliked the ]: "When we started shooting it had been tacitly agreed that the version of the film that we had agreed upon was the version without voiceover narration. It was a {{sic|f**king|expected=fucking}} nightmare. I thought that the film had worked without the narration. But now I was stuck re-creating that narration. And I was obliged to do the voiceovers for people that did not represent the director's interests."<ref name="BladeRunnerNightmare">{{citation |date=July 5, 2007 |url=http://www.moono.com/news/news05091.html |title=Ford: 'Blade Runner Was a Nightmare' |work=Moono.com |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120224041915/http://www.moono.com/news/news05091.html |archive-date=February 24, 2012}}</ref> "I went kicking and screaming to the studio to record it."{{sfn|Sammon|p=296}} The narration monologs were written by an uncredited ].<ref>{{citation |first=Rebecca |last=Pahle |title=10 Fascinating Facts About ''Blade Runner'' |date=August 28, 2015 |work=] |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/67956/10-fascinating-facts-about-blade-runner |access-date=March 24, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150829215058/http://mentalfloss.com/article/67956/10-fascinating-facts-about-blade-runner |archive-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>
] ] became interested in Fancher's draft and convinced director Ridley Scott to use it to create his first American film. Scott had previously declined the project, but after leaving the slow production of '']'', wanted a faster-paced project to take his mind off his older brother's recent death.<ref>Sammon, pp. 43–49</ref> He joined the project on February 21, 1980, and managed to push up the promised financing from ] from $13&nbsp;million to $15&nbsp;million. Fancher's script focused more on environmental issues and less on issues of humanity and faith, which weighed heavily in the novel. Scott wanted changes. Fancher found a cinema treatment by ] for ]'s novel '']'' (1974), entitled '']''.<ref>Some editions of Nourse's novel use the two-word spacing ''Blade Runner'', as does the Burroughs book.</ref> Scott liked the name so Deeley obtained the rights to the titles. Eventually he hired ] to rewrite the script, and Fancher left the job on December 21, 1980, over the issue, although he later returned to contribute additional rewrites.<ref>Sammon, pp. 49–63</ref>


In 2006, Scott was asked "Who's the biggest pain in the arse you've ever worked with?" He replied: "It's got to be Harrison&nbsp;... he'll forgive me because now I get on with him. Now he's become charming. But he knows a lot, that's the problem. When we worked together it was my first film up and I was the new kid on the block. But we made a good movie."<ref>{{citation |first=Rob |last=Carnevale |title=Getting Direct with Directors: Ridley Scott |date=September 2006 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/callingtheshots/ridley_scott.shtml |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140413025033/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/callingtheshots/ridley_scott.shtml |archive-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref> Ford said of Scott in 2000: "I admire his work. We had a bad patch there, and I'm over it."<ref>{{citation |title=And beneath lies, the truth |work=] |date=November 2000 |first=Colin |last=Kennedy |issue=137 |page=76}}</ref> In 2006 Ford reflected on the production of the film saying: "What I remember more than anything else when I see ''Blade Runner'' is not the 50 nights of shooting in the rain, but the voiceover&nbsp;... I was still obliged to work for these clowns that came in writing one bad voiceover after another."<ref>{{citation |title=In Conversation with Harrison Ford |work=] |date=April 2006 |issue=202 |page=140}}</ref> Ridley Scott confirmed in the summer 2007 issue of '']'' that Harrison Ford contributed to the ''Blade Runner'' Special Edition DVD, and had already recorded his interviews. "Harrison's fully on board", said Scott.<ref>{{citation |last=Smith |first=Neil |title=The Total Film Interview |work=Total Film |date=Summer 2007 |issue=130}}</ref>
Having invested over $2.5&nbsp;million in pre-production,<ref>Sammon, p. 49</ref> as the date of commencement of principal photography neared, Filmways withdrew financial backing. In ten days, Deeley secured $21.5&nbsp;million in financing through a three way deal between ] (through Warner Bros.), the ]-based producer ], and ].<ref>Bukatman, pp. 18–19 and Sammon, pp. 64–67</ref>


] in Los Angeles was used as one of the filming locations.]]
] became concerned that no one had informed him about the film's production, which added to his distrust of ].<ref>Sammon, pp. 63–64</ref> After Dick criticized an early version of Hampton Fancher's script in an article written for the Los Angeles ''Select TV Guide'', the studio sent Dick the David Peoples rewrite.<ref>Sammon, pp.67–69</ref> Although Dick died shortly before the film's release, he was pleased with the rewritten script, and with a twenty-minute special effects test reel that was screened for him when he was invited to the studio. Dick enthused after the screening to Ridley Scott that the world created for the film looked exactly as he had imagined it.<ref name="FutureNoir-p284">Sammon, p. 284</ref> The motion picture was dedicated to Dick.


The ] in downtown Los Angeles served as a ], and a Warner Bros. ] housed the 2019 Los Angeles street ]. Other locations included the ] and the ]. ]s resulted in several changes, including adding a ], a happy ending, and the removal of a Holden hospital scene. The relationship between the filmmakers and the investors was difficult, which culminated in Deeley and Scott being fired but still working on the film.<ref name="edge-doc-review" /> Crew members created T-shirts during filming saying, "Yes Guv'nor, My Ass" that mocked Scott's unfavorable comparison of U.S. and British crews; Scott responded with a T-shirt of his own, "Xenophobia Sucks", making the incident known as the T-shirt war.{{sfn|Sammon|p=218}}<ref name="pajiba-smith">{{citation |url=http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_random_lists/mindhole-blowers-20-facts-about-blade-runner-that-might-leave-you-questioning-ridley-scotts-humanity.php |title=Mindhole Blowers: 20 facts about Blade Runner that might leave you questioning Ridley Scotts humanity |last=Davis |first=Cindy |date=November 8, 2011 |work=Pajiba.com |access-date=September 21, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140802114242/http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_random_lists/mindhole-blowers-20-facts-about-blade-runner-that-might-leave-you-questioning-ridley-scotts-humanity.php |archive-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref>
''Blade Runner'' has numerous and deep similarities to ]'s '']'', including a built up urban environment, in which the wealthy literally live above the workers, dominated by a huge building—the Stadtkrone Tower in ''Metropolis'' and the Tyrell Building in ''Blade Runner''. Special effects supervisor David Dryer used stills from ''Metropolis'' when lining up ''Blade Runner'''s miniature building shots.<ref>Bukatman, pp. 61–63 and Sammon, p. 111</ref>


=== Casting ===
Ridley Scott credits ]'s painting '']'' and the French science fiction comic magazine '']'' (]), to which the artist ] contributed, as stylistic mood sources.<ref>Sammon, p. 74</ref> He also drew on the landscape of "Hong Kong on a very bad day"<ref>{{citation|last=Wheale|first=Nigel|year=1995|title=The Postmodern Arts: An Introductory Reader|publisher=Routledge|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=8dGfKmubQIgC&pg=PA107&sig=-YDIF7d_p3omdApwk7sVM3dDFs4|page=107|isbn=0-41507-776-1|accessdate=2008-04-25}}</ref> and the industrial landscape of his one-time home in the North East of England.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2003/09/20/bfscott20.xml&sSheet=/arts/2003/09/20/ixartright.html|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited|title=Director Maximus|accessdate=2008-04-25|date=2003-09-20}}</ref> Scott hired as his conceptual artist ], who, like Scott, was influenced by ''Métal Hurlant''.<ref>Sammon, p. 53</ref> Moebius was offered the opportunity to assist in the pre-production of ''Blade Runner'', but he declined so that he could work on ] animated film '']'', a decision he later regretted.<ref>Giraud, Jean. (1988) ''The Long Tomorrow & Other SF Stories''. ISBN 0-87135-281-8</ref> Lawrence G. Paull (production designer) and David Snyder (art director) realized Scott's and Mead's sketches. ] and Richard Yuricich supervised the ] for the film. Principal photography of ''Blade Runner'' began on March 9, 1981, and ended four months later.
{{See also|List of Blade Runner characters}}


Casting the film proved troublesome, particularly for the lead role of Deckard. Screenwriter Hampton Fancher envisioned ] as Deckard, and wrote the character's dialogue with Mitchum in mind.<ref name="DangerousDays">{{cite video|title=Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner|medium=Blade Runner: The Final Cut DVD|publisher=]|year=2007}}</ref> Director Ridley Scott and the film's producers "spent months" meeting and discussing the role with ], who eventually departed due to differences in vision.<ref name="DangerousDays" /> Harrison Ford was ultimately chosen due to several factors, including his performance in the '']'' films, Ford's interest in the story of ''Blade Runner'', and discussions with ], who was finishing '']'' at the time and strongly praised Ford's work in the film.<ref name="DangerousDays" /> According to production documents, a long list of actors were considered for the role, including, but not limited to, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="DangerousDays" /> ] the film proved troublesome, particularly for the lead role of Deckard. Screenwriter Hampton Fancher envisioned ] as Deckard and wrote the character's dialogue with Mitchum in mind.<ref name="DangerousDays">{{citation |title=Dangerous Days: Making ''Blade Runner'' |work=Blade Runner: The Final Cut |type=DVD |publisher=] |year=2007 |orig-year=1982}}</ref> Director Ridley Scott and the film's producers spent months meeting and discussing the role with ], who eventually departed over differences in vision.<ref name="DangerousDays" /> Harrison Ford was ultimately chosen for several reasons, including his performance in the '']'' films, Ford's interest in the ''Blade Runner'' story, and discussions with ] who was finishing '']'' at the time and strongly praised Ford's work in the film.<ref name="DangerousDays" /> Following his success in those two films, Ford was looking for a role with dramatic depth.<ref name="BladeRunnerNightmare" /> According to production documents, several actors were considered for the role, including ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="DangerousDays" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://time.com/3834604/blade-runner-ridley-scott-harrison-ford/ |title=Blade Runner at 30: Celebrating Ridley Scott's Dystopian Vision |magazine=]|access-date=June 18, 2021|archive-date=September 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930132246/https://time.com/3834604/blade-runner-ridley-scott-harrison-ford/|url-status=live}}</ref>


] was cast as Roy Batty,<ref name="NYT-20190725">{{cite news |last=Ebiri |first=Bilge |title=Even Now, Rutger Hauer's Performance in 'Blade Runner' Is a Marvel – With his combination of menace and anguish, he created an unforgettable character that made the movie the classic it remains today. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/movies/blade-runner-rutger-hauer.html |date=July 25, 2019 |work=] |access-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725134017/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/movies/blade-runner-rutger-hauer.html |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> the violent yet thoughtful leader of the replicants.<ref name="Ebert">{{citation |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=September 11, 1992 |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19920911/REVIEWS/209110301/1023 |title=Blade Runner: Director's Cut |work=RogerEbert.com |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130304150411/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19920911%2FREVIEWS%2F209110301%2F1023 |archive-date=March 4, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Scott cast Hauer without having met him, based on his performances in ]'s movies that Scott had seen ('']'', '']'', and '']'').<ref name="DangerousDays" /> Hauer's portrayal of Batty was regarded by Philip K. Dick as "the perfect Batty&nbsp;– cold, ], flawless".{{sfn|Sammon|p=284}} Of the many films Hauer made, ''Blade Runner'' was his favorite. In a live chat in 2001, he said <!-- This quote is literally what is said on the website; do not "correct" it. -->"''Blade Runner'' needs no explanation. It just {{em|}}. All of the best. There is nothing like it. To be part of a real {{em|masterpiece}} which changed the world's thinking. It's awesome."<ref>{{cite interview |last=Hauer |first=Rutger |subject-link=Rutger Hauer |url=http://www.rutgerhauer.org/chatroom/transcript05.php |title=Chatroom Transcripts: Live Chat February 7, 2001 |date=February 7, 2001 |work=RutgerHauer.org |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120909185908/http://www.rutgerhauer.org/chatroom/transcript05.php |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |url-status=usurped}}{{self-published source |date=February 2018 |reason=This is a permissible SPS, per WP:ABOUTSELF.}}</ref> Hauer rewrote his character's "]" speech himself and presented the words to Scott on set prior to filming.
Casting the roles of Rachael and Pris also proved troublesome; a lengthy series of screen tests were filmed with numerous actresses auditioning for the roles. ], who played the role of Deckard during the screen tests with actresses auditioning for the role of Rachael, was cast as Deckard's fellow bounty hunter Holden based on his performances in the tests.<ref name="DangerousDays" /> One role that was not difficult to cast was Roy Batty: Ridley Scott cast Rutger Hauer without having met him, based solely on Hauer's performances in other films Scott had seen.<ref name="DangerousDays" /> ], who later played the role of Cypher in the ''Blade Runner''-inspired '']'', was considered for the role of Sebastian.<ref>Aaron Brinkley, ''A Chat With William Sanderson'', , 2000.</ref>


''Blade Runner'' used a number of then-lesser-known actors: ] portrays Rachael, an experimental replicant implanted with the memories of Tyrell's niece, causing her to believe she is human;{{sfn|Sammon|p=92–93}} ] auditioned for the role.<ref name="DangerousDays" /> Fancher originally wrote the role for his then girlfriend ].<ref name=vanity>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/09/the-battle-for-blade-runner-harrison-ford-ridley-scott |title=The Battle for Blade Runner |magazine=Vanity Fair |last=Schulman |first=Michael |date=September 14, 2017 |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref> ] portrays Pris, a "basic pleasure model" replicant; ] auditioned for the role, but was given another part in the film, which was ultimately cut before filming.<ref name="DangerousDays" /> ] turned down the role of Pris.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/10-things-you-never-knew-about-blade-runner-759354 |title=10 Things You Never Knew About Blade Runner |website=] |date=October 5, 2017|access-date=October 8, 2021|archive-date=October 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010002338/https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/10-things-you-never-knew-about-blade-runner-759354|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hollywood.com/general/debbie-harry-my-biggest-regret-is-turning-down-blade-runner-59856599/ |title=Debbie Harry: 'My biggest regret is turning down Blade Runner' |date=June 16, 2014|access-date=October 8, 2021|archive-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109040050/http://www.hollywood.com/general/debbie-harry-my-biggest-regret-is-turning-down-blade-runner-59856599/|url-status=live}}</ref> Casting Pris and Rachael was challenging, requiring several screen tests with ] playing the role of Deckard. Paull was cast as Deckard's fellow bounty hunter Holden based on his performances in the tests.<ref name="DangerousDays" /> ] portrays Leon Kowalski, a combat and laborer replicant, and ] portrays Zhora, an assassin replicant.
In 2006, Ridley Scott was asked "Who's the biggest pain in the arse you've ever worked with?" He replied: "It's got to be Harrison ... he'll forgive me because now I get on with him. Now he's become charming. But he knows a lot, that's the problem. When we worked together it was my first film up and I was the new kid on the block. But we made a good movie."<ref>{{citation|first=Rob|last=Carnevale|title=Getting Direct With Directors ... Ridley Scott|date=2006|publisher=BBC| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/callingtheshots/ridley_scott.shtml|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref> Ford said of Scott in 2000: "I admire his work. We had a bad patch there, and I’m over it."<ref>{{citation|title=And beneath lies, the truth|journal=Empire|date=November 2000|first=Colin|last=Kennedy|issue=137|page=76}}</ref> More recently in 2006, Ford reflected on the production of the film saying: "What I remember more than anything else when I see ''Blade Runner'' is not the 50 nights of shooting in the rain, but the voiceover ... I was still obliged to work for these clowns that came in writing one bad voiceover after another."<ref>{{citation|title=In Conversation with Harrison Ford|journal=Empire|date=April 2006|first=|last=|issue=202|page=140}}</ref> Ridley Scott confirmed in the summer 2007 issue of '']'' that ] has contributed to the ''Blade Runner'' Special Edition ], having already done his interviews. "Harrison's fully on board", said Scott.<ref>{{citation | last=Smith|first=Neil | title=The Total Film Interview | newspaper=Total Film | date=Summer 2007 | year=2007 | issue=130}}</ref>


] portrays Gaff. Olmos drew on diverse ethnic sources to help create the fictional "]" language his character uses in the film.{{sfn|Sammon|p=115–116}} His initial address to Deckard at the noodle bar is partly in Hungarian and means, "Horse dick ! No way. You are the Blade&nbsp;... Blade Runner."{{sfn|Sammon|p=115–116}} ] portrays Captain Bryant, a rumpled, hard-drinking and underhanded police veteran typical of the ] genre. ] portrays Dr. Eldon Tyrell, a corporate mogul who built an empire on genetically manipulated humanoid slaves. ] was cast as J.&nbsp;F. Sebastian, a quiet and lonely genius who provides a compassionate yet compliant portrait of humanity. J.&nbsp;F. sympathizes with the replicants, whom he sees as companions,{{sfn|Bukatman|p=72}} and he shares their shorter lifespan due to his rapid aging disease.{{sfn|Sammon|p=170}} ] had earlier been considered for the role.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Sanderson |first=William |subject-link=William Sanderson |interviewer=Brinkley, Aaron |title=A Chat with William Sanderson |url=http://media.bladezone.com/contents/film/interviews/bill-sanderson |work=BladeZone |date=October 5, 2000 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140428173457/http://media.bladezone.com/contents/film/interviews/bill-sanderson/ |archive-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> ] portrays Hannibal Chew, an elderly geneticist specializing in synthetic eyes, and ] portrayed the sleazy bar owner Taffey Lewis – in a single take, something almost unheard-of with Scott, whose drive for perfection resulted at times in double-digit takes.{{sfn|Sammon|p=150}}
==Interpretation==
{{Main|Themes in Blade Runner}}


=== Design ===
Despite appearing to be an action film, ''Blade Runner'' has many dramatic, narrative levels, greatly indebted to ] conventions, such as the ], protagonist-narration (removed in later versions), dark and shadowy ], and the questionable moral outlook of the ], extended to include his humanity.<ref name="Barlow">{{citation|last=Barlow|first=Aaron|contribution=Reel Toads and Imaginary Cities: Philip K. Dick, ''Blade Runner'' and the Contemporary Science Fiction Movie|year=2005|title=The Blade Runner Experience|editor-last=Brooker|editor-first=Will|pages=43–58|publisher=Wallflower|place=London|id=ISBN 1-904764-30-4}}</ref><ref>{{citation|last=Jermyn|first=Deborah|contribution=The Rachel Papers: In Search of ''Blade Runner''s Femme Fatale|year=2005|title=The Blade Runner Experience|editor-last=Brooker|editor-first=Will|pages=159–172|publisher=Wallflower|place=London|id=ISBN 1-904764-30-4}}</ref>


Scott credits ]'s painting '']'' and the French science fiction comics magazine '']'', to which the artist ] contributed, as stylistic mood sources.{{sfn|Sammon|p=74}} He also drew on the landscape of "] on a very bad day"<ref>{{citation |last=Wheale |first=Nigel |year=1995 |title=The Postmodern Arts: An Introductory Reader |publisher=] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8dGfKmubQIgC&pg=PA107 |page=107 |isbn=978-0-415-07776-7 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414044700/https://books.google.com/books?id=8dGfKmubQIgC&pg=PA107 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the industrial landscape of his one-time home in northeast England.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2003/09/20/bfscott20.xml&sSheet=/arts/2003/09/20/ixartright.html |title=Director Maximus |work=] |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=September 20, 2003 |location=London |first=Mark |last=Monahan |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080621145411/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=%2Farts%2F2003%2F09%2F20%2Fbfscott20.xml&sSheet=%2Farts%2F2003%2F09%2F20%2Fixartright.html |archive-date=June 21, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The visual style of the movie is influenced by the work of futurist Italian architect ].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.irishartsreview.com/green-energy/?showall=1 |title=Irish Arts Review |access-date=September 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106000514/http://www.irishartsreview.com/green-energy/?showall=1 |archive-date=November 6, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Scott hired ] as his ]ist; like Scott, he was influenced by ''Métal Hurlant''.{{sfn|Sammon|p=53}} Moebius was offered the opportunity to assist in the pre-production of ''Blade Runner'', but he declined so that he could work on ]'s animated film '']''&nbsp;– a decision that he later regretted.<ref>{{citation |last=Giraud |first=Jean |author-link=Jean Giraud |year=1988 |title=Moebius 4: The Long Tomorrow & Other SF Stories |isbn=978-0-87135-281-1 |publisher=]}}</ref> Production designer ] and art director ] realized Scott's and Mead's sketches. ] and ] supervised the special effects for the film, and ] served as chief model maker.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vfxvoice.com/the-miniature-models-of-blade-runner/ |title=The Miniature Models of Blade Runner |work=VFX Voice |date=October 2, 2017 |access-date=March 20, 2018 |last=Failes |first=Ian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321063433/http://vfxvoice.com/the-miniature-models-of-blade-runner/ |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
It is a literate science fiction film, thematically enfolding the ] and ] implications of human mastery of ] in the context of ] and ],<ref>{{citation |url=http://trumpeter.athabascau.ca/index.php/trumpet/article/view/172/210 |title=The Dystopian World of Blade Runner: An Ecofeminist Perspective |accessdate=2008-01-25|journal=Trumpeter|author=Jenkins, Mary|year=1997|volume=14|issue=4 }}</ref> and draws on ] images, such as ],<ref>{{citation|last=Kerman|first=Judith B.|contribution=Post-Millennium ''Blade Runner''|year=2005|title=The Blade Runner Experience|editor-last=Brooker|editor-first=Will|pages=31–39|publisher=Wallflower|place=London|id=ISBN 1-904764-30-4}}</ref> and literary sources, such as '']''.<ref name="Alessio">{{citation|last=Alessio|first=Dominic|contribution=Redemption, 'Race', Religion, Reality and the Far-Right: Science Fiction Film Adaptations of Philip K. Dick|year=2005|title=The Blade Runner Experience|editor-last=Brooker|editor-first=Will|pages=59–76|publisher=Wallflower|place=London|id=ISBN 1-904764-30-4}}</ref> Linguistically, the theme of mortality is subtly reiterated in the ] game between Roy and Tyrell based on the famous ] of 1851,<ref>{{citation|author=Chapman, Murray|year=1992–1995 |url=http://www.faqs.org/faqs/movies/bladerunner-faq/ |title=Blade Runner: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)|publisher=Murray Chapman, University of Queensland|accessdate=2008-01-25}}</ref> though Scott has said that was coincidental.<ref>Sammon, p. 384</ref>


''Blade Runner'' has numerous similarities to ]'s '']'', including a built-up urban environment, in which the wealthy literally live above the workers, dominated by a huge building&nbsp;– the Stadtkrone Tower in ''Metropolis'' and the Tyrell Building in ''Blade Runner''. Special effects supervisor David Dryer used stills from ''Metropolis'' when lining up ''Blade Runner''{{'}}s miniature building shots.{{Sfnm|1a1=Bukatman|1p=61–63|2a1=Sammon|2p=111}}
] implies the god-like powers of the Tyrell Corporation.]]


The extended end scene in the original theatrical release shows Rachael and Deckard traveling into daylight with pastoral aerial shots filmed by director ]. Ridley Scott contacted Kubrick about using some of his surplus helicopter aerial photography from '']''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ7qKKQrSBY |title=Quentin Tarantino, Ridley Scott, Danny Boyle, & More Directors on THR's Roundtables I |year=2016 |access-date=February 4, 2018 |work=] |via=YouTube |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160106124526/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ7qKKQrSBY |archive-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://uproxx.com/hitfix/ridley-scott-kubrick-gave-me-footage-from-the-shining-to-use-in-blade-runner/ |title=Ridley Scott: I used footage from Kubrick's ''The Shining'' in ''Blade Runner'' |work=] |department=Hitfix |date=December 10, 2015 |access-date=February 4, 2018 |last=Eggersten |first=Chris |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711203958/http://uproxx.com/hitfix/ridley-scott-kubrick-gave-me-footage-from-the-shining-to-use-in-blade-runner/ |archive-date=July 11, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ridley-scott-reveals-stanley-kubrick-847447 |title=Ridley Scott Reveals Stanley Kubrick Gave Him Footage from ''The Shining'' for ''Blade Runner'' Ending |work=] |last=Howard |first=Annie |date=December 10, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160114141701/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ridley-scott-reveals-stanley-kubrick-847447 |archive-date=January 14, 2016}}</ref>
''Blade Runner'' delves into the implications of ] on the ] and society by reaching to the past, using literature, ], classical dramatic themes, and ]. This tension, among past, present, and future is seen in the retrofitted future of Blade Runner, which is ] and gleaming in places but elsewhere decayed and old. Interviewing Ridley Scott in 2002, reporter ] in '']'' described the film as: "extremely dark, both literally and metaphorically, with an oddly masochistic feel". Director Scott said he "liked the idea of exploring pain" in the wake of his brother's skin cancer death. "When he was ill, I used to go and visit him in London, and that was really traumatic for me."<ref name="scottobserver" />


==== Spinner ====
A perceptively high level of ] exists in the cinematic manifestation of ] power, omnipresent police, probing lights, and in the power over the individual{{ndash}} especially represented by genetic programming of replicants. Control over the environment is large scale, hand in hand with the absence of any natural life, and with artificial animals substituting for the extinct originals. This oppressive backdrop clarifies why people are migrating to off-world colonies.<ref>{{citation|author=Leaver, Tama|year=1997|title=Post-Humanism and Ecocide in William Gibson's ''Neuromancer'' and Ridley Scott's ''Blade Runner''|url=http://scribble.com/uwi/br/br-eco.html|publisher=Tama Leaver, University of Western Australia|accessdate=2008-02-01}}</ref> The dystopian themes explored in "Blade Runner" are an early example of cyberpunk concepts expanding into film. The film also makes extensive use of eyes for a variety of themes and manipulated images to call into question reality and our ability to accurately perceive and remember it.<ref>{{citation|author=Saini, Tinku|year=1996|url=http://scribble.com/uwi/br/tinku/|title=Eye disbelieve|publisher=Tinku Saini, University of Washington|accessdate=2008-01-31}}</ref><ref>{{citation|author=McCoy, John|url=http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~syverson/309-fall95/classpage/bladerunner/mccoy/|title=The Eyes Tell All|publisher=University of Texas at Austin|accessdate=2008-02-01|year=1995}}</ref><ref>Bukatman, pp. 9–11</ref>
{{Main|Spinner (Blade Runner){{!}}''Spinner'' (Blade Runner)}}
] in the 1990s]]
"Spinner" is the generic term for the fictional flying cars used in the film. A spinner can be driven as a ground-based vehicle, and take off vertically, hover, and cruise much like ] aircraft. They are used extensively by the police as ]s, and wealthy people can also acquire spinner licenses.{{sfn|Sammon|p=79–80}} The vehicle was conceived and designed by Syd Mead who described the spinner as an ]&nbsp;– a vehicle which directs air downward to create ], though press kits for the film stated that the spinner was propelled by three engines: "conventional ], ], and ]".<ref name="SJPSTop40">{{citation |title=The Top 40 Cars from Feature Films: 30. Police Spinner |url=http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-news/the-top-40-cars-from-feature-films-30-26/ |work=ScreenJunkies |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=March 30, 2010 |quote=though press kits for the film stated that the spinner was propelled by three engines: "conventional internal combustion, jet and anti-gravity". |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140404023133/http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-news/the-top-40-cars-from-feature-films-30-26/ |archive-date=April 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Lightman |first1=Herb A. |last2=Patterson |first2=Richard |date=2020-10-07 |title=Discussing the Set Design of Blade Runner |url=https://theasc.com/articles/blade-runner-set-design |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=The American Society of Cinematographers |language=en}}</ref> A spinner is on permanent exhibit at the ] in Seattle, Washington.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.empsfm.org/documents/press/EMPSFMBrochure.pdf |publisher=] |title=Experience Music Project / Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (EMP/SFM) |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110124232804/http://www.empsfm.org/documents/press/EMPSFMBrochure.pdf |archive-date=January 24, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Mead's conceptual drawings were transformed into 25 vehicles by automobile customizer ]; at least two were working ground vehicles, while others were light-weight mockups for crane shots and set decoration for street shots.<ref name="Winfield & Willoughby">{{cite interview |url=http://media.bladezone.com/contents/film/interviews/gene-winfield/ |work=BladeZone |title=Deconstructing the Spinner |last=Winfield |first=Gene |subject-link=Gene Winfield |interviewer=Willoughby, Gary |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130927020356/http://media.bladezone.com/contents/film/interviews/gene-winfield/ |archive-date=September 27, 2013}}</ref> Two of them ended up at ] in Orlando, Florida, but were later destroyed, and a few others remain in private collections.<ref name="Winfield & Willoughby" />


==== Voight-Kampff machine ====
These thematic elements provide an atmosphere of uncertainty for ''Blade Runner's'' central theme of examining humanity. In order to discover replicants, an empathy test is used with a number of questions focused on the treatment of animals, thus making it the essential indicator of someone's "humanity". The replicants are juxtaposed with human characters who lack empathy, while the replicants appear to show compassion and concern for one another at the same time as the mass of humanity on the streets is cold and impersonal. The film goes so far as to put in doubt whether Deckard is a human, and forces the audience to reevaluate what it means to be ].<ref>Kerman, Judith. (1991) ''Retrofitting Blade Runner: Issues in Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" and Philip K. Dick's "Do Android's Dream of Electric Sheep?"'' Bowling Green University Popular Press. ISBN 0-87972-510-9</ref>


{{Quote box
The question of whether Deckard is intended to be a human or a replicant has been an ongoing controversy since the film's release.<ref>Bukatman, pp. 80–83</ref> Both Michael Deeley and Harrison Ford wanted Deckard to be human while Hampton Fancher preferred ambiguity.<ref>Sammon, p. 362</ref> Ridley Scott has confirmed that in his vision Deckard is a replicant.<ref>{{cite book|author=Peary, Danny|year=1984|title=Omni's Screen Flights/Screen Fantasies: The Future According to Science Fiction|chapter=Directing ''Alien'' and ''Blade Runner'': An Interview with Ridley Scott|publisher=Dolphin|location=Garden City|pages=293–302}}</ref><ref name=nytkaplan>{{cite news |accessdate=2008-10-01
|quote = A very advanced form of lie detector that measures contractions of the iris muscle and the presence of invisible airborne particles emitted from the body. The bellows were designed for the latter function and give the machine the menacing air of a sinister insect. The VK is used primarily by Blade Runners to determine if a suspect is truly human by measuring the degree of his empathic response through carefully worded questions and statements.
|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/movies/30kapl.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin
| sstyle=text-align:right
|title= A Cult Classic Restored, Again
| source = &nbsp;– Description from the original press kit.
|last=Kaplan|first=Fred
| align = right
|date=September 30, 2007
| width = 40%
|work=]
}}
}} The ''New York Times'' stated: "The film’s theme of dehumanization has also been sharpened. What has been a matter of speculation and debate is now a certainty: Deckard, the replicant-hunting cop, is himself a replicant. Mr. Scott confirmed this: “Yes, he’s a replicant. He was always a replicant.”</ref> Deckard's ] dream sequence inserted into the Director's Cut coinciding with Gaff's parting-gift of an origami unicorn is seen by many as showing Deckard is a replicant as Gaff could have access to Deckard's implanted memories.<ref name="Alessio" /><ref>{{citation|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/825641.stm|title=Blade Runner riddle solved|date=2000-07-09|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-01-24}}</ref> The interpretation that Deckard is a replicant is challenged by others who believe unicorn imagery shows that the characters, whether human or replicant, share the same dreams and recognise their affinity,<ref>{{citation|last=Brooker|first=Peter|contribution=Imagining the Real: Blade Runner and Discourses on the Postmetropolis|year=2005|title=The Blade Runner Experience|editor-last=Brooker|editor-first=Will|pages=9 and 222|publisher=Wallflower|place=London|id=ISBN 1-904764-30-4}}</ref> or that the absence of a decisive answer is crucial to the film's main theme.<ref>Bukatman, p. 83</ref> The inherent ambiguity and uncertainty of the film, as well as its textual richness, has permitted viewers to see it from their own perspective.<ref>{{citation|last=Hills|first=Matt|contribution=Academic Textual Poachers: ''Blade Runner'' as Cult Canonical Film|year=2005|title=The Blade Runner Experience|editor-last=Brooker|editor-first=Will|pages=124–141|publisher=Wallflower|place=London|id=ISBN 1-904764-30-4}}</ref>
The Voight-Kampff machine is a fictional interrogation tool, originating from the novel (where it is spelled "Voigt-Kampff"). The Voight-Kampff is a ]-like machine used by blade runners to determine whether an individual is a replicant. It measures bodily functions such as respiration, blush response, heart rate and eye movement in response to questions dealing with ].{{sfn|Sammon|p=106–107}} In real life an approximation of the test using questions was created and used in jest by a newspaper in 2003 on the Mayoral candidates for the city of ], United States, apparently proving that at least half of them would be classified as replicants.<ref>''When A Newspaper Gave Blade Runner‘s Replicant Test To Mayor Candidates'' by Charlie Jane Anders Published February 23, 2015 on Gizmodo.com


https://gizmodo.com/when-a-newspaper-gave-blade-runners-replicant-test-to-m-1687558534</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-05-06 |title=The Wave Magazine - The Bay Area's Best Entertainment Magazine... Ever. |url=http://www.thewavemag.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=24031 |access-date=2024-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506211308/http://www.thewavemag.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=24031 |archive-date=May 6, 2006 }}</ref>
==Soundtrack==
{{Main|Blade Runner (soundtrack)}}
The ''Blade Runner'' soundtrack by ] is a dark melodic combination of classic composition and futuristic synthesizers which mirrors the film-noir retro-future envisioned by Ridley Scott. Vangelis, fresh from his ] winning score for '']'', composed and performed the music on his ]s.<ref>Sammon, pp. 271–274</ref> He also made use of various chimes and the vocals of collaborator ].<ref name="FutureNoir-p419">Sammon, pp. 419–423</ref> Another memorable sound is the haunting tenor sax solo "Love Theme" by UK saxophonist ], who appeared on many of Vangelis' albums. Ridley Scott also used "Memories of Green" from Vangelis' album '']'' (an orchestral version of which Scott would later use in his film '']'').


=== Music ===
Along with Vangelis' compositions and ambient textures, the film's sound scape also features a track by the Japanese ] ('Ogi No Mato' or 'The Folding Fan as a Target' from the Nonesuch Records release "Traditional Vocal And Instrumental Music") and a track by harpist ] ("Harps of the Ancient Temples" from Laurel Records).<ref>Sammon, p. 424</ref>
{{Main|Blade Runner (soundtrack){{!}}''Blade Runner'' (soundtrack)}}
The ''Blade Runner'' soundtrack by ] is a dark melodic combination of classic composition and futuristic synthesizers which mirrors the film noir retro-future envisioned by Scott.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How the Blade Runner soundtrack used electronic music to explore what it means to be human |url=https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2024/06/07/blade-runner-soundtrack-electronic-music-what-it-means-to-be-human-expert-score.html |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=The University of Sydney |language=en-US}}</ref> Vangelis, fresh from his ]-winning score for '']'',<ref name="NSVan">{{citation |author=Vangelis |author-link=Vangelis |title=Blade Runner&nbsp;– Scoring the music |work=NemoStudios.co.uk |url=http://www.nemostudios.co.uk/bladerunner/index.htm |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131019015508/http://www.nemostudios.co.uk/bladerunner/index.htm |archive-date=October 19, 2013}}{{self-published source |date=February 2018 |reason=This SPS is permissible per WP:ABOUTSELF.}}</ref> composed and performed the music on his synthesizers.{{sfn|Sammon|p=271–274}} He also made use of various chimes and the vocals of collaborator ].{{sfn|Sammon|p=419–423}} Another memorable sound is the tenor sax solo "Love Theme" by British saxophonist ], who performed on many of Vangelis's albums. Ridley Scott also used "Memories of Green" from the Vangelis album ''], ''an orchestral version of which Scott would later use in his film '']''.<ref>{{citation |last=Larsen |first=Peter |title=Film music |publisher=] |location=London |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-86189-341-3 |page=179}}</ref>


Along with Vangelis's compositions and ambient textures, the film's soundscape also features a track by the Japanese ensemble Nipponia&nbsp;– "Ogi no Mato" or "The Folding Fan as a Target" from the Nonesuch Records release ''Traditional Vocal and Instrumental Music''&nbsp;– and a track by harpist Gail Laughton from "Harps of the Ancient Temples" on Laurel Records.{{sfn|Sammon|p=424}}
Despite being well received by fans and critically acclaimed and nominated in 1983 for a ] and ] as best original score, and the promise of a soundtrack album from Polydor Records in the end titles of the film, the release of the official soundtrack recording was delayed for over a decade. There are two official releases of the music from ''Blade Runner''. In light of the lack of a release of an album, the New American Orchestra recorded an orchestral adaptation in 1982 which bore little resemblance to the original. Some of the film tracks would in 1989 surface on the compilation ''Vangelis: Themes'', but not until the 1992 release of the Director's Cut version would a substantial amount of the film's score see commercial release.<ref name="FutureNoir-p419" />


Despite being well received by fans and critically acclaimed and nominated in 1982 for ] and ] as best original score, and the promise of a soundtrack album from ] in the end titles of the film, the release of the official soundtrack recording was delayed for over a decade. There are two official releases of the music from ''Blade Runner''. In light of the lack of a release of an album, the ] recorded an orchestral adaptation in 1982 which bore little resemblance to the original. Some of the film tracks would, in 1989, surface on the compilation ''Vangelis: Themes'', but not until the 1992 release of the ''Director's Cut'' version would a substantial amount of the film's score see commercial release.{{sfn|Sammon|p=419–423}}
These delays and poor reproductions led to the production of many ]s over the years. A bootleg tape surfaced in 1982 at science fiction conventions and became popular given the delay of an official release of the original recordings, and in 1993 "Off World Music, Ltd." created a bootleg ] that would prove more comprehensive than Vangelis' official CD in 1994.<ref name="FutureNoir-p419" /> A disc from "Gongo Records" features most of the same material, but with slightly better sound quality. In 2003, two other bootlegs surfaced, the "Esper Edition", closely preceded by "Los Angeles: November 2019". The double disc "Esper Edition" combined tracks from the official release, the Gongo boot and the film itself. Finally "2019" provided a single disc compilation almost wholly consisting of ambient sound from the film, padded out with some sounds from the Westwood game ''Blade Runner''.


A set with three CDs of ''Blade Runner''-related Vangelis music was released on December 10, 2007. Titled ''Blade Runner Trilogy'', the first CD contains the same tracks as the 1994 official soundtrack release, the second CD contains previously unreleased music from the movie, and the third CD is all newly composed music from Vangelis, inspired by, and in the spirit of the movie. These delays and poor reproductions led to the production of many ]s over the years. A bootleg tape surfaced in 1982 at science fiction conventions and became popular given the delay of an official release of the original recordings, and in 1993 "Off World Music, Ltd" created a bootleg CD that would prove more comprehensive than Vangelis' official CD in 1994.{{sfn|Sammon|p=419–423}} A set with three CDs of ''Blade Runner''-related Vangelis music was released in 2007. Titled ''Blade Runner Trilogy'', the first disc contains the same tracks as the 1994 official soundtrack release, the second features previously unreleased music from the film, and the third disc is all newly composed music from Vangelis, inspired by, and in the spirit of the film.<ref>{{citation |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11110-blade-runner-trilogy-25th-anniversary/ |title=Album Review: Vangelis: ''Blade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary'' |first=Mike |last=Orme |work=] |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=February 7, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200702/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11110-blade-runner-trilogy-25th-anniversary/ |archive-date=October 29, 2013}}</ref>


=== Special effects ===
==Reception==
''Blade Runner'' was released in 1,290 theaters on June 25, 1982. That date was chosen by producer ] because his previous highest-grossing films ('']'' and '']'') had a similar opening date (May 25) in 1977 and 1979, making the date his "lucky day".<ref>Sammon, p. 309</ref> However, the gross for the opening weekend was a disappointing $6.15 million.<ref>Bukatman, p. 34 and Sammon, p. 316</ref> A significant factor in the film's rather poor box office performance was that its release coincided with other science fiction film releases, including '']'', '']'', and, most significantly, '']'', which dominated box office revenues that summer.<ref>Sammon, pp. 316–317</ref>


The film's special effects are generally recognized to be among the best in the genre,<ref name="adamsavage">{{citation |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a1775/4218376/ |title=Blade Runner at 25: Why the Sci-Fi F/X Are Still Unsurpassed |first=Adam |last=Savage |work=] |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130018/http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a1775/4218376/ |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |date=July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/cinemas-greatest-vfx-shots/p6 |title=Los Angeles 2019 (Blade Runner)&nbsp;– Cinema's Greatest Effects Shots Picked by Hollywood's Top VFX Specialists |work=] |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150518075420/http://www.empireonline.com/features/cinemas-greatest-vfx-shots/p6 |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |date=October 2, 2015}}</ref> using the available (non-digital) technology to the fullest. Special effects engineers who worked on the film are often praised for the innovative technology they used to produce and design certain aspects of those visuals.<ref name=":0" /> In addition to ]s and models, the techniques employed included multipass exposures. In some scenes, the set was lit, shot, the film rewound, and then rerecorded over with different lighting. In some cases this was done 16 times in all. The cameras were frequently ].<ref name="adamsavage" /> Many effects used techniques which had been developed during the production of '']''.<ref>{{citation |url=http://douglastrumbull.com/key-fx-sequences-blade-runner-spinner-vehicles |title=Blade Runner: Spinner Vehicles |work=DouglasTrumbull.com |publisher=Trumbull Ventures |year=2010 |access-date=September 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150704062943/http://douglastrumbull.com/key-fx-sequences-blade-runner-spinner-vehicles |archive-date=July 4, 2015}}{{self-published source |date=February 2018 |reason=This is a permissible SPS, per WP:ABOUTSELF.}}</ref>
Film critics were polarized as some felt the story had taken a back seat to special effects and that it was not the action/adventure the studio had advertised. Others acclaimed its complexity and predicted it would stand the test of time.<ref>Sammon, pp. 313–315</ref>


== Release ==
In the United States, a general criticism was its slow pacing that detracts from other strengths;<ref>{{citation|author=Hicks, Chris|date=1992-09-11|url=http://deseretnews.com/movies/view/0,1257,200,00.html |title=deseretnews.com Movie review: Blade Runner |publisher=Deseret News Publishing Co|accessdate=2008-02-05}}</ref> Sheila Benson from the '']'' called it "Blade crawler", while Pat Berman in State and Columbia Record described it as "science fiction pornography".<ref>Quoted in Sammon, p. 313 and p. 314, respectively</ref> ] praised both the original and the ''Director's cut'' version of ''Blade Runner''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s visuals and recommended it for that reason; however, he found the human story clichéd and a little thin.<ref name="Ebert" /> In 2007, upon release of ''The Final Cut'', Roger Ebert somewhat revised his original opinion of the film and added it to his list of Great Movies.<ref>{{citation |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20071103%2FREVIEWS08%2F71103001%2F1023|date=2007-11-03|title=Blade Runner: The Final Cut (1982)|author=Ebert, Roger|accessdate=2007-11-23}}</ref>


==Awards and honors== === Theatrical run ===

''Blade Runner'' has won the following awards:
''Blade Runner'' was released in 1,290 theaters on June 25, 1982. That date was chosen by producer ] because his previous highest-grossing films ('']'' and '']'') had a similar opening date (May 25) in 1977 and 1979, making the 25th of the month his "lucky day".{{sfn|Sammon|p=309}} ''Blade Runner'' grossed reasonably good ticket sales in its opening weekend; earning $6.1&nbsp;million during its first weekend in theaters.<ref>{{citation |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |title=''E.T.'' May Set Sales Record |at=Section C, Cultural Desk, page 9 |work=The New York Times |date=June 29, 1982}}</ref> The film was released close to other major science-fiction and fantasy releases such as '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']'', which affected its commercial success.{{sfn|Sammon|p=316}}
{| class="wikitable" border="1"

=== Versions ===
{{Main|Versions of Blade Runner}}

Several versions of ''Blade Runner'' have been shown. The original workprint version (1982, 113 minutes) was shown for audience test previews in Denver and Dallas in March 1982. Negative responses to the previews led to the modifications resulting in the U.S. theatrical version.<ref>{{citation |last=Kaplan |first=Fred |title=A Cult Classic Restored, Again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/movies/30kapl.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131220052847/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/movies/30kapl.html |archive-date=December 20, 2013}}</ref>{{sfn|Sammon|p=289}} The workprint was shown as a director's cut without Scott's approval at the Los Angeles Fairfax Theater in May 1990, at an AMPAS showing in April 1991, and in September and October 1991 at the Los Angeles NuArt Theater and the San Francisco Castro Theatre.{{Sfnm|1a1=Bukatman|1p=36–37|2a1=Sammon|2p=334–340}} Positive responses pushed the studio to approve work on an official director's cut.{{sfn|Bukatman|p=37}} A San Diego Sneak Preview was shown only once, in May 1982, and was almost identical to the U.S. theatrical version but contained three extra scenes not shown in any other version, including the 2007 Final Cut.{{sfn|Sammon|p=306 and 309–311}}

Two versions were shown in the film's 1982 theatrical release: the U.S. theatrical version (117 minutes),<ref name=bbfcoriginal>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/blade-runner-film-1 |title=''Blade Runner'' |publisher=] |date=May 27, 1982 |access-date=January 8, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160322161256/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/blade-runner-film-1 |archive-date=March 22, 2016}}</ref> known as the original version or ''Domestic Cut'' (released on ], ] and ] in 1983, and on ] in 1987), and the ''International Cut'' (117 minutes), also known as the "Criterion Edition" or "uncut version", which included more violent action scenes than the U.S. version. Although initially unavailable in the U.S. and distributed in Europe and Asia via theatrical and local Warner Home Video releases, the ''International Cut'' was later released on VHS and ] Laserdisc in North America, and re-released in 1992 as a "10th Anniversary Edition".{{sfn|Sammon|p=326–329}}

Ridley Scott's ''Director's Cut'' (1992, 116 minutes)<ref name=bbfcdirectorscut>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/blade-runner-directors-cut-film |title=''Blade Runner'' |publisher=British Board of Film Classification |date=September 29, 1992 |access-date=January 8, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160406204404/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/blade-runner-directors-cut-film |archive-date=April 6, 2016}}</ref> had significant changes from the theatrical version including the removal of Deckard's voice-over, the re-insertion of the unicorn sequence, and the removal of the studio-imposed happy ending. Scott provided extensive notes and consultation to Warner Bros. through film preservationist Michael Arick, who was put in charge of creating the ''Director's Cut''.{{sfn|Sammon|p=353, 365}}

It is often falsely claimed that the unicorn sequence was an ] from Ridley Scott's follow-up film '']'' which also features unicorns, but it was in fact shot for Blade Runner as "additional photography" by second unit cinematographer ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jan/26/brian-tufano-obituary|title=Brian Tuffano Obituary|publisher=theguardian.com |date=January 26, 2023}}</ref>

Scott's definitive ''The Final Cut'' (2007, 117 minutes)<ref name=bbfcfinal>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/blade-runner-film-0 |title=''Blade Runner'' |publisher=British Board of Film Classification |date=October 12, 2007 |access-date=January 8, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160305203132/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/blade-runner-film-0 |archive-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref> was released by Warner Bros. theatrically on October 5, 2007, and subsequently released on DVD, ], and ] in December 2007.<ref name="thedigitalbits">{{citation |title=''Blade Runner: The Final Cut'' |date=July 26, 2007 |url=http://www.thedigitalbits.com/site_archive/articles/br2007/announce.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140222043104/http://www.thedigitalbits.com/site_archive/articles/br2007/announce.html |work=The Digital Bits |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref> This is the only version over which Scott had complete artistic and editorial control.{{sfn|Sammon|p=353, 365}}

== Reception ==

=== Critical response ===

On ], the film holds an 89% approval rating based on 132 reviews, with an average rating of 8.50/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Misunderstood when it first hit theaters, the influence of Ridley Scott's mysterious, neo-noir ''Blade Runner'' has deepened with time. A visually remarkable, achingly human sci-fi masterpiece."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blade_runner |title=Blade Runner (1982) |website=] |publisher=] |access-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-date=June 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605074607/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blade_runner |url-status=live}}</ref> ], which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 84 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/blade-runner |title=Blade Runner (1982) |website=] |publisher=] |access-date=April 3, 2020 |archive-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416101139/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/blade-runner |url-status=live}}</ref>

Initial reactions among film critics were mixed. Some wrote that the plot took a back seat to the film's special effects and did not fit the studio's marketing as an action and adventure film. Others acclaimed its complexity and predicted it would stand the test of time.{{sfn|Sammon|p=313–315}} Negative criticism in the United States cited its slow pace.<ref>{{citation |last=Hicks |first=Chris |date=September 11, 1992 |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700000200/Blade-Runner.html |title=Movie review: Blade Runner |work=] |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140407001657/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700000200/Blade-Runner.html |archive-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref> ] from the '']'' called it "Blade Crawler", and Pat Berman in '']'' and '']'' described it as "science fiction pornography".<ref>Quoted in {{harvnb|Sammon|p=313 and 314}}, respectively.</ref> ] praised ''Blade Runner'' as worthy of a place in film history for its distinctive sci-fi vision, yet criticized the film's lack of development in "human terms".<ref name="Kael">{{citation |last=Kael |first=Pauline |title=Taking It All In |year=1984 |publisher=Holt, Rinehart and Winston |isbn=978-0-03-069361-8 |pages=360–365}}</ref> '']'' magazine said, "Misunderstood by audiences and critics alike, it is by far the best ''science fiction'' film of the year."<ref name="Ares">{{cite journal |last=John |first=Christopher |title=Film & Television |journal=] |publisher=] |date=Winter 1983 |issue=13 |page=43}}</ref>

=== Cultural analysis ===
Academics began analyzing the film almost as soon as it was released. One of the first books on the film was Paul M. Sammon's ''Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner'' (1996),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sammon |first=Paul M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Al2lPwAACAAJ |title=Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner |date=1996 |publisher=Orion Media |isbn=978-0-7528-0740-9 |language=en|access-date=October 1, 2020|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414015432/https://books.google.com/books?id=Al2lPwAACAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> which dissects all the details concerning the film making. He was followed by ]'s ''Blade Runner''<ref>Bukatman, Scott. ''Blade Runner''. London: BFI, 1997.</ref> and other books and academic articles.<ref>{{citation |last=Williams |first=Douglas E. |url=https://philosophy.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/Ideology%20as%20Dystopia%20-%20An%20Interpretation%20of%20Blade%20Runner%20-%20Douglas%20E.%20Williams.pdf |title=Ideology as Dystopia: An Interpretation of "Blade Runner" |work=] |volume=9 |issue=4 |date=October 1988 |pages=381–394 |access-date=October 13, 2015 |jstor=1600763 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160708052749/https://philosophy.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/Ideology%20as%20Dystopia%20-%20An%20Interpretation%20of%20Blade%20Runner%20-%20Douglas%20E.%20Williams.pdf |archive-date=July 8, 2016 |publisher=}}</ref> In ''Postmodern Metanarratives: Blade Runner and Literature in the Age of Image'', Décio Torres Cruz analyzes the philosophical and psychological issues and the literary influences in ''Blade Runner''. He examines the film's cyberpunk and ] elements by establishing a link between the Biblical, classical and modern traditions and the postmodern aspects in the film's collage of several literary texts.<ref name="Torres Cruz 2014">{{Cite book |last=Torres Cruz |first=Décio |url=https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781137439727 |title=Postmodern Metanarratives: Blade Runner and Literature in the Age of Image |date=2014 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK |isbn=978-1-137-43972-7 |language=en|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009064728/https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781137439727|url-status=live}}</ref>

The boom in home video formats helped establish a growing cult around the film,<ref name=":0">Dalton, Stephen (October 26, 2016). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015064343/http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/features/blade-runner |date=October 15, 2017 }}. ].</ref> which scholars have dissected for its dystopic aspects, questions regarding "authentic" humanity, ] aspects<ref>{{citation |last=Jenkins |first=Mary |url=http://trumpeter.athabascau.ca/index.php/trumpet/article/view/172/210 |year=1997 |title=The Dystopian World of Blade Runner: An Ecofeminist Perspective |journal=Trumpeter |volume=14 |issue=4 |access-date=October 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914233708/http://trumpeter.athabascau.ca/index.php/trumpet/article/view/172/210 |archive-date=September 14, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and use of conventions from multiple genres.<ref>{{citation |last1=Doll |first1=Susan |last2=Faller |first2=Greg |url=https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P3-1314619891/blade-runner-and-genre-film-noir-and-science-fiction |title=Blade Runner and Genre: Film Noir and Science Fiction |work=Literature Film Quarterly |year=1986 |volume=14 |issue=2 |access-date=October 13, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151013050150/https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P3-1314619891/blade-runner-and-genre-film-noir-and-science-fiction |archive-date=October 13, 2015}}</ref> Popular culture began to reassess its impact as a classic several years after it was released.<ref>Gray, Tim (June 24, 2017). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705010740/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/blade-runner-1982-unloved-classic-1202476755/ |date=July 5, 2017 }}. '']''.</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Shone |first=Tom |title=Woman: The Other Alien in Alien |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2012/06/prometheus_why_are_academics_so_obsessed_with_ridley_scott_s_alien_and_its_sequels_.html |date=June 6, 2012 |work=] |url-status=live |archive-url= http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20160424231545/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2012/06/prometheus_why_are_academics_so_obsessed_with_ridley_scott_s_alien_and_its_sequels_.html |archive-date=April 24, 2016}}</ref><ref name="indiewire">{{citation |last=Jagernauth |first=Kevin |title=''Blade Runner'' Is Almost a Religion for Me: Denis Villeneuve Talks Directing the Sci-fi Sequel |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/blade-runner-is-almost-a-religion-for-me-denis-villeneuve-talks-directing-the-sci-fi-sequel-20150428 |access-date=October 12, 2015 |work=] |date=April 28, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001045525/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/blade-runner-is-almost-a-religion-for-me-denis-villeneuve-talks-directing-the-sci-fi-sequel-20150428 |archive-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> ] praised the visuals of both the original and the ''Director's Cut'' and recommended it for that reason; however, he found the human story clichéd and a little thin.<ref name="Ebert" /> He later added ''The Final Cut'' to his "Great Movies" list.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-blade-runner-the-final-cut-1982 |title=''Blade Runner: The Final Cut'' Movie Review (1982) |last=Ebert |first=Roger |work=RogerEbert.com |access-date=June 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160627095550/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-blade-runner-the-final-cut-1982 |archive-date=June 27, 2016}}</ref> Critic Chris Rodley and ] theorized that ''Blade Runner'' changed cinematic and cultural discourse through its image repertoire and subsequent influence on films.<ref>{{citation |last=Rodley |first=Chris |title=''Blade Runner: The Director's Cut'' |url=http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/blade_runner_the_directors_cut/ |access-date=October 14, 2015 |work=frieze |year=1993 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080905211517/http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/blade_runner_the_directors_cut/ |archive-date=September 5, 2008}}</ref> In 2012, '']'' film critic ] surgically analyzed the durability, complexity, screenplay, sets and production dynamics from a personal, three-decade perspective.<ref>, ''Time'', Richard Corliss, June 25, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2017.</ref> ], who directed the sequel, '']'', cites the film as a huge influence for him and many others.<ref name="indiewire" />

It has also been noted for its postmodernist approach and that it contributes to the historical development of modern dystopia in film.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bruno |first=Giuliana |date=1987 |title=Ramble City: Postmodernism and ''Blade Runner'' |journal=October |volume=41 |pages=61–74 |doi=10.2307/778330 |jstor=778330|issn = 0162-2870}}</ref> Furthermore, the futuristic version of Los Angeles has been widely discussed by academics with some comparing it to Milton's descriptions of hell in '']''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Desser |first=David |date=1985 |title=Blade Runner: Science Fiction & Transcendence |journal=Literature/Film Quarterly; Salisbury |volume=13 |pages=172–179 |id={{ProQuest|226985939}}}}</ref> A 2019 retrospective in the ] argued that elements of the film's socio-political themes remained prescient in the real year of the film's setting, such as its depiction of ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnett |first=David |title=Are we living in a Blade Runner world? |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20191111-are-we-living-in-a-blade-runner-world |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630150706/https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20191111-are-we-living-in-a-blade-runner-world |url-status=live }}</ref> From a more philosophical perspective, Alison Landsberg described Scott's direction of the film as a "prosthetic memory"—an action that has never happened and appears to be divorced from lived experience, yet it defines personhood and identity within the wider Blade Runner universe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Landsberg |first=Alison |s2cid=144020560 |date=1995 |title=Prosthetic Memory: Total Recall and Blade Runner |journal=Body & Society |volume=1 |issue=3–4 |pages=175–189 |doi=10.1177/1357034X95001003010}}</ref>

=== Awards and nominations ===

''Blade Runner'' won or received nominations for the following awards:<ref name="NY Times">{{citation |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/5994/Blade-Runner/awards |title=''Blade Runner'' |access-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130517200337/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/5994/Blade-Runner/awards |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=The New York Times |date=2013 |archive-date=May 17, 2013}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
|- |-
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Nominee !! Result
!Year
!Award
!Category – Recipient(s)
|- |-
|1982 | rowspan="2"| 1982
| ]
|Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award
|Best Cinematography ] | Best Cinematography
| rowspan="3"| ]
| {{nom}}
|- |-
| ]
| rowspan=3 |1983
| ]
| rowspan=3 |] Film Award
| {{won}}
| Best Cinematography – Jordan Cronenweth
|- |-
| rowspan="18"| 1983
| Best Costume Design – Charles Knode, ]
| rowspan="8"| ]
| ]
| {{won}}
|- |-
| ]
| Best Production Design/Art Direction – ]
| Charles Knode and ]
| {{won}}
|- |-
| ]
|1983
|] | ]
| {{nom}}
|Best Dramatic Presentation
|- |-
| ]
|1983
| ]
|London Critics Circle Film Awards – Special Achievement Award
| {{nom}}
|Lawrence G. Paull, Douglas Trumbull, Syd Mead – For their visual concept (technical prize).
|-
| ]
| ]
| {{nom}}
|-
| ]
| ]
| {{won}}
|-
| ]
| Peter Pennell, Bud Alper, Graham V. Hartstone, and Gerry Humphreys
| {{nom}}
|-
| ]
| ], ], and David Dryer
| {{nom}}
|-
| ]
| ]
|
| {{won}}
|-
| ]
| Special Achievement Award
| Lawrence G. Paull, Douglas Trumbull, and Syd Mead
| {{won}}
|-
| ]s
| ]
| Vangelis
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| ]
| ]
| Lawrence G. Paull, ], and ]
| {{nom}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8OGeLuQ9aA |title=Gandhi Wins Art Direction and Cinematography: 1983 Oscars |date=January 3, 2014 |via=www.youtube.com|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803090532/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8OGeLuQ9aA|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| ]
| Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich, and ]
| {{nom}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983 |title=The 55th Academy Awards &#124; 1983 |website=Oscars.org &#124; Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|date=October 5, 2014 |access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417061022/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIM6pVe9V9U |title=E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Wins Visual Effects: 1983 Oscars |date=April 28, 2014 |via=www.youtube.com|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806161837/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIM6pVe9V9U|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="4"| ]
| ]
| ]
| {{nom}}
|-
| ]
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| ]
| Douglas Trumbull and Richard Yuricich
| {{nom}}
|-
| ]
| ]
| {{nom}}
|-
| ]
| International Fantasy Film Award
| Ridley Scott
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1993
| ]
| International Fantasy Film Award
| Best Film&nbsp;– Ridley Scott (Director's Cut)
| {{nom}}
|-
| ]
| rowspan=2| ]
| Best Genre Video Release
| ''Blade Runner'' (Director's Cut)
| {{nom}}
|-
| ]
| ]
| ''Blade Runner'' (5-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition)
| {{won}}
|} |}


== Themes ==
It has been nominated for the following awards:<ref name="NY Times">{{cite web |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/5994/Blade-Runner/awards |title=NY Times: Blade Runner |accessdate=2009-01-01|work=NY Times}}</ref>
{{Main|Themes in Blade Runner}}
*] (1983)
The film operates on multiple dramatic and narrative levels. It employs some of the conventions of ], among them the character of a '']''; narration by the protagonist (in the original release); ] cinematography; and giving the hero a questionable moral outlook&nbsp;– extended to include reflections upon the nature of his own humanity.<ref name="Barlow">Barlow, Aaron "Reel Toads and Imaginary Cities: Philip K. Dick, ''Blade Runner'' and the Contemporary Science Fiction Movie" in {{harvnb|Brooker|pp=43–58}}.</ref><ref>Jermyn, Deborah "The Rachael Papers: In Search of ''Blade Runner''s Femme Fatale" in {{harvnb|Brooker|pp=159–172}}.</ref> It is a literate science fiction film, thematically enfolding the philosophy of religion and moral implications of human mastery of ] in the context of ] and ].<ref>{{citation |url=http://trumpeter.athabascau.ca/index.php/trumpet/article/view/172/210 |title=The Dystopian World of ''Blade Runner'': An Ecofeminist Perspective |access-date=July 27, 2011 |journal=Trumpeter |last=Jenkins |first=Mary |year=1997 |volume=14 |issue=4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214004426/http://trumpeter.athabascau.ca/index.php/trumpet/article/view/172/210 |archive-date=February 14, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> It also draws on Biblical images, such as ],<ref>Kerman, Judith B. "Post-Millennium ''Blade Runner''" in {{harvnb|Brooker|pp=31–39}}.</ref> and literary sources, such as '']''<ref name="Alessio">Alessio, Dominic "Redemption, 'Race', Religion, Reality and the Far-Right: Science Fiction Film Adaptations of Philip K. Dick" in {{harvnb|Brooker|pp=59–76}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Harley |first1=Alexis |title=America, a prophecy: when Blake meets ''Blade Runner'' |journal=Sydney Studies in English |date=December 24, 2020 |volume=31 |pages=61–75 |url=https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/ielapa.200601721 |oclc=107741379 |access-date=January 29, 2022 |archive-date=February 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210000145/https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/ielapa.200601721 |url-status=live }}</ref> Although Scott said any similarity was merely coincidental,{{sfn|Sammon|p=384}} fans claimed that the chess game between Sebastian and Tyrell was based on the famous ] of 1851.<ref>{{cite web |last=Edwards |first=Jacob |title='A Most Unconvincing Replicant: Allegory and Intelligence in Blade Runner's Chess Game', by Jacob Edwards |url=https://www.regencychess.co.uk/blog/2016/05/chess-in-film/ |work=The Lifted Brow |date=December 27, 2013 |access-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406231358/https://www.regencychess.co.uk/blog/2016/05/chess-in-film/ |archive-date=April 6, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
**Best Art Direction-Set Decoration – ], ], ]
**Best Effects, Visual Effects – Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich, David Dryer
*] (1983)
**Best Film Editing – ]
**Best Make Up Artist – ]
**Best Score – Vangelis
**Best Sound – Peter Pennell, Bud Alper, Graham V. Hartstone, Gerry Humphreys
**Best Special Visual Effects – ], ], ]
*British Society of Cinematographers: Best Cinematography Award (1982) – ]
*]
**International Fantasy Film Award (1983) – Best Film – Ridley Scott
**International Fantasy Film Award (1993) – Best Film – Ridley Scott (Director's cut)
*]: Best Original Score (1983) – Motion Picture – Vangelis
*] (1983)
**Best Science Fiction Film
**Best Director – Ridley Scott
**Best Special Effects – Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich
**Best Supporting Actor – Rutger Hauer
**Best Genre Video Release (1994) – Director's cut


''Blade Runner'' delves into the effects of technology on the environment and society by reaching to the past, using literature, ], classical dramatic themes, and ''film noir'' techniques. This tension between past, present, and future is represented in the "retrofitted" future depicted in the film, one which is high-tech and gleaming in places but decayed and outdated elsewhere. In an interview with '']'' in 2002, director Ridley Scott described the film as "extremely dark, both literally and metaphorically, with an oddly masochistic feel". He also said that he "liked the idea of exploring pain" in the wake of his brother's death: "When he was ill, I used to go and visit him in London, and that was really traumatic for me."<ref name="scottobserver">{{citation |last=Barber |first=Lynn |title=Scott's Corner |date=January 6, 2002 |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,628186,00.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080720054223/http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0%2C%2C628186%2C00.html |url-status=dead |work=] |location=London |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-date=July 20, 2008}}</ref>
===Current rankings===
Current recognitions for ''Blade Runner'' include:
*In 2007, the ] ] it as the 97th greatest film of all time, making it new to the list, having been left off the 1997 version. In 2008, ''Blade Runner'' was voted the sixth best science fiction film ever made as part of the ].<ref>{{cite news | author = ] | title = AFI's 10 Top 10 | date = 2008-06-17 | url = http://www.afi.com/10top10/scifi.html | accessdate=2008-06-18}}</ref>
*Blade Runner is currently ranked the third best film of all time by The Screen Directory.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.thescreendirectory.com/cat4/top_tens.php?c=60|title=Top Ten Films of All Time|accessdate=2007-09-26|publisher=The Screen Directory}}</ref>
*One of '']'''s 100 All-Time best movies.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.time.com/time/2005/100movies/0,23220,blade_runner,00.html|title=All-Time 100 movies: Blade Runner (1982)|publisher=Time Inc|accessdate=2007-10-07|date=2005}}</ref>
*British movie magazine '']'' voted it the "Best Science Fiction Film Ever" in 2007.
*In 2002, ''Blade Runner'' was voted the 8th greatest film of all time in ]'s 100 Greatest Films poll.
*''New Scientist'' readers voted it as the film in October 2008.


A sense of foreboding and paranoia pervades the world of the film: corporate power looms large; the police seem omnipresent; vehicle and warning lights probe into buildings; and the consequences of huge biomedical power over the individual are explored&nbsp;–
==Cultural influence==
especially regarding replicants' implanted memories. The film depicts a world post ], where warfare and capitalism have led to destruction of 'normal' ecological systems.<ref>{{citation |last=Leaver |first=Tama |title=Post-Humanism and Ecocide in William Gibson's ''Neuromancer'' and Ridley Scott's ''Blade Runner'' |url=http://project.cyberpunk.ru/idb/post-humanism_and_ecocide.html |year=1997 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703104841/http://project.cyberpunk.ru/idb/post-humanism_and_ecocide.html |archive-date=July 3, 2013 |via=The Cyberpunk Project}}{{self-published source|date=February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Avenging nature: the role of nature in modern and contemporary art and literature |date=2020 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-1-79362-145-0 |editor-last=Valls Oyarzun |editor-first=Eduardo |series=Ecocritical theory and practice |location=Lanham Boulder NewYork London |chapter=13 |editor-last2=Gualberto Valverde |editor-first2=Rebeca |editor-last3=Malla García |editor-first3=Noelia |editor-last4=Colom Jiménez |editor-first4=María |editor-last5=Cordero Sánchez |editor-first5=Rebeca}}</ref> Control over the environment is exercised on a vast scale, and goes hand in hand with the absence of any natural life; for example, artificial animals stand in for their extinct predecessors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Representations of Ecocide in Blade Runner and Neuromancer |url=http://project.cyberpunk.ru/idb/post-humanism_and_ecocide.html |access-date=June 21, 2023 |website=project.cyberpunk.ru |archive-date=July 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703104841/http://project.cyberpunk.ru/idb/post-humanism_and_ecocide.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This oppressive backdrop explains the frequently referenced migration of humans to "off-world" (extraterrestrial) colonies. Eyes are a recurring motif, as are manipulated images, calling into question the nature of reality and our ability to accurately perceive and remember it.{{sfn|Bukatman|p=9–11}}<ref>Heldreth, Leonard G. "The Cutting Edges of ''Blade Runner''" in {{Harvp|Kerman|1991|p=44}}</ref> The film also consists of themes of Japan as a power, coming amid a time of ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cheded |first=Farah |date=June 29, 2017 |title=Quite an Experience to Live in Fear: An In-Depth Look at How the Anxieties that Inspired 'Blade Runner' Fare Today |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/blade-runner-anxieties-today/ |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=Film School Rejects |language=en-US}}</ref>
] flying beside huge advertising-laden skyscrapers. These ] are benchmarks that have influenced many subsequent science-fiction films.]]


These thematic elements provide an atmosphere of uncertainty for ''Blade Runner''{{'}}s central theme of examining humanity. In order to discover replicants, an empathy test is used, with a number of its questions focused on the treatment of animals&nbsp;– seemingly an essential indicator of one's "humanity". Replicants will not respond the same way humans would, showing a lack of concern. The film goes so far as to question if Deckard might be a replicant, in the process asking the audience to re-evaluate what it means to be human.<ref>Gwaltney, Marilyn. "Androids as a Device for Reflection on Personhood" in {{Harvp|Kerman|1991|p=32–39}}</ref>
While not initially a success with North American audiences, the film was popular internationally and became a ].<ref>Sammon, pp. 318–329</ref> The film's dark style and futuristic design have served as a benchmark and its influence can be seen in many subsequent science fiction films, ], video games, and television programs.<ref name="Barlow" /> For example, ] and ], the producers of the re-imagining of '']'', have both cited ''Blade Runner'' as one of the major influences for the show. ''Blade Runner'' continues to reflect modern trends and concerns, and an increasing number consider it one of the greatest science fiction films of all time.<ref>{{citation
| author=Jha, Alok; Rogers, Simon; Rutherford, Adam
| date=2004-08-26
| accessdate=2006-11-14
| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/feature/story/0,13026,1290561,00.html
| title=Our expert panel votes for the top 10 sci-fi films
| work=Guardian Unlimited
| publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited
}}</ref> The film was selected for preservation in the United States ] in 1993 and is frequently used in ] courses.<ref>{{citation|author=Rapold, Nicolas|url=http://www.nysun.com/article/63805|title=Aren't We All Just Replicants on the Inside?|date=2007-10-02|journal=The New York Sun |accessdate=2007-10-04}}</ref> In 2007, it was named the 2nd most visually influential film of all time by the ].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/documents/ves50revelfin.pdf|accessdate=2008-01-29|format=PDF|publisher=Visual Effects Society|title=The Visual Effects Society Unveils "50 Most Influential Visual Effects Films of All Time"}}</ref>


The question of whether Deckard is intended to be a human or a replicant has been an ongoing controversy since the film's release.{{sfn|Bukatman|p=80–83}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/deckard-replicant-history-blade-runners-enduring-mystery/ |title=Is Deckard a Replicant? The history of Blade Runner's most enduring mystery |work=] |author=Tristram Fane Saunders |date=October 5, 2017 |access-date=March 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311132411/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/deckard-replicant-history-blade-runners-enduring-mystery/ |archive-date=March 11, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Both Michael Deeley and Harrison Ford wanted Deckard to be human, while Hampton Fancher preferred ambiguity.{{sfn|Sammon|p=362}} Ridley Scott has stated that in his vision, Deckard is a replicant.<ref>{{citation |editor-last=Peary |editor-first=Danny |year=1984 |title=''Omni''<nowiki />'s Screen Flights, Screen Fantasies: The Future According to Science Fiction |chapter=Directing ''Alien'' and ''Blade Runner'': An Interview with Ridley Scott |publisher=] / ] |pages= |isbn=978-0-385-19202-6 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/omnisscreenfligh00pear/page/293}}</ref><ref name="nytkaplan">{{citation |access-date=July 27, 2011 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/movies/30kapl.html |title=A Cult Classic Restored, Again |last=Kaplan |first=Fred |date=September 30, 2007 |work=The New York Times |quote=The film's theme of dehumanization has also been sharpened. What has been a matter of speculation and debate is now a certainty: Deckard, the replicant-hunting cop, is himself a replicant. Mr. Scott confirmed this: 'Yes, he's a replicant. He was always a replicant.' |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180205073914/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/movies/30kapl.html |archive-date=February 5, 2018}}</ref> Deckard's unicorn-dream sequence, inserted into Scott's ''Director's Cut'' and concomitant with Gaff's parting gift of an origami unicorn, is seen by many as showing that Deckard is a replicant&nbsp;– because Gaff could have retrieved Deckard's implanted memories.<ref name="Alessio" /><ref name="scott2017">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/blade-runner-questions-may-have-seeing-sequel/ |title=What is a Blade Runner? And other questions you may have before seeing the sequel |author=Adam White |date=October 2, 2017 |work=] |access-date=March 11, 2019 |quote= Gaff, at the very end, leaves an origami, which is a piece of silver paper you might find in a cigarette packet, and it's a unicorn. Now, the unicorn in Deckard's daydream tells me that Deckard wouldn't normally talk about such a thing to anyone. If Gaff knew about that, it's Gaff's message to say, 'I've read your file, mate.' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329195134/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/blade-runner-questions-may-have-seeing-sequel/ |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/825641.stm |title=''Blade Runner'' riddle solved |date=July 9, 2000 |work=] |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140406230204/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/825641.stm |archive-date=April 6, 2014}}</ref> The interpretation that Deckard is a replicant is challenged by others who believe the unicorn imagery shows that the characters, whether human or replicant, share the same dreams and recognize their affinity,<ref>Brooker, Peter "Imagining the Real: ''Blade Runner'' and Discourses on the Postmetropolis" in {{harvnb|Brooker|pp=9, 222}}.</ref> or that the absence of a decisive answer is crucial to the film's main theme.{{sfn|Bukatman|p=83}} The film's inherent ambiguity and uncertainty, as well as its textual richness, have permitted multiple interpretations.<ref>Hills, Matt "Academic Textual Poachers: ''Blade Runner'' as Cult Canonical Film" in {{harvnb|Brooker|pp=124–141}}.</ref>
''Blade Runner'' is one of the most musically ] films of the 20th century,<ref>{{citation
| author=Cigéhn, Peter
| date=2004-09-01
| url=http://web.archive.org/web/20041013041105/www.sloth.org/samples-bin/samples/source?summary
| publisher=sloth.org
| title=The Top 1319 Sample Sources (version 60)
}}</ref> and inspired the ] nominated song "]" by ].<ref name="WhiteZombie">{{cite web |url=http://www.videosift.com/video/White-Zombie-More-Human-Than-Human |title=White Zombie—More Human Than Human |accessdate=2008-02-24 |work=}}</ref> ] DJ and producer ] used elements of "Blade Runner Blues" for his track "The Angels Fell", which was featured on the 1996 ] compilation ''Platinum Breakz''. Leon's line "Let me tell you about my mother" was sampled by ] on his song "Aftermath", which was featured on his 1996 album '']''.


== Legacy ==
''Blade Runner'' has influenced ]s, such as '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']'', the anime series '']'', the ] '']'', the ] '']'', and the '']'' series of video games. The film is also cited as the a major influence on ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.04/gurus.html |title=Wired Magazine: Gaming Gurus, Issue 14.04 |publisher=Condé Nast Company |date=2006-04-01 |accessdate=2009-08-28}}</ref> designer of the computer-game '']'', which both in its visual rendering and plot displays evidence of the film's influence. The look of the film (darkness, neon lights and opacity of vision) is easier to ] than complicated backdrops, making it a popular choice for game designers.<ref name="Atkins">{{citation | last=Atkins | first=Barry | contribution=Replicating the Blade Runner|year=2005|title=The Blade Runner Experience|editor-last=Brooker|editor-first=Will|pages=79–91|publisher=Wallflower|place=London|id=ISBN 1-904764-30-4}}</ref><ref name="Tosca">{{citation|last=Tosca|first=Susana P.|contribution=Implanted Memories, or the Illusion of Free Action|year=2005|title=The Blade Runner Experience|editor-last=Brooker|editor-first=Will|pages=92–107|publisher=Wallflower|place=London|id=ISBN 1-904764-30-4}}</ref>


=== Cultural impact ===
''Blade Runner'' has also been the subject of ], such as the comics ''Blade Bummer'' by ] comics,<ref>{{citation|author=Kissell, Gerry|url=http://media.bladezone.com/contents/publications/magazines/crazy/|title=Crazy: Blade Runner Parody|publisher=Blade Zone: The Online Blade Runner Fan Club|accessdate=2008-02-05}}</ref> ''Bad Rubber'' by ],<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=37533#5|title=The Grand Comics Database Project|accessdate=2008-01-29|work=Bad Rubber |author=Gallacci, Steven A|publisher=Grand Comic-Book Database}}</ref> and the '']'' special episodes, "]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dave.uktv.co.uk/library/red-dwarf/red-dwarf-blade-runner-beyond/ |title=Red Dwarf movie influences: Blade Runner & beyond |publisher=Dave.uktv.co.uk |date=2009-04-20 |accessdate=2009-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
{{See also|Tears in rain monologue}}
|url=http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=121&title=red_dwarf_back_to_earth_this_weekend_s_e_1&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 |title='Red Dwarf: Back To Earth' – This Weekend's Essential Viewing – NME Video Blog – NME.COM |publisher=www.nme.com |accessdate=2009-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Dwarf-Back-Earth-DVD/dp/B001UHO102
|title=Red Dwarf – Back To Earth – Director's Cut DVD 2009: Amazon.co.uk: Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Chris Barrie, Robert Llewellyn, Doug Naylor: DVD |publisher=www.amazon.co.uk
|accessdate=2009-06-16}}</ref>


]
===''Blade Runner'' curse===
]
Among the ] that has grown up around the film over the years has been the belief that the film was a curse to the companies whose ]s were displayed prominently as ]s in some scenes.<ref>Sammon, p. 104</ref> While they were market leaders at the time, many of them experienced disastrous setbacks over the next decade and hardly exist today. ], which at one time was the U.S. leading consumer electronics and communications conglomerate, was bought out by one-time parent ] in 1985, and dismantled. ], which dominated the ] market when the film came out, never recovered from ] in the industry, and by the 1990s had ceased to exist as anything more than a brand, a ] of games and some ]s. The Atari of today is an entirely different firm, using the former company's name. ] similarly went bankrupt in 1989, though it lives on under new ownership. The ] ] was broken up that same year, and most of the resulting ] have since changed their names and ] back with each other and other companies to form the new AT&T. ] suffered the terrorist bombing/destruction of ] and after a decade of mounting losses, finally went ] in 1991 with the falloff in overseas travel caused by the Gulf War. ] suffered losses during its failed introduction of ] in 1985, but soon afterward regained its market share.<ref>Chapman, Murray. (1992–1998) Murray Chapman, University of Queensland. Retrieved on 2008-01-30</ref> Its continued success has made Coca-Cola one of several exceptions to the ''Blade Runner'' curse; also appearing in the film are logos for ], and the electronics company ], which continue to thrive in contemporary markets.


While not initially a success with North American audiences, ''Blade Runner'' was popular internationally and garnered a ].{{sfn|Sammon|p=318–329}} The film's dark style and futuristic designs have served as a benchmark and its influence can be seen in many subsequent science fiction films, ]s, ], and television programs.<ref name="Barlow" /> Its influence has also extended beyond the science fiction genre, especially in the creation of cinematic worlds. For example, ], ], ], ],<ref name=":1">Total Film, Issue 343, November 2023</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P93l1aBwLH8 | title=Rian Johnson on Looper: Plot, Influences, and Sequel Potential | website=] | date=October 2012 }}</ref> ] and ]<ref>{{cite interview |last=Moore |first=Ronald D. |subject-link=Ronald D. Moore |interviewer=Daniel Solove, Deven Desai and David Hoffman |title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Interview |last2=Eick |first2=David |url=http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2008/03/battlestar_gala_5.html |access-date=October 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101202913/http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2008/03/battlestar_gala_5.html |archive-date=November 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |work=Concurring Opinions |date=February 21, 2008 |subject-link2=David Eick}}</ref> have all cited it as an influence.<ref name=vanity/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2015/07/30/exclusive-christopher-nolan-talks-batman-begins-10th-anniversary/ |title=Exclusive: Christopher Nolan Talks 'Batman Begins' 10th Anniversary |work=Forbes |last=Hughes |first=Mark |date=July 30, 2015 |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/denis-villeneuve-favorite-movies/mcdtene-wb006/ |title=Denis Villeneuve's Favorite Movies: 29 Films the Director Wants You to See |work=IndieWire |last1=Sharf |first1=Zac |last2=Foreman |first2=Alison |last3=Zilko |first3=Christian |date=February 26, 2023 |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref> Nolan notes that he has seen ''Blade Runner'' "literally hundreds of times",<ref name=":1" /> while del Toro describes it as "one of those cinematic drugs, that when I first saw it, I never saw the world the same way again."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/blade-runner-influence-cyberpunk-sci-fi-ridley-scott-1201883053 | title=How Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner' Changed the Look of Cinematic Sci-Fi Forever | date=October 3, 2017 }}</ref>
===''Future Noir''===
Before the film's ] began, '']'' magazine commissioned Paul M. Sammon to write an article about ''Blade Runner'''s production, which became the book '']'' (referred to as the "''Blade Runner'' Bible" by many of the film's fans).<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.brmovie.com/Encyclopedia/PQRST.HTML|title=BRmovie.com: Encyclopedia Blade Runner|accessdate=2008-01-22|publisher=BRmovie.com}}</ref> The book chronicles the evolution of ''Blade Runner'' as a film, and focuses on film-set politics, especially the British director's experiences with his first American film crew, of which producer ] has said, "Harrison wouldn't speak to Ridley and Ridley wouldn't speak to Harrison. By the end of the shoot Ford was 'ready to kill Ridley', said one colleague. He really would have taken him on if he hadn't been talked out of it."<ref> {{citation
| last=Shone
| first=Tom
| date=2004
| title=Blockbuster
| isbn = 0743239903
| place=
| publisher=Simon & Schuster
| pages=
| chapter=
}}</ref> ''Future Noir'' has short ] and quotations about their experiences in making ''Blade Runner'', as well as many photographs of the film's production, and preliminary sketches. The cast chapter was deleted from the first edition; it is available online. A second edition of ''Future Noir'' was published in 2007.<ref>{{citation|url=http://scribble.com/uwi/br/fn/ |title=Future Noir: Lost Chapters|publisher=2019:Lost Worlds|accessdate=2008-02-05}}</ref>


The film was selected for preservation in the United States ] in 1993 and is frequently taught in university courses.<ref>{{citation |title=Aren't We All Just Replicants on the Inside? |date=October 2, 2007 |url=http://www.nysun.com/article/63805 |last=Rapold |first=Nicolas |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080905003256/http://www.nysun.com/article/63805 |work=The New York Sun |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-date=September 5, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Librarian Announces National Film Registry Selections |date=March 7, 1994 |journal=Library of Congress Information Bulletin |url=https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/94/9405/film.html|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308154357/https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/94/9405/film.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Complete National Film Registry Listing |website=Film Registry {{!}} National Film Preservation Board {{!}} Programs at the Library of Congress {{!}} Library of Congress|url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031213743/https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, it was named the second-most visually influential film of all time by the ].<ref>{{citation |title=The Visual Effects Society Unveils '50 Most Influential Visual Effects Films of All Time' |url=http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/system/files/15/files/ves50revelfin.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120604101515/http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/system/files/15/files/ves50revelfin.pdf |publisher=Visual Effects Society |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref> The film has also been the subject of parody, such as the comics ''Blade Bummer'' by '']'' comics,<ref>{{citation |title=Crazy: ''Blade Runner'' Parody |url=http://media.bladezone.com/contents/publications/magazines/crazy |last=Kissell |first=Gerry |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140428173626/http://media.bladezone.com/contents/publications/magazines/crazy/ |work=BladeZone |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> ''Bad Rubber'' by ],<ref>{{citation |title=''Albedo'' #0 |work=] Project |url=http://www.comics.org/issue/37533/#218913 |last=Gallacci |first=Steven A. |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140406234202/http://www.comics.org/issue/37533/ |at="Bad Rubber" section |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-date=April 6, 2014}}</ref> and the '']'' 2009 three-part miniseries "]".<ref>{{citation |title=''Red Dwarf: Back To Earth''&nbsp;– This Weekend's Essential Viewing&nbsp;– NME Video Blog |url=https://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=121&title=red_dwarf_back_to_earth_this_weekend_s_e_1&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 |last=Howard |first=Rob |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121011201714/http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=121&title=red_dwarf_back_to_earth_this_weekend_s_e_1&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 |work=] |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-date=October 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=''Red Dwarf: Back to Earth''&nbsp;– Director's Cut DVD 2009: Amazon.co.uk: Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Chris Barrie, Robert Llewellyn, Doug Naylor: DVD |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Dwarf-Back-Earth-DVD/dp/B001UHO102 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090614131802/http://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Dwarf-Back-Earth-DVD/dp/B001UHO102 |archive-date=June 14, 2009 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=June 15, 2009}}</ref> The anime series '']'' by ] was also highly influenced by the film.<ref name="panel">{{cite news |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2013/sakura-con/5 |title=Directors's Panel with Katsuyuki Motohiro, Naoyoshi Shiotani, and Atsuko Ishizuka |date=March 30, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2013 |work=] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231145932/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2013/sakura-con/5 |archive-date=December 31, 2013}}</ref>
==Versions==
{{main|Versions of Blade Runner}}
Seven different versions of ''Blade Runner'' have been shown:


''Blade Runner'' continues to reflect modern trends and concerns, and an increasing number of critics consider it one of the greatest science fiction films of all time.<ref>{{citation |last1=Jha |first1=Alok |last2=Rogers |first2=Simon |last3=Rutherford |first3=Adam |date=August 26, 2004 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/life/feature/story/0,13026,1290561,00.html |title='I've seen things...': Our expert panel votes for the top 10 sci-fi films |newspaper=] |location=London |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070513161801/http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/feature/story/0%2C13026%2C1290561%2C00.html |archive-date=May 13, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was voted the best science fiction film ever made in a 2004 poll of 60 eminent world scientists.<ref>{{citation |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3600802.stm |title=''Blade Runner'' tops scientist poll |work=BBC News |date=August 26, 2004 |access-date=September 22, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140513202114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3600802.stm |archive-date=May 13, 2014}}</ref> ''Blade Runner'' is also cited as an important influence to both the style and story of the '']'' franchise, which itself has been highly influential to the future-noir genre.<ref>{{citation |title=''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence'' |first=Jim |last=Omura |date=September 16, 2004 |work=] |url=http://www.fpsmagazine.com/review/040916innocence.php |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193102/http://www.fpsmagazine.com/review/040916innocence.php |archive-date=October 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Hollywood is haunted by ''Ghost in the Shell'' |first=Steve |last=Rose |newspaper=The Guardian |date=October 19, 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/19/hollywood-ghost-in-the-shell |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130308101232/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/oct/19/hollywood-ghost-in-the-shell |archive-date=March 8, 2013}}</ref> ''Blade Runner'' has been very influential to the ] movement.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Coplan |first1=Amy |last2=Davies |first2=David |title=''Blade Runner'' |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-23144-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XOMjCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT20 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225131828/https://books.google.com/books?id=XOMjCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT20 |archive-date=February 25, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Booker |first=M. Keith |title=Alternate Americas: Science Fiction Film and American Culture |date=2006 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-275-98395-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CVvb6gfT4o4C&pg=PA185 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226180206/https://books.google.com/books?id=CVvb6gfT4o4C&pg=PA185 |archive-date=February 26, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Milner |first=Andrew |title=Literature, Culture and Society |date=2005 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-0-415-30785-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rOmYospPvfwC&pg=PA266 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225131828/https://books.google.com/books?id=rOmYospPvfwC&pg=PA266 |archive-date=February 25, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Brown |first=Steven T. |title=Tokyo Cyberpunk: Posthumanism in Japanese Visual Culture |date=2016 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-0-230-11006-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W_0YDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT10 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225131828/https://books.google.com/books?id=W_0YDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT10 |archive-date=February 25, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> It also influenced the ] ], which revolves around ] and ].<ref name="scifi">{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Josh |title=What Is Biopunk? |url=http://sciencefiction.com/2011/09/18/what-is-biopunk/ |access-date=June 20, 2015 |date=September 18, 2011 |work=ScienceFiction.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602151222/http://sciencefiction.com/2011/09/18/what-is-biopunk/ |archive-date=June 2, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Wohlsen |first=Marcus |title=Biopunk: Solving Biotech's Biggest Problems in Kitchens and Garages |publisher=] |date=2011 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bpptCOi3G_AC&pg=PT15 |isbn=978-1-61723-002-8 |access-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020232507/https://books.google.com/books?id=bpptCOi3G_AC&pg=PT15 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film is also considered to be one of the early examples of the ]<ref name="sherlock">{{cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/80s-movie-invented-tech-noir/ |title=One Movie Both Invented and Perfected the Tech Noir |work=] |first=Ben |last=Sherlock |date=February 21, 2021 |access-date=November 4, 2023 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826044939/https://gamerant.com/80s-movie-invented-tech-noir/ |url-status=live }}</ref> subgenre.
]
]


The dialogue and music in ''Blade Runner'' has been ] in music more than any other film of the 20th century.<ref>{{citation |date=September 1, 2004 |last=Cigéhn |first=Peter |title=The Top 1319 Sample Sources (version 60) |url=http://semimajor.net/samples/sourcelist_20041019.txt |url-status=live |access-date=July 27, 2011 |work=Sloth.org |via=Semimajor.net |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131027045655/http://semimajor.net/samples/sourcelist_20041019.txt |archive-date=October 27, 2013}}</ref> The 2009 album '']'' by Singaporean band ] makes numerous references to the genetic engineering and cloning themes from the film, and even features a track titled "Replicant".<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=5620 |title=Deus Ex Machina&nbsp;– ''I, Human'' Review |work=The Metal Crypt |date=February 22, 2010 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140407014949/http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=5620 |archive-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
#Original '''workprint version''' (1982, 113 minutes) shown to audience test previews in Denver and Dallas in March 1982. It was also seen in 1990 and 1991 in Los Angeles and San Francisco as a ''Director's Cut'' without Scott's approval. Negative responses to the test previews led to the modifications resulting in the U.S. theatrical version,<ref>{{citation|author=Kaplan, Fred|title=A Cult Classic, Restored Again|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/movies/30kapl.html|newspaper=New York Times|date=2007-09-30|accessdate=2008-01-21}}</ref><ref>Sammon, pg. 289</ref> while positive response to the showings in 1990 and 1991 pushed the studio to approve work on an official director's cut.<ref>Bukatman, p. 37</ref> It was re-released with 5-disc Ultimate Edition in 2007.
#A '''San Diego Sneak Preview''' shown only once in May 1982, which was almost identical to the ''Domestic Cut'' with three extra scenes.<ref>Sammon, pp. 306 and 309–311</ref>
#The '''U.S. theatrical version''' (1982, 116 minutes), known as the original version or ''Domestic Cut'', released on ] and ] in 1983 and ] in 1987.
#The '''International Cut''' (1982, 117 minutes) also known as the "Criterion Edition" or uncut version, included more violent action scenes than the U.S. theatrical version. Although initially unavailable in the U.S. and distributed in Europe and Asia via theatrical and local Warner Home Video laserdisc releases, it was later released on ] and ] laserdisc in North America, and re-released in 1992 as a "10th Anniversary Edition".<ref>Sammon, pp. 326–329</ref>
#The '''U.S. broadcast version''' (1986, 114 minutes), the U.S. theatrical version edited for violence, ] and ] by ] to meet broadcast restrictions.<ref>Sammon, pp. 407–408 and 432</ref>
#The Ridley Scott-approved (1992, 116 minutes) '''Director's Cut'''; prompted by the unauthorized 1990–1 workprint theatrical release and made available on VHS and laserdisc in 1993, and on DVD in 1997. Significant changes from the theatrical version include: removal of Deckard's voice-over, re-insertion of a unicorn sequence and removal of the studio-imposed happy ending. Ridley did provide extensive notes and consultation to Warner Brothers through film preservationist Michael Arick who was put in charge of creating the Director's Cut.<ref name="Sammon, pp. 353, 365">Sammon, pp. 353, 365</ref>
#Ridley Scott's '''Final Cut''' (2007, 117 minutes), or the "25th Anniversary Edition", released by Warner Bros. theatrically on October 5, 2007, and subsequently released on DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray in December 2007 (U.K. December 3; U.S. December 18).<ref name="thedigitalbits" /> This is the only version over which Ridley Scott had complete artistic control as the ''Director's Cut'' was rushed and he was not directly in charge.<ref name="Sammon, pp. 353, 365" /> In conjunction with the ''Final Cut,'' extensive documentary and other materials were produced for the home video releases culminating in a five-disc "Ultimate Collector's Edition" release by ].<ref name="hunt" />


''Blade Runner'' is cited as a major influence on ],<ref>{{citation |title=Gaming Gurus |volume=14 |issue=4 |date=April 1, 2006 |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.04/gurus.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130903031100/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.04/gurus.html |magazine=] |access-date=August 28, 2009 |archive-date=September 3, 2013}}</ref> designer of the video game '']'', which displays evidence of the film's influence in both its visual rendering and plot. Indeed, the film's look&nbsp;– and in particular its overall darkness, preponderance of neon lights and opaque visuals&nbsp;– are easier to ] than complicated backdrops, making it a popular reference point for video game designers.<ref name="Atkins">Atkins, Barry "Replicating the Blade Runner" in {{harvnb|Brooker|pp=79–91}}.</ref><ref name="Tosca">Tosca, Susana P. "Implanted Memories, or the Illusion of Free Action" in {{harvnb|Brooker|pp=92–107}}.</ref> It has influenced ]s such as the 2012 graphical ] '']'',<ref>{{citation |last=Webster |first=Andrew |title=Cyberpunk meets interactive fiction: The art of ''Cypher'' |work=The Verge |date=October 17, 2012 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/10/17/3513666/cypher-cyberpunk-text-adventure-art |access-date=February 27, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140201201643/http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/17/3513666/cypher-cyberpunk-text-adventure-art |archive-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref> '']'',<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.oldgames.sk/en/game/rise-of-the-dragon/ |title=''Rise of the Dragon'' |work=OldGames.sk |access-date=November 10, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140202094447/http://www.oldgames.sk/en/game/rise-of-the-dragon/ |archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref><ref name="BR Influence">{{Citation |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3165122 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120718134327/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3165122 |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |title=Tracing Replicants: We examine ''Blade Runner''<nowiki />'s influence on games |access-date=November 11, 2010 |work=]}}</ref> '']'',<ref name="BR Influence" /><ref>{{citation |url=http://snatcher.awardspace.co.uk/ |title=''Blade Runner'' and ''Snatcher'' |work=AwardSpace.co.uk |access-date=November 10, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130725184859/http://snatcher.awardspace.co.uk/ |archive-date=July 25, 2013}}</ref> the '']'' series,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nowgamer.com/features/921622/the_top_10_best_game_detectives.html |title=The Top 10 Best Game Detectives |work=NowGamer |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120316140550/http://www.nowgamer.com/features/921622/the_top_10_best_game_detectives.html |archive-date=March 16, 2012 |date=May 16, 2011}}</ref> '']'',<ref>{{citation |url=http://beneath-a-steel-sky.en.softonic.com/ |title=''Beneath a Steel Sky'' |work=Softonic.com |access-date=November 10, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131019221635/http://beneath-a-steel-sky.en.softonic.com/ |archive-date=October 19, 2013}}</ref> '']'',<ref name="BR Influence" /> ] (and their ]),<ref>{{citation |last=Lambie |first=Ryan |work=] |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/673488/bubblegum_crisis_3d_liveaction_movie_on_the_way.html |title=''Bubblegum Crisis'' 3D live-action movie on the way |access-date=November 10, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120104210806/http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/673488/bubblegum_crisis_3d_liveaction_movie_on_the_way.html |archive-date=January 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/11/04/3d-live-action-bubblegum-crisis-movie-gets-a-direcor-and-a-start-date/ |title=3D Live Action ''Bubblegum Crisis'' Movie Gets a Director and a Start Date |work=] |access-date=November 10, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140407010840/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/11/04/3d-live-action-bubblegum-crisis-movie-gets-a-direcor-and-a-start-date/ |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> the ] '']'',<ref name="BR Influence" /> the ] '']'',<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/retrospective-perfect-dark |title=Retrospective: ''Perfect Dark'' |access-date=November 10, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110221031328/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/retrospective-perfect-dark |archive-date=February 21, 2011}}</ref> the ] '']'',<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ripper |first=The |url=https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_2_Issue_12#page/n229/mode/1up |title=Europa! |magazine=] |volume=2 |issue=12 |date=December 1994 |page=214 |access-date=August 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302132752/https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_2_Issue_12#page/n229/mode/1up |archive-date=March 2, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Andy |url=http://www.ataritimes.com/index.php?ArticleIDX=7 |title=Skyhammer – Now here's a game that really soars! |work=The Atari Times |date=June 2, 1996 |access-date=August 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401080034/http://www.ataritimes.com/index.php?ArticleIDX=7 |archive-date=April 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the '']'' series of video games.<ref>{{citation |url=http://syndicate.lubie.org/swars/html/swars_review_schrank.php |title=''Syndicate Wars'': Review |first=Chuck |last=Schrank |work=Gamezilla PC Games |via=Lubie.org |access-date=November 10, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130908204347/http://syndicate.lubie.org/swars/html/swars_review_schrank.php |archive-date=September 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/syndicate/syndicate.htm |title=''Syndicate'' |work=HardcoreGaming101.net |access-date=November 10, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140101235954/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/syndicate/syndicate.htm |archive-date=January 1, 2014}}</ref>
==Documentaries==
;''On the Edge of Blade Runner'' (2000)
''On the Edge of Blade Runner'' (55 minutes) was produced in 2000 by Nobles Gate Ltd. (for ]), was directed by Andrew Abbott and hosted/written by ]. Interviews with production staff, including Scott, give details of the creative process and the turmoil during preproduction. Stories from Paul M. Sammon and Hampton Fancher provide insight into ] and the origins of '']''.


The logos of ], ], ], ], ], and ], all market leaders at the time, were prominently displayed as ] in the film, and all experienced setbacks after the film's release,<ref name="bbcad" /><ref>{{citation |editor1-first=Lukas |editor1-last=Mariman |editor2-last=Chapman |editor2-first=Murray |date=December 2002 |version=4.1 |url=http://faqs.cs.uu.nl/na-dir/movies/blade-runner-faq.html |work=alt.fan.blade-runner |via=FAQs.CS.UU.nl |title=''Blade Runner'': Frequently Asked Questions |access-date=February 4, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180205104301/http://faqs.cs.uu.nl/na-dir/movies/blade-runner-faq.html |archive-date=February 5, 2018}}</ref> leading to suggestions of a ''Blade Runner'' curse.{{sfn|Sammon|p=104}} ] and ] recovered, and ] was also featured in the film and was more successful after the film than before.<ref name="bbcad">{{cite web |title=The curse of Blade Runner's adverts |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/31664223/the-curse-of-blade-runners-adverts |work=BBC Newsbeat |access-date=September 11, 2018 |date=February 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020170630/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/31664223/the-curse-of-blade-runners-adverts |archive-date=October 20, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Interwoven are cast interviews (with the notable exceptions of Harrison Ford and Sean Young), which convey some of the difficulties of making the film (including an exacting director and humid, smoggy weather). There is also a tour of some locations, most notably the ] and the Warner Bros. backlot that became the LA 2019 streets, which look very different from Scott's dark vision.


The design of ] ] was inspired by the film.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/story/why-tesla-cybertruck-looks-weird/ |title=Why the Tesla Cybertruck Looks So Weird |magazine=Wired |access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205134228/https://www.wired.com/story/why-tesla-cybertruck-looks-weird/|archive-date=December 5, 2019|url-status=live |last1=Marshall |first1=Aarian}}</ref> Prior to its release ] promised that it would "look like something out of Blade Runner".<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/blade-runners-syd-mead-says-cybertruck-exceeds-expectations-2019-11 |title=Blade Runner's art director Syd Mead is a huge fan of Tesla's new Cybertruck |first1=Aaron |last1=Holmes |first2=Tyler |last2=Sonnemaker |website=Business Insider|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128173601/https://www.businessinsider.com/blade-runners-syd-mead-says-cybertruck-exceeds-expectations-2019-11|archive-date=November 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Besides referring to the truck as the "Blade Runner Truck", Musk chose to debut the truck in order to coincide with the film's setting of November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/billroberson/2019/11/07/must-be-expensive-very-musk-says-tesla-truck-will-get-reveal-to-coincide-with-blade-runner-date/ |title=Elon Musk Says Tesla Truck Reveal Will Coincide With 'Blade Runner' Date |first=Bill |last=Roberson |website=Forbes|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127164545/https://www.forbes.com/sites/billroberson/2019/11/07/must-be-expensive-very-musk-says-tesla-truck-will-get-reveal-to-coincide-with-blade-runner-date/|archive-date=November 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The film's art designer ] praised the truck and said he was "flattered" by the homage to ''Blade Runner''.<ref name="auto" />
The documentary then details the test screenings and the resulting changes (the voice over, the happy ending, and the deleted Holden hospital scene), the special effects, the soundtrack by Vangelis, and the unhappy relationship between the filmmakers and the investors which culminated in Deeley and Scott being fired but still working on the film. The question of whether or not ] is a replicant surfaces.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=106714|title=On the Edge of Blade Runner|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-01-25}}</ref>


=== Media recognition ===
;''Future Shocks'' (2003)
''Future Shocks'' (27 minutes) is a more recent documentary from 2003 by ] (part of their ''Film 101'' series using footage compiled over the years for ]). It includes interviews with executive producer ], ], and the cast, this time with Sean Young, but still without Harrison Ford. There is extensive commentary by science fiction author ] and from film critics, as the documentary focuses on the themes, visual impact and influence of the film. Edward James Olmos describes Ford's participation, and personal experiences during filming are related by Young, Walsh, Cassidy and Sanderson. They also relate a story about crew members creating T-shirts that took pot shots at Scott. The different versions of the film are critiqued and the accuracy of its predictions of the future are discussed.


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
;''Dangerous Days'' (2007)
|-
''Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner'' is an approximately three and a half hour long documentary directed and produced by ] for the 2007 Final Cut version of the film. It appears with every edition of ''The Final Cut'' on DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray. (It is a DVD format disc, even in the HD DVD and Blu-ray editions). It was culled from over 80 interviews, including Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Rutger Hauer, Edward James Olmos, Jerry Perenchio, Bud Yorkin and Ridley Scott, and also contains several alternate and deleted shots within the context of the documentary itself.<ref>{{citation |url=http://chud.com/articles/articles/11285/1/INTERVIEW-CHARLES-DE-LAUZIRIKA-BLADE-RUNNER/Page1.html |title=Interview: Charles de Lauzirika (Blade Runner)|accessdate=2008-01-29|publisher=CHUD.com|author=Fischer, Russ|date=2007-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://digitalcontentproducer.com/mil/features/video_real_deal_2/index.html|title=Exclusive: The Real Deal: Digital film restoration and a final cut reveal the true Blade Runner|accessdate=2008-01-29|publisher=Penton Media Inc|author=Greer, Darroch|date=2007-07-01}}</ref>
! Year
! Presenter
! Title
! Rank
! {{Abbr|Refs|References}}
|-
| 2001
| '']''
| 100 Best Films of the 20th Century
| 94
|<ref name="village20th">{{citation |url=http://www.filmsite.org/villvoice.html |title=100 Best Films of the 20th Century |last=Hoberman |first=J. |year=2001 |author2=Village Voice Critics' Poll |work=] |via=FilmSite.org |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140331174817/http://www.filmsite.org/villvoice.html |archive-date=March 31, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2002
| ] (OFCS)
| Top 100 Sci-fi Films of the Past 100 Years
| 2
|<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.ofcs.org/2010/09/ofcs-top-100-top-100-sci-fi-films.html |title=OFCS Top 100: Top 100 Sci-Fi Films |work=OFCS.org |publisher=Online Film Critics Society |date=June 12, 2002 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120313182814/http://www.ofcs.org/2010/09/ofcs-top-100-top-100-sci-fi-films.html |archive-date=March 13, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| '']''
| ]
| 45
|<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/topten/poll/critics-long.html |title=Sight & Sound Top Ten Poll 2002 |work=] |via=BFI.org.uk |publisher=] |year=2002 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120515211647/http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/topten/poll/critics-long.html |archive-date=May 15, 2012 |access-date=February 4, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="2"| ''50 Klassiker, Film''
| rowspan="2" {{N/A}}
|<ref>{{Citation |last=Schröder |first=Nicolaus |year=2002 |title=50 Klassiker, Film |publisher=Gerstenberg |language=de |isbn=978-3-8067-2509-4}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2003
| colspan="2"| '']''
|<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.1001beforeyoudie.com/qssUS/1001_movies_us.html |title=1001 Movies to See Before You Die |via=1001BeforeYouDie.com |date=July 22, 2002 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140528161940/http://www.1001beforeyoudie.com/qssUS/1001_movies_us.html |archive-date=May 28, 2014 |access-date=February 4, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| '']''
| The Top 50 Cult Movies
| 9
|<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.filmsite.org/cultfilmsew.html |title=Top 50 Cult Movies |date=May 23, 2003 |magazine=] |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140331185021/http://www.filmsite.org/cultfilmsew.html |archive-date=March 31, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 2004
| '']'', scientists
| Top 10 Sci-fi Films of All Time
| 1
|<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/life/news/page/0,12983,1290764,00.html |title=Top 10 sci-fi films |work=The Guardian |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130725004021/http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/news/page/0%2C12983%2C1290764%2C00.html |archive-date=July 25, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/aug/26/sciencenews.sciencefictionspecial |title=Scientists vote ''Blade Runner'' best sci-fi film of all time |newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 26, 2004 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |first=Alok |last=Jha |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130308101132/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2004/aug/26/sciencenews.sciencefictionspecial |archive-date=March 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/aug/26/sciencefictionspecial2 |title=How we did it |newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 26, 2004 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130726163356/http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2004/aug/26/sciencefictionspecial2 |archive-date=July 26, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2005
| ''Total Film''{{'}}s editors
| 100 Greatest Movies of All Time
| 47
|<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/news/who-is-the-greatest |title=Film news: Who is the greatest? |work=Total Film |publisher=Future Publishing |date=October 24, 2005 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140123115358/http://www.totalfilm.com/news/who-is-the-greatest |archive-date=January 23, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| ]'s critics
| ]
| {{N/A}}
|<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1953094,00.html |title=The Complete List&nbsp;– All-Time 100 Movies |magazine=] |date=May 23, 2005 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110822192250/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0%2C29569%2C1953094%2C00.html |archive-date=August 22, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,1953094,00.html |title=All-Time 100 Movies |magazine=Time |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=February 12, 2005 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110831093529/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0%2C28757%2C1953094%2C00.html |archive-date=August 31, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1953094_1953142_1953314,00.html |title=All-Time 100 Movies: ''Blade Runner'' (1982) |magazine=Time |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=February 12, 2005 |last=Corliss |first=Richard |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110305144029/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1953094_1953142_1953314,00.html |archive-date=March 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2008
| '']''
| All-time favorite science fiction film (readers and staff)
| 1
|<ref>{{citation |title=Sci-fi special: Your all-time favourite science fiction |first=Alison |last=George |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026826.300-scifi-special-your-alltime-favourite-science-fiction.html |work=] |date=November 12, 2008 | access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140406224932/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026826.300-scifi-special-your-alltime-favourite-science-fiction.html |archive-date=April 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=''New Scientist''<nowiki />'s favourite sci-fi film |first=Alison |last=George |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14805-new-scientists-favourite-scifi-film-.html |work=New Scientist |date=October 1, 2008 | access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140406233019/http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14805-new-scientists-favourite-scifi-film-.html |archive-date=April 6, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| '']''
| The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time
| 20
|<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.empireonline.com/500/92.asp |title=''Empire'' Features |work=] |access-date=July 26, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131014063554/http://www.empireonline.com/500/92.asp |archive-date=October 14, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 2010
| '']''
| 100 Greatest Movies of All Time
| {{N/A}}
|<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/features/100-greatest-movies-of-all-time |title=Film Features: 100 Greatest Movies of All Time |work=Total Film |publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131222200551/http://www.totalfilm.com/features/100-greatest-movies-of-all-time |archive-date=December 22, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2012
| ''Sight & Sound''
| Sight & Sound 2012 critics top 250 films
| 69
|<ref>{{citation |url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/sightandsoundpolls/2012/critics/ |year=2012 |title=''Sight & Sound'' 2012 critics top 250 films |work=Sight & Sound |via=BFI.org |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=September 20, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131026034922/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/sightandsoundpolls/2012/critics |archive-date=October 26, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| ''Sight & Sound''
| Sight & Sound 2012 directors top 100 films
| 67
|<ref>{{citation |url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/sightandsoundpolls/2012/directors/ |year=2012 |title=''Sight & Sound'' 2012 directors top 100 films |work=Sight & Sound |via=BFI.org |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=September 20, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140418144845/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/sightandsoundpolls/2012/directors |archive-date=April 18, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 2017
| ''Empire''
| The 100 Greatest Movies Of All Time
| 13
|<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies/ |title=The 100 Greatest Movies |website=Empire |date=March 20, 2018 |access-date=October 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013202030/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies/ |archive-date=October 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-


| 2022
The documentary consists of eight chapters, each covering a portion of the film-making—or in the case of the final chapter, the film's controversial legacy. The chapters and their length:<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.filmedge.net/BladeRunner/BRdvd.htm|title=Blade Runner – The Final Cut: 2-Disc Special Edition DVD Review|accessdate=2008-01-29|publisher=FilmEdge.net|author=Weitz, Scott|date=2007-12-16}}</ref>
| '']''
| Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies of All Time
| 2
|<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/best-sci-fi-movies-of-all-time |title=Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies of All Time |work=] |access-date=June 30, 2022 |date=June 7, 2022 |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630072335/https://www.ign.com/articles/best-sci-fi-movies-of-all-time |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2022
| ''Sight & Sound''
| Sight & Sound 2022 critics top 100 films
| 54
|<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/greatest-films-all-time |title=The Greatest Films of All Time |work=Sight & Sound |access-date=December 24, 2022 |date=December 1, 2022 |archive-date=March 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318214144/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/greatest-films-all-time |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}


==== American Film Institute recognition ====
*Incept Date – 1980: Screenwriting and Dealmaking – ''30:36''
*Blush Response: Assembling the Cast – ''22:46''
*A Good Start: Designing the Future – ''26:34''
*Eye of the Storm: Production Begins – ''28:48''
*Living in Fear: Tension on the Set – ''29:23''
*Beyond the Window: Visual effects – ''28:49''
*In Need of Magic: Post-Production Problems – ''23:05''
*To Hades and Back: Release and Resurrection – ''24:12''


* ]&nbsp;– No. 74
;''All Our Variant Futures'' (2007)
* ]&nbsp;– No. 97
''All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut'' (29 minutes), produced by Paul Prischman, appears on Disc 5 of the ''Blade Runner'' Ultimate Collector's Edition and provides an overview of the film's multiple versions and their origins, as well as detailing the seven year-long restoration, enhancement and remastering process behind ''The Final Cut''. Included are interviews with director Ridley Scott, restoration producer ], restoration consultant Kurt P. Galvao, restoration VFX supervisor John Scheele and ''Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner'' author Paul M. Sammon. Behind-the-scenes footage documenting the restoration—from archival work done in 2001 through the 2007 filming of Joanna Cassidy and Benjamin Ford for ''The Final Cut''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s digital fixes—are seen throughout.<ref name="thedigitalbits" />
* ]&nbsp;– No. 6 Science Fiction Film


=== In other media ===
;Additional featurettes (2007)
In addition to ''Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner'', a variety of other supplemental featurettes produced and directed by ] are included both the four- and five-disc collector's editions of ''Blade Runner'' released by Warner Home Video in 2007:<ref name="thedigitalbits" />


Before filming began, '']'' magazine commissioned Paul M. Sammon to write a special issue about ''Blade Runner''{{'}}s production which became the book ''Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner''.{{sfn|Sammon|p=1}} The book chronicles ''Blade Runner''{{'}}s evolution, focusing on film-set politics, especially the British director's experiences with his first American film crew; of which producer ] has said, "Harrison wouldn't speak to Ridley and Ridley wouldn't speak to Harrison. By the end of the shoot Ford was 'ready to kill Ridley', said one colleague. He really would have taken him on if he hadn't been talked out of it."<ref>{{Citation |last=Shone |first=Tom |year=2004 |title=Blockbuster |isbn=978-0-7432-3990-5 |publisher=Simon & Schuster}}</ref> ''Future Noir'' has short cast biographies and quotations about their experiences as well as photographs of the film's production and preliminary sketches. A second edition of ''Future Noir'' was published in 2007, and additional materials not in either print edition have been published online.<ref>{{citation |url=http://scribble.com/uwi/br/fn/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20010624131853/http://scribble.com/uwi/br/fn/ |archive-date=June 24, 2001 |title=''Future Noir'': Lost Chapters |work=2019: Off-World |via=Scribble.com |access-date=February 4, 2018}}</ref>
*The Electric Dreamer: Remembering Philip K. Dick – ''14:22''
*Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel Vs. The Film – ''15:07''
*Philip K. Dick: The ''Blade Runner'' Interviews – ''23:03''
*Signs of the Times: Graphic Design – ''13:40''
*Fashion Forward: Wardrobe and Styling – ''20:40''
*Screen Tests: Rachael and Pris – ''8:54''
*The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth – ''19:58''
*Deleted & Alternate Scenes – ''45:47''
*Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art – ''9:35''
*Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard – ''9:30''
*Nexus Generation: Fans and Filmmakers – ''21:49''
*1982 Promotional Featurettes – ''36:21''


] refused a $400,000 offer to write a ''Blade Runner'' ], saying: "{{wj}} told the cheapo novelization would have to appeal to the twelve-year-old audience" and it "would have probably been disastrous to me artistically". He added, "That insistence on my part of bringing out the original novel and not doing the novelization&nbsp;– they were just furious. They finally recognized that there was a legitimate reason for reissuing the novel, even though it cost them money. It was a victory not just of contractual obligations but of theoretical principles."<ref name="Dick's final interview" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Riesman |first=Abraham |date=October 2, 2017 |title=The Weird World of Blade Runner Spinoffs |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/before-blade-runner-2049-came-the-blade-runner-spin-offs.html|access-date=August 1, 2020 |website=Vulture |language=en-us|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028235547/https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/before-blade-runner-2049-came-the-blade-runner-spin-offs.html|url-status=live}}</ref> '']'' was eventually reprinted as a ], with the film poster as a cover and the original title in parentheses below the ''Blade Runner'' title.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n0pzCsR6yDQC |via=Google Books |title=Blade Runner: (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) |last=Dick |first=Philip K. |year=2007 |publisher=Del Rey Books |page=216 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |isbn=978-0-345-35047-3 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414015407/https://books.google.com/books?id=n0pzCsR6yDQC |url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, a novelization of the movie entitled ''Blade Runner: A Story of the Future'' by ] was released in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openculture.com/2015/09/hear-novelizations-of-blade-runner-terminator-videodrome-other-70s-80s-90s-movies-in-audiobook-format.html |title=Hear ''Blade Runner'', ''Terminator'', ''Videodrome'' & Other 70s, 80s & 90s Movies as Novelized AudioBooks |first=Colin |last=Marshall |work=Open Culture |date=September 14, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161224213224/http://www.openculture.com/2015/09/hear-novelizations-of-blade-runner-terminator-videodrome-other-70s-80s-90s-movies-in-audiobook-format.html |archive-date=December 24, 2016}}</ref> ] scripted the comic book adaptation, '']'', published in September 1982, which was illustrated by Al Williamson, Carlos Garzon, Dan Green, and Ralph Reese, and lettered by Ed King.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comics.org/issue/36674/ |title=''Marvel Super Special'' #22 |work=Grand Comics Database |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140406235318/http://www.comics.org/issue/36674/ |archive-date=April 6, 2014}}</ref>
==Sequels==
], a friend of Philip K. Dick, has written three official, authorised ''Blade Runner'' novels that continue ]'s story, attempting to resolve many differences between ''Blade Runner'' and the source novel '']''.<ref>{{citation|last=Gray|first=Christy|contribution=Originals and Copies:The Fans of Philip K. Dick, ''Blade Runner'' and K. W. Jeter|year=2005|title=The Blade Runner Experience|editor-last=Brooker|editor-first=Will|pages=142–156|publisher=Wallflower|place=London|id=ISBN 1-904764-30-4}}</ref>


] published the film's screenplay combined with selected production storyboards as ''The Illustrated Blade Runner'' (June 1982);<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Jonathan |editor-first=Law |title=Cassell Companion to Cinema |year=1997 |orig-year=1995 |url=https://archive.org/details/cassellcompanion0000unse_d7i7/page/534/ |publisher=] |location=London, England |page=534 |isbn=0-304-34938-0 |via=]}}</ref> a book of original production artwork by Syd Mead, Mentor Huebner, Charles Knode, Michael Kaplan, and Ridley Scott as ''Blade Runner Sketchbook'' (1982);<ref>{{Harvp|Kerman|1991|p=231}}</ref> and ''The Blade Runner Portfolio'' (1982), a collection of twelve photographic prints, similar to the artist portfolios released by their ] imprint.<ref>{{cite magazine |editor-last=Stein |editor-first=Michael |title=Blade Runner |date=June 1982 |magazine=] |publisher=Fantastic Films Inc. |location=Chicago, IL |volume=4 |issue=5 |page=44 |type=Ad |issn=0273-7043}}</ref>
*'']'' (1995)


There are two ]s based on the film, both titled ''Blade Runner'': ], a ] for ], ], and ] by CRL Group PLC, which is marked as "a video game interpretation of the film score by Vangelis" rather than of the film itself (due to licensing issues); and ], a point-and-click adventure for PC by ]. The 1997 game has a non-linear plot based in the ''Blade Runner'' world, ]s that each ran in their own independent ], and an unusual pseudo-3D engine (which eschewed polygonal solids in favor of ] elements) that did not require the use of a 3D accelerator card to play the game.<ref>{{citation |last=Bates |first=Jason |title=Westwood's Blade Runner |work=PC Gamer |volume=4 |issue=9 |via=BladeZone |date=September 9, 1997 |url=http://media.bladezone.com/contents/game/BR-PCGame1.html | access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121127104952/http://media.bladezone.com/contents/game/BR-PCGame1.html |archive-date=November 27, 2012}}</ref> Eldon Tyrell, Gaff, Leon, Rachael, Chew, J. F. Sebastian and Howie Lee appear, and their voice files are recorded by the original actors, with the exception of Gaff, who is replaced by Javier Grajeda (as ]) and Howie Lee, who is replaced by Toru Nagai.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.brmovie.com/BR_Game_MW01.htm |title=The ''Blade Runner'' Game |work=BRMovie.com |editor-first=Lukas |editor-last=Mariman |display-editors=etal|access-date=August 10, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080714055512/http://www.brmovie.com/BR_Game_MW01.htm |archive-date = July 14, 2008}}{{self-published source|date=February 2018}}</ref> The player assumes the role of McCoy, another replicant-hunter working at the same time as Deckard.<ref name="Atkins" /><ref name="Tosca" />
*'']'' (1996)


The television film (and later series) '']'' was initially planned as a ] of the film '']'' (based on Philip K. Dick's short story "]"), but was produced as a hybrid of ''Total Recall'' and ''Blade Runner''.<ref>{{Citation |last=Robb |first=Brian J. |title=Counterfeit Worlds: Philip K. Dick on Film |pages=200–225 |publisher=Titan Books |date=2006 |isbn=978-1-84023-968-3}}</ref> Many similarities between ''Total Recall 2070'' and ''Blade Runner'' were noted, as well as apparent influences on the show from ]'s '']'' and the TV series '']''.<ref>{{citation |last=Platt |first=John |date=March 1, 1999 |url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue98/screen.html |title=A ''Total Recall'' spin-off that's an awful lot like ''Blade Runner'' |work=] |volume=5 |issue=9 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080115153719/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue98/screen.html |archive-date=January 15, 2008}}</ref>
*'']'' (2000)


=== Documentaries ===
Ridley Scott apparently toyed with the idea of a sequel film, which would have been titled ''Metropolis''. However, the project was ultimately shelved due to rights issues. A script was also written for a proposed sequel entitled ''Blade Runner Down'', which would have been based on K. W. Jeter's first ''Blade Runner'' sequel novel.<ref>{{citation|url=http://brmovie.com/FAQs/BR_FAQ_BR_2.htm|title=The Blade Runner FAQ: Are there any sequels? I heard rumours ...|publisher=BRmovie.com|accessdate=2007-07-27}}</ref> At the 2007 Comic-Con, Scott again announced that he is considering a sequel to the film.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents|title=My Two Cents|accessdate=2007-12-17|publisher=The Digital Bits, Inc|author=Hunt, Bill}}</ref> By September 2008, '']'' co-writer ] was writing the screenplay.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/09/29/exclusive-eagle-eye-co-writers-working-on-blade-runner-2/|title=Exclusive: Eagle Eye Co-Writers Working on Blade Runner 2|work=2008-09-29|accessdate=2008-09-29|work=SlashFilm|author=Peter Sciretta}}</ref> Wright worked with producer ] for a few years on the project. His colleague ], who left the film by 2008, stated the script explores the nature of the off-world colonies as well as what happens to the Tyrell Corporation in the wake of its founder's death.<ref>{{cite news|author=Peter Sciretta|title=Exclusive: Screenwriter Travis Wright Responds to Blade Runner 2 Story|work=/Film|date=2008-10-06|url=http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/10/06/exclusive-screenwriter-travis-wright-responds-to-blade-runner-2-story/|accessdate=2008-10-07}}</ref>


The film has been the subject of several documentaries.
===Other adaptations===
====Comics====
] scripted the comic book adaptation, '']'', published September 1982. The ] cover leads into a 45-page adaptation illustrated by the team of ], Carlos Garzon, Dan Green and ]. This adaptation includes one possible explanation of the title's significance in story context: the narrative line, "Blade runner. You're always movin' on the edge."


; ''Blade Runner: Convention Reel'' (1982, 13&nbsp;minutes)
In 2009, BOOM! Studios published a 24-issue miniseries comic book adaptation of the ''Blade Runner'' source novel, ''Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://philipkdick.com/media_pr-040709.html |title=Philip K. Dick Press Release – Boom! Announces Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? |publisher=Philipkdick.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-05}}</ref>
: Co-directed by Muffet Kaufman and Jeffrey B. Walker, shot and screened in 16&nbsp;mm, featured no narrator, was filmed in 1981 while ''Blade Runner'' was still in production and featured short "behind-the-scenes" segments showing sets being built and sequences being shot, as well as interviews with ], ] and ]. Appears on the ''Blade Runner'' Ultimate Collector's Edition.<ref>''Future Noir Revised & Updated Edition: The Making of Blade Runner''</ref>


; ''On the Edge of'' Blade Runner (2000, 55&nbsp;minutes)
====Video games====
: Directed by Andrew Abbott and hosted/written by ]. Interviews with production staff, including Scott, give details of the creative process and the turmoil during pre-production. Insights into Philip K. Dick and the origins of ''Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'' are provided by Paul M. Sammon and Hampton Fancher.<ref name="edge-doc-review">{{citation |url=http://tyrell-corporation.pp.se/on-the-edge-of-blade-runner-documentury/ |title=On the Edge of ''Blade Runner'' |last=Ingels |first=Nicklas |work=Los Angeles, 2019 |via=Tyrell-Corporation.pp.se |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140407015534/http://tyrell-corporation.pp.se/on-the-edge-of-blade-runner-documentury/ |archive-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
{{Main|Blade Runner (1985 video game)|Blade Runner (1997 video game)}}
; ''Future Shocks'' (2003, 27 minutes)
There are two ]s based on the film, one for ], ] and ] (1985) by CRL Group PLC based on the music by Vangelis (due to licensing issues), and another action adventure ] (1997) by ]. The ] featured new characters and branching storylines based on the ''Blade Runner'' world, coupled with voice work from some of the original cast from the film and some recurring locations from the film. The events portrayed in the 1997 game occur not after, but in parallel to those in the film—the player assumes the role of another replicant-hunter working at the same time as Deckard, though of course they never meet, so as to remain consistent with the film.<ref name="Atkins" /><ref name="Tosca" />
: Directed by ].<ref name="futureshocks">{{citation |url=http://tvo.org/program/131509/future-shocks |title=Future Shocks |work=TVO.org |publisher=], Ontario Educational Communications Authority |access-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141224115432/http://tvo.org/program/131509/future-shocks |archive-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> It includes interviews with executive producer ], ], and the cast, and commentary by science fiction author ] and from film critics.
; ''Dangerous Days: Making'' Blade Runner (2007, 213 minutes){{anchor|Dangerous Days}}
: Directed and produced by ] for ''The Final Cut'' version of the film. Its source material comprises more than 80 interviews, including extensive conversations with Ford, Young, and Scott.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.chud.com/11285/interview-charles-de-lauzirika-blade-runner/ |title=Interview: Charles de Lauzirika (''Blade Runner'') |access-date=July 27, 2011 |work=] |last=Fischer |first=Russ |date=February 8, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140202165850/http://www.chud.com/11285/interview-charles-de-lauzirika-blade-runner/ |archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> The documentary is presented in eight chapters, with each of the first seven covering a portion of the filmmaking process. The final chapter examines ''Blade Runner''<nowiki />'s controversial legacy.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.filmedge.net/BladeRunner/BRdvd.htm |title=''Blade Runner''&nbsp;– The Final Cut: 2-Disc Special Edition DVD Review |access-date=July 27, 2011 |work=FilmEdge.net |last=Weitz |first=Scott |date=December 16, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130517092920/http://www.filmedge.net/BladeRunner/BRdvd.htm |archive-date=May 17, 2013}}</ref>
; ''All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut'' (2007, 29&nbsp;minutes)
: Produced by Paul Prischman, appears on the ''Blade Runner'' Ultimate Collector's Edition and provides an overview of the film's multiple versions and their origins, as well as detailing the seven-year-long restoration, enhancement and remastering process behind ''The Final Cut''.<ref name="thedigitalbits" />
; ''Blade Runner Phenomenon'' (2021, 53 minutes)
: Directed by Boris Hars-Tschachotin and made by the France and Germany European public service channel ARTE, this documentary informs viewers using behind-the-scenes material from various sets, photos, original locations in Los Angeles, and interviews with those involved in the production.


== Sequel and related media ==
The PC game featured a non-linear plot, ]s that each ran in their own independent ], and an unusual pseudo-3D engine (which eschewed polygonal solids in favor of ] elements) that did not require the use of a 3D accelerator card to play the game.<ref>{{citation | last=Bates | first=Jason | title=Westwood's Blade Runner|journal=PC Gamer|volume=4|issue=9| publisher=Blade Zone | date=1997-09-09 | url=http://media.bladezone.com/contents/game/BR-PCGame1.html | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref>
{{Main|Blade Runner (franchise)}}
]


A sequel was released in 2017, titled '']'', with ] alongside Ford in the starring roles.<ref>{{citation |last=Goldberg |first=Matt |title=Ryan Gosling Confirms He's in ''Blade Runner 2''; Talks Shane Black's ''The Nice Guys'' |work=] |date=November 16, 2015 |url=https://collider.com/ryan-gosling-blade-runner-2-nice-guys/ |access-date=November 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117145759/http://collider.com/ryan-gosling-blade-runner-2-nice-guys/ |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Nudd |first=Tim |title=Ryan Gosling Set to Join Harrison Ford in ''Blade Runner'' Sequel |url=http://www.people.com/article/ryan-gosling-harrison-ford-blade-runner-sequel |work=] |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150823111753/http://www.people.com/article/ryan-gosling-harrison-ford-blade-runner-sequel |archive-date=August 23, 2015}}</ref> It entered production in mid-2016 and is set decades after the first film.<ref name="filming">{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/blade-runner-2-harrison-ford-ryan-gosling/ |title=''Blade Runner 2'' Officially Starts Filming This July |first=Haleigh |last=Foutch |date=January 25, 2016 |work=] |access-date=October 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722153052/http://collider.com/blade-runner-2-harrison-ford-ryan-gosling/ |archive-date=July 22, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Harrison Ford reprised his role as ]. The film won two Academy Awards, for cinematography and visual effects.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2018 |title=The 90th Academy Awards &#124; 2018 |website=Oscars.org &#124; Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417100721/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
A prototype board game was also created in California (1982) that had game play similar to ].


The world of ''Blade Runner'' has also come to be explored in ]. ''Blade Runner 2049'' was preceded by the release of three ]s that served as prequels, where the chronological first, '']'', was ] (the other two, '']'' and '']'', were live action, not animated).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2017/sep/29/blade-runner-2049-shorts-five-things |title=Blade Runner 2049: five things we learned from the shorts |first=Ben |last=Child |date=September 29, 2017 |work=The Guardian |access-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201094913/https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2017/sep/29/blade-runner-2049-shorts-five-things |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
====Television series====
{{Main|Total Recall 2070}}
Though not an official sequel to ''Blade Runner'', ''Total Recall 2070'' was initially planned as a spin-off of the movie '']'' but transformed into a hybrid of that movie and ''Blade Runner''.<ref>{{citation
| last=Robb
| first=Brian J
| title=Counterfeit Worlds: Philip K. Dick on Film
| pages=200–225
| publisher=Titan Books
| date=2006}}</ref> There are many similarities between the ] and the ''Blade Runner'' universe.<ref>{{citation|author=Platt, John|date=1999-03-01|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue98/screen.html|title=A Total Recall spin-off that's an awful lot like Blade Runner|journal=Science Fiction Weekly|pages=Issue 98 Vol.5 No.9|accessdate=2008-02-06|nopp=true}}</ref> The series takes place in a dark, crowded, industrial, and cosmopolitan setting. David Hume is a senior detective for the Citizens Protection Bureau (CPB) who is partnered with Ian Farve, an Alpha Class android. The series focused on questions such as the nature of humanity and the rights of androids. The series was based on two works by Phillip K. Dick: "]" (the basis for the film ''Total Recall''), and ''Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'' (the basis for ''Blade Runner'').


In November 2021, a Japanese-American anime television series called '']'' was released. The series tells the story of a female replicant protagonist, rather than that of a male Blade Runner one.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techadvisor.com/news/entertainment/blade-runner-black-lotus-3806570/ |title=Black Lotus: Everything you need to know about the Blade Runner anime |first=Martyn |last=Casserly |date=November 15, 2021 |work=Tech Advisor |access-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201100502/https://www.techadvisor.com/news/entertainment/blade-runner-black-lotus-3806570/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/alessia-cara-feel-you-now-new-song-blade-runner-black-lotus-9611326/ |title=Hear Alessia Cara's New Song 'Feel You Now' in 'Blade Runner: Black Lotus' Opening Sequence |first=Heran |last=Mamo |date=August 5, 2021 |magazine=] |access-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201100459/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/alessia-cara-feel-you-now-new-song-blade-runner-black-lotus-9611326/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Prequel====
In June 2009, '']'' reported that Ridley Scott, together with his brother ], was working on a prequel to ''Blade Runner''. The prequel, entitled ''Purefold'', will be a series of 5–10 minute shorts, aimed first at the ] and then perhaps television, and will be set at a point in time before 2019. Due to rights issues, the series will not be linked too closely to the characters or events of the 1982 film.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stone |first=Brad |url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/web-series-tied-to-blade-runner-is-in-the-works/ |title=Web Series Tied to 'Blade Runner' Is In the Works – Bits Blog – NYTimes.com |publisher=Bits.blogs.nytimes.com |date= |accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref>


Dick's friend ] wrote three authorized ''Blade Runner'' novels that continue Rick Deckard's story, attempting to resolve the differences between the film and ''Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?''<ref>Gray, Christy "Originals and Copies: The Fans of Philip K. Dick, ''Blade Runner'' and K. W. Jeter" in {{harvnb|Brooker|pp=142–156}}.</ref> These are '']'' (1995), '']'' (1996), and '']'' (2000).
==Notes==
{{Reflist|3}}


''Blade Runner'' co-writer ] wrote the 1998 action film '']'', which he referred to as a "]" or ] to the original film; the two are set in a ].<ref>''Cinescape'', September/October 1998 issue</ref> A bonus feature on the Blu-ray for '']'', the 2012 film by Scott set in the '']'' universe, states that Eldon Tyrell, CEO of the ''Blade Runner'' Tyrell Corporation, was the mentor of ]'s character Peter Weyland.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/blade-runner-2049-prequel-short-2036-nexus-dawn-jared-leto-video-1202158769/ |title=''Blade Runner 2049'' Prequel Short Connects Events to Original 1982 Film |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=August 31, 2017 |website=] |access-date=October 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102002005/http://deadline.com/2017/08/blade-runner-2049-prequel-short-2036-nexus-dawn-jared-leto-video-1202158769/ |archive-date=November 2, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{official|http://bladerunnerthemovie.warnerbros.com/}}
*{{imdb title|0083658|Blade Runner}}
*{{Amg movie|5994|Blade Runner}}
*{{mojo title|bladerunner}}
*{{Wikia|bladerunner|Blade Runner}}
*{{Dmoz|Arts/Movies/Titles/B/Blade_Runner|Blade Runner}}
*
*


In late 2022, Amazon announced a ''Blade Runner 2049'' sequel series would be produced.<ref>{{citation |date=September 16, 2022 |title='Blade Runner 2049' Sequel Series Ordered at Amazon |work=variety.com |access-date=September 16, 2022 |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/blade-runner-2049-sequel-series-amazon-1235373625/ |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916012252/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/blade-runner-2049-sequel-series-amazon-1235373625/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 12, 2022, an apparent official approval to actually make a ''Blade Runner 2099'' TV series was reported.<ref name="TR-20221012">{{cite news |last=Caddy |first=Becca |title=Blade Runner 2099: everything we know so far – Everything we know about Amazon's upcoming Blade Runner 2099 series |url=https://www.techradar.com/features/blade-runner-2099-everything-we-know-so-far |date=October 12, 2022 |work=] |accessdate=October 12, 2022 |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012061618/https://www.techradar.com/features/blade-runner-2099-everything-we-know-so-far |url-status=live }}</ref>
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== See also ==
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{{clear}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

* {{cite book|editor-last=Brooker |editor-first=Will |date=2005 |title=The ''Blade Runner'' Experience |publisher=Wallflower |location=London |isbn=978-1-904764-30-4 |ref={{sfnRef|Brooker}}}}
* {{cite book |last=Bukatman |first=Scott |date=1997 |title=BFI Modern Classics: ''Blade Runner'' |location=London |publisher=British Film Institute |isbn=978-0-85170-623-8 |ref={{sfnRef|Bukatman}}}}
*Doll, Susan, and Greg Faller. 1986. "Blade Runner and Genre: Film Noir and Science Fiction." ''Literature Film Quarterly'' 14 (2): 89–100.
*Eagan, Daniel (2010) ''America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry'', A&C Black, {{ISBN|0826429777}}, pages 775–776
* {{cite book|editor-last=Kerman |editor-first=Judith |year=1991 |title=Retrofitting ''Blade Runner'': Issues in Ridley Scott's ''Blade Runner'' and Philip K. Dick's ''Do Android's Dream of Electric Sheep?'' |publisher=Bowling Green University Popular Press |isbn=978-0-87972-510-5}}
* {{cite journal |last=Macarthur |first=David |title=A Vision of Blindness: ''Bladerunner'' and Moral Redemption |journal=Film-Philosophy |year=2017 |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=371–391 |doi=10.3366/film.2017.0056 |url=http://www.euppublishing.com/toc/film/21/3|doi-access=free}}
*Morgan, David. '''' at ]
* {{cite book |last=Sammon |first=Paul M. |date=1996 |title=Future Noir: the Making of ''Blade Runner'' |location=London |publisher=Orion Media |isbn=978-0-06-105314-6 |ref={{sfnRef|Sammon}}}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}

* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Metacritic film}}
* {{Mojo title|bladerunner}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|blade_runner}}
* {{TCMDb title|68982}}
* {{AFI film|68260}}
{{Blade Runner}} {{Blade Runner}}
{{Ridley Scott Films}} {{Philip K. Dick}}
{{Philip K. Dick films}} {{Ridley Scott}}
{{Hampton Fancher}}
{{David Peoples}}
{{Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation}}
{{Seiun Award - Best Media}}
{{Portal bar|Film|Greater Los Angeles|Science fiction}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Featured article}} {{Featured article}}


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Latest revision as of 23:17, 14 January 2025

1982 film by Ridley Scott This article is about the 1982 film. For the franchise based on the film, see Blade Runner (franchise). For other uses, see Blade Runner (disambiguation).

Blade Runner
Collage of a man holding a gun, a woman holding a cigarette, and a futuristic city-scape.Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
Directed byRidley Scott
Screenplay by
Based onDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
by Philip K. Dick
Produced byMichael Deeley
Starring
CinematographyJordan Cronenweth
Edited by
Music byVangelis
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. (Worldwide)
Shaw Brothers (Hong Kong)
Release dates
  • June 25, 1982 (1982-06-25) (United States)
  • December 22, 1982 (1982-12-22) (Hong Kong)
Running time117 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Hong Kong
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million
Box office$41.8 million

Blade Runner is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos, it is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The film is set in a dystopian future Los Angeles of 2019, in which synthetic humans known as replicants are bio-engineered by the powerful Tyrell Corporation to work on space colonies. When a fugitive group of advanced replicants led by Roy Batty (Hauer) escapes back to Earth, burnt-out cop Rick Deckard (Ford) reluctantly agrees to hunt them down.

Blade Runner initially underperformed in North American theaters and polarized critics; some praised its thematic complexity and visuals, while others critiqued its slow pacing and lack of action. The film's soundtrack, composed by Vangelis, was nominated in 1982 for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe as best original score. Blade Runner later became a cult film, and has since come to be regarded as one of the greatest science fiction films. Hailed for its production design depicting a high-tech but decaying future, the film is often regarded as both a leading example of neo-noir cinema and a foundational work of the cyberpunk genre. It has influenced many science fiction films, video games, anime, and television series. It also brought the work of Dick to Hollywood's attention and led to several film adaptations of his works. In 1993, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Seven different versions of Blade Runner exist as a result of controversial changes requested by studio executives. A director's cut was released in 1992 after a strong response to test screenings of a workprint. This, in conjunction with the film's popularity as a video rental, made it one of the earliest movies to be released on DVD. In 2007, Warner Bros. released The Final Cut, a 25th-anniversary digitally remastered version; this is the only version over which Scott retained artistic control.

The film is the first of the franchise of the same name. A sequel, titled Blade Runner 2049, was released in 2017 alongside a trilogy of short films covering the thirty-year span between the two films' settings. The anime series Blade Runner: Black Lotus was released in 2021.

Plot

Note: Since there are several versions of Blade Runner, this summary excludes version-specific events. See the Versions of Blade Runner article for discussion of version-specific plot elements.

In 2019 Los Angeles, former police officer Rick Deckard is detained by Officer Gaff, who likes to make origami figures, and is brought to his former supervisor, Bryant. Deckard, whose job as a "blade runner" was to track down bioengineered humanoids known as replicants and terminally "retire" them, is informed that four replicants are on Earth illegally. Deckard begins to leave, but Bryant ambiguously threatens him and Deckard stays. The two watch a video of a blade runner named Holden administering the Voight-Kampff test, which is designed to distinguish replicants from humans based on their emotional responses to questions. The test subject, Leon, shoots Holden on the second question. Bryant wants Deckard to retire Leon and three other Nexus-6 replicants: Roy Batty, Zhora, and Pris.

Bryant has Deckard meet with the CEO of the company that creates the replicants, Eldon Tyrell, so he can administer the test on a Nexus-6 to see if it works. Tyrell expresses his interest in seeing the test fail first and asks him to administer it on his assistant Rachael. After a much longer than standard test, Deckard concludes privately to Tyrell that Rachael is a replicant who believes she is human. Tyrell explains that she is an experiment who has been given false memories to provide an "emotional cushion", and that she has no knowledge of her true nature.

In searching Leon's hotel room, Deckard finds photos and a scale from the skin of an animal, which is later identified as a synthetic snake scale. Deckard returns to his apartment where Rachael is waiting. She tries to prove her humanity by showing him a family photo, but Deckard reveals that her memories are implants from Tyrell's niece, and she leaves in tears.

Replicants Roy and Leon meanwhile investigate a replicant eye-manufacturing laboratory and learn of J. F. Sebastian, a gifted genetic designer who works closely with Tyrell. Pris locates Sebastian and manipulates him to gain his trust.

A photograph from Leon's apartment and the snake scale lead Deckard to a strip club, where Zhora works. After a confrontation and chase, Deckard kills Zhora. Bryant also orders him to retire Rachael, who has disappeared from the Tyrell Corporation. Deckard spots Rachael in a crowd, but he is ambushed by Leon, who knocks the gun out of Deckard's hand and beats him. As Leon is about to kill Deckard, Rachael saves him by using Deckard's gun to kill Leon. They return to Deckard's apartment and, during a discussion, he promises not to track her down. As Rachael abruptly tries to leave, Deckard restrains her and forces her to kiss him, and she ultimately relents. Deckard leaves Rachael at his apartment and departs to search for the remaining replicants.

Roy arrives at Sebastian's apartment and tells Pris that the other replicants are dead. Sebastian reveals that because of a genetic premature aging disorder, his life will be cut short, like the replicants that were built with a four-year lifespan. Roy uses Sebastian to gain entrance to Tyrell's penthouse. He demands more life from his maker, which Tyrell says is impossible. Roy confesses that he has done "questionable things" but Tyrell dismisses this, praising Roy's advanced design and accomplishments in his short life. Roy kisses Tyrell and then kills him by crushing his skull. Sebastian tries to flee and is later reported dead.

At Sebastian's apartment, Deckard is ambushed by Pris, but he kills her as Roy returns. Roy's body begins to fail as the end of his lifespan nears. He chases Deckard through the building and onto the roof. Deckard tries to jump onto another roof but is left hanging on the edge. Roy makes the jump with ease and, as Deckard's grip loosens, Roy hoists him onto the roof to save him. Before Roy dies, he laments that his memories "will be lost in time, like tears in rain". Gaff arrives to congratulate Deckard, also reminding him that Rachael will not live, but "then again, who does?" Deckard returns to his apartment to retrieve Rachael. While escorting her to the elevator, he notices a small origami unicorn on the floor. He recalls Gaff's words and departs with Rachael.

Cast

Production

Development

Map of Ridleyville
Map of Ridleyville, exterior sets for Blade Runner located on the New York Street of the Warner Bros. Studios lot (Burbank, California)

Interest in adapting Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? developed shortly after its 1968 publication. Director Martin Scorsese was interested in filming the novel, but never optioned it. Producer Herb Jaffe optioned it in the early 1970s, but Dick was unimpressed with the screenplay written by Herb's son Robert, saying, "Jaffe's screenplay was so terribly done ... Robert flew down to Santa Ana to speak with me about the project. And the first thing I said to him when he got off the plane was, 'Shall I beat you up here at the airport, or shall I beat you up back at my apartment?'"

The screenplay by Hampton Fancher was optioned in 1977. Producer Michael Deeley became interested in Fancher's draft and convinced director Ridley Scott to film it. Scott had previously declined the project but, after leaving the slow production of Dune, wanted a faster-paced project to take his mind off his older brother's recent death. He joined the project on February 21, 1980, and managed to push up the promised Filmways financing from US$13 million to $15 million. Fancher's script focused more on environmental issues and less on issues of humanity and religion, which are prominent in the novel, and Scott wanted changes. Fancher found a cinema treatment by William S. Burroughs for Alan E. Nourse's novel The Bladerunner (1974), titled Blade Runner (a movie). Scott liked the name, so Deeley obtained the rights to the titles. Eventually, he hired David Peoples to rewrite the script and Fancher left the job over the issue on December 21, 1980, although he later returned to contribute additional rewrites.

Having invested more than $2.5 million in pre-production, as the date of commencement of principal photography neared, Filmways withdrew financial backing. In ten days Deeley had secured $21.5 million in financing through a three-way deal between the Ladd Company (through Warner Bros.), the Hong Kong-based producer Sir Run Run Shaw and Tandem Productions.

Dick became concerned that no one had informed him about the film's production, which added to his distrust of Hollywood. After Dick criticized an early version of Fancher's script in an article written for the Los Angeles Select TV Guide, the studio sent Dick the Peoples rewrite. Although Dick died shortly before the film's release, he was pleased with the rewritten script and with a 20-minute special effects test reel that was screened for him when he was invited to the studio. Despite his well-known skepticism of Hollywood in principle, Dick enthused to Scott that the world created for the film looked exactly as he had imagined it. He said, "I saw a segment of Douglas Trumbull's special effects for Blade Runner on the KNBC news. I recognized it immediately. It was my own interior world. They caught it perfectly." He also approved of the film's script, saying: "After I finished reading the screenplay, I got the novel out and looked through it. The two reinforce each other so that someone who started with the novel would enjoy the movie and someone who started with the movie would enjoy the novel." The motion picture was dedicated to Dick. Principal photography of Blade Runner began on March 9, 1981, and ended four months later.

In 1992, Ford revealed, "Blade Runner is not one of my favorite films. I tangled with Ridley." Apart from friction with the director, Ford also disliked the voiceovers: "When we started shooting it had been tacitly agreed that the version of the film that we had agreed upon was the version without voiceover narration. It was a f**king [sic] nightmare. I thought that the film had worked without the narration. But now I was stuck re-creating that narration. And I was obliged to do the voiceovers for people that did not represent the director's interests." "I went kicking and screaming to the studio to record it." The narration monologs were written by an uncredited Roland Kibbee.

In 2006, Scott was asked "Who's the biggest pain in the arse you've ever worked with?" He replied: "It's got to be Harrison ... he'll forgive me because now I get on with him. Now he's become charming. But he knows a lot, that's the problem. When we worked together it was my first film up and I was the new kid on the block. But we made a good movie." Ford said of Scott in 2000: "I admire his work. We had a bad patch there, and I'm over it." In 2006 Ford reflected on the production of the film saying: "What I remember more than anything else when I see Blade Runner is not the 50 nights of shooting in the rain, but the voiceover ... I was still obliged to work for these clowns that came in writing one bad voiceover after another." Ridley Scott confirmed in the summer 2007 issue of Total Film that Harrison Ford contributed to the Blade Runner Special Edition DVD, and had already recorded his interviews. "Harrison's fully on board", said Scott.

A photograph of a building interior showing stairs climbing up five storeys to the final floor where we can see the glass roof
The Bradbury Building in Los Angeles was used as one of the filming locations.

The Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles served as a filming location, and a Warner Bros. backlot housed the 2019 Los Angeles street sets. Other locations included the Ennis-Brown House and the 2nd Street Tunnel. Test screenings resulted in several changes, including adding a voice-over, a happy ending, and the removal of a Holden hospital scene. The relationship between the filmmakers and the investors was difficult, which culminated in Deeley and Scott being fired but still working on the film. Crew members created T-shirts during filming saying, "Yes Guv'nor, My Ass" that mocked Scott's unfavorable comparison of U.S. and British crews; Scott responded with a T-shirt of his own, "Xenophobia Sucks", making the incident known as the T-shirt war.

Casting

See also: List of Blade Runner characters

Casting the film proved troublesome, particularly for the lead role of Deckard. Screenwriter Hampton Fancher envisioned Robert Mitchum as Deckard and wrote the character's dialogue with Mitchum in mind. Director Ridley Scott and the film's producers spent months meeting and discussing the role with Dustin Hoffman, who eventually departed over differences in vision. Harrison Ford was ultimately chosen for several reasons, including his performance in the Star Wars films, Ford's interest in the Blade Runner story, and discussions with Steven Spielberg who was finishing Raiders of the Lost Ark at the time and strongly praised Ford's work in the film. Following his success in those two films, Ford was looking for a role with dramatic depth. According to production documents, several actors were considered for the role, including Gene Hackman, Sean Connery, Jack Nicholson, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Peter Falk, Nick Nolte, Al Pacino and Burt Reynolds.

Rutger Hauer was cast as Roy Batty, the violent yet thoughtful leader of the replicants. Scott cast Hauer without having met him, based on his performances in Paul Verhoeven's movies that Scott had seen (Katie Tippel, Soldier of Orange, and Turkish Delight). Hauer's portrayal of Batty was regarded by Philip K. Dick as "the perfect Batty – cold, Aryan, flawless". Of the many films Hauer made, Blade Runner was his favorite. In a live chat in 2001, he said "Blade Runner needs no explanation. It just . All of the best. There is nothing like it. To be part of a real masterpiece which changed the world's thinking. It's awesome." Hauer rewrote his character's "tears in rain" speech himself and presented the words to Scott on set prior to filming.

Blade Runner used a number of then-lesser-known actors: Sean Young portrays Rachael, an experimental replicant implanted with the memories of Tyrell's niece, causing her to believe she is human; Nina Axelrod auditioned for the role. Fancher originally wrote the role for his then girlfriend Barbara Hershey. Daryl Hannah portrays Pris, a "basic pleasure model" replicant; Stacey Nelkin auditioned for the role, but was given another part in the film, which was ultimately cut before filming. Debbie Harry turned down the role of Pris. Casting Pris and Rachael was challenging, requiring several screen tests with Morgan Paull playing the role of Deckard. Paull was cast as Deckard's fellow bounty hunter Holden based on his performances in the tests. Brion James portrays Leon Kowalski, a combat and laborer replicant, and Joanna Cassidy portrays Zhora, an assassin replicant.

Edward James Olmos portrays Gaff. Olmos drew on diverse ethnic sources to help create the fictional "Cityspeak" language his character uses in the film. His initial address to Deckard at the noodle bar is partly in Hungarian and means, "Horse dick ! No way. You are the Blade ... Blade Runner." M. Emmet Walsh portrays Captain Bryant, a rumpled, hard-drinking and underhanded police veteran typical of the film noir genre. Joe Turkel portrays Dr. Eldon Tyrell, a corporate mogul who built an empire on genetically manipulated humanoid slaves. William Sanderson was cast as J. F. Sebastian, a quiet and lonely genius who provides a compassionate yet compliant portrait of humanity. J. F. sympathizes with the replicants, whom he sees as companions, and he shares their shorter lifespan due to his rapid aging disease. Joe Pantoliano had earlier been considered for the role. James Hong portrays Hannibal Chew, an elderly geneticist specializing in synthetic eyes, and Hy Pyke portrayed the sleazy bar owner Taffey Lewis – in a single take, something almost unheard-of with Scott, whose drive for perfection resulted at times in double-digit takes.

Design

Scott credits Edward Hopper's painting Nighthawks and the French science fiction comics magazine Métal Hurlant, to which the artist Jean "Moebius" Giraud contributed, as stylistic mood sources. He also drew on the landscape of "Hong Kong on a very bad day" and the industrial landscape of his one-time home in northeast England. The visual style of the movie is influenced by the work of futurist Italian architect Antonio Sant'Elia. Scott hired Syd Mead as his concept artist; like Scott, he was influenced by Métal Hurlant. Moebius was offered the opportunity to assist in the pre-production of Blade Runner, but he declined so that he could work on René Laloux's animated film Les Maîtres du temps – a decision that he later regretted. Production designer Lawrence G. Paull and art director David Snyder realized Scott's and Mead's sketches. Douglas Trumbull and Richard Yuricich supervised the special effects for the film, and Mark Stetson served as chief model maker.

Blade Runner has numerous similarities to Fritz Lang's Metropolis, including a built-up urban environment, in which the wealthy literally live above the workers, dominated by a huge building – the Stadtkrone Tower in Metropolis and the Tyrell Building in Blade Runner. Special effects supervisor David Dryer used stills from Metropolis when lining up Blade Runner's miniature building shots.

The extended end scene in the original theatrical release shows Rachael and Deckard traveling into daylight with pastoral aerial shots filmed by director Stanley Kubrick. Ridley Scott contacted Kubrick about using some of his surplus helicopter aerial photography from The Shining.

Spinner

Main article: Spinner (Blade Runner)
A "spinner" (police variant) on display at Disney-MGM Studios in the 1990s

"Spinner" is the generic term for the fictional flying cars used in the film. A spinner can be driven as a ground-based vehicle, and take off vertically, hover, and cruise much like vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. They are used extensively by the police as patrol cars, and wealthy people can also acquire spinner licenses. The vehicle was conceived and designed by Syd Mead who described the spinner as an aerodyne – a vehicle which directs air downward to create lift, though press kits for the film stated that the spinner was propelled by three engines: "conventional internal combustion, jet, and anti-gravity". A spinner is on permanent exhibit at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in Seattle, Washington. Mead's conceptual drawings were transformed into 25 vehicles by automobile customizer Gene Winfield; at least two were working ground vehicles, while others were light-weight mockups for crane shots and set decoration for street shots. Two of them ended up at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, but were later destroyed, and a few others remain in private collections.

Voight-Kampff machine

A very advanced form of lie detector that measures contractions of the iris muscle and the presence of invisible airborne particles emitted from the body. The bellows were designed for the latter function and give the machine the menacing air of a sinister insect. The VK is used primarily by Blade Runners to determine if a suspect is truly human by measuring the degree of his empathic response through carefully worded questions and statements.

 – Description from the original press kit.

The Voight-Kampff machine is a fictional interrogation tool, originating from the novel (where it is spelled "Voigt-Kampff"). The Voight-Kampff is a polygraph-like machine used by blade runners to determine whether an individual is a replicant. It measures bodily functions such as respiration, blush response, heart rate and eye movement in response to questions dealing with empathy. In real life an approximation of the test using questions was created and used in jest by a newspaper in 2003 on the Mayoral candidates for the city of San Francisco, United States, apparently proving that at least half of them would be classified as replicants.

Music

Main article: Blade Runner (soundtrack)

The Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis is a dark melodic combination of classic composition and futuristic synthesizers which mirrors the film noir retro-future envisioned by Scott. Vangelis, fresh from his Academy Award-winning score for Chariots of Fire, composed and performed the music on his synthesizers. He also made use of various chimes and the vocals of collaborator Demis Roussos. Another memorable sound is the tenor sax solo "Love Theme" by British saxophonist Dick Morrissey, who performed on many of Vangelis's albums. Ridley Scott also used "Memories of Green" from the Vangelis album See You Later, an orchestral version of which Scott would later use in his film Someone to Watch Over Me.

Along with Vangelis's compositions and ambient textures, the film's soundscape also features a track by the Japanese ensemble Nipponia – "Ogi no Mato" or "The Folding Fan as a Target" from the Nonesuch Records release Traditional Vocal and Instrumental Music – and a track by harpist Gail Laughton from "Harps of the Ancient Temples" on Laurel Records.

Despite being well received by fans and critically acclaimed and nominated in 1982 for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe as best original score, and the promise of a soundtrack album from Polydor Records in the end titles of the film, the release of the official soundtrack recording was delayed for over a decade. There are two official releases of the music from Blade Runner. In light of the lack of a release of an album, the New American Orchestra recorded an orchestral adaptation in 1982 which bore little resemblance to the original. Some of the film tracks would, in 1989, surface on the compilation Vangelis: Themes, but not until the 1992 release of the Director's Cut version would a substantial amount of the film's score see commercial release.

These delays and poor reproductions led to the production of many bootleg recordings over the years. A bootleg tape surfaced in 1982 at science fiction conventions and became popular given the delay of an official release of the original recordings, and in 1993 "Off World Music, Ltd" created a bootleg CD that would prove more comprehensive than Vangelis' official CD in 1994. A set with three CDs of Blade Runner-related Vangelis music was released in 2007. Titled Blade Runner Trilogy, the first disc contains the same tracks as the 1994 official soundtrack release, the second features previously unreleased music from the film, and the third disc is all newly composed music from Vangelis, inspired by, and in the spirit of the film.

Special effects

The film's special effects are generally recognized to be among the best in the genre, using the available (non-digital) technology to the fullest. Special effects engineers who worked on the film are often praised for the innovative technology they used to produce and design certain aspects of those visuals. In addition to matte paintings and models, the techniques employed included multipass exposures. In some scenes, the set was lit, shot, the film rewound, and then rerecorded over with different lighting. In some cases this was done 16 times in all. The cameras were frequently motion controlled using computers. Many effects used techniques which had been developed during the production of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Release

Theatrical run

Blade Runner was released in 1,290 theaters on June 25, 1982. That date was chosen by producer Alan Ladd Jr. because his previous highest-grossing films (Star Wars and Alien) had a similar opening date (May 25) in 1977 and 1979, making the 25th of the month his "lucky day". Blade Runner grossed reasonably good ticket sales in its opening weekend; earning $6.1 million during its first weekend in theaters. The film was released close to other major science-fiction and fantasy releases such as The Thing, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Conan the Barbarian and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which affected its commercial success.

Versions

Main article: Versions of Blade Runner

Several versions of Blade Runner have been shown. The original workprint version (1982, 113 minutes) was shown for audience test previews in Denver and Dallas in March 1982. Negative responses to the previews led to the modifications resulting in the U.S. theatrical version. The workprint was shown as a director's cut without Scott's approval at the Los Angeles Fairfax Theater in May 1990, at an AMPAS showing in April 1991, and in September and October 1991 at the Los Angeles NuArt Theater and the San Francisco Castro Theatre. Positive responses pushed the studio to approve work on an official director's cut. A San Diego Sneak Preview was shown only once, in May 1982, and was almost identical to the U.S. theatrical version but contained three extra scenes not shown in any other version, including the 2007 Final Cut.

Two versions were shown in the film's 1982 theatrical release: the U.S. theatrical version (117 minutes), known as the original version or Domestic Cut (released on Betamax, CED Videodisc and VHS in 1983, and on LaserDisc in 1987), and the International Cut (117 minutes), also known as the "Criterion Edition" or "uncut version", which included more violent action scenes than the U.S. version. Although initially unavailable in the U.S. and distributed in Europe and Asia via theatrical and local Warner Home Video releases, the International Cut was later released on VHS and The Criterion Collection Laserdisc in North America, and re-released in 1992 as a "10th Anniversary Edition".

Ridley Scott's Director's Cut (1992, 116 minutes) had significant changes from the theatrical version including the removal of Deckard's voice-over, the re-insertion of the unicorn sequence, and the removal of the studio-imposed happy ending. Scott provided extensive notes and consultation to Warner Bros. through film preservationist Michael Arick, who was put in charge of creating the Director's Cut.

It is often falsely claimed that the unicorn sequence was an outtake from Ridley Scott's follow-up film Legend which also features unicorns, but it was in fact shot for Blade Runner as "additional photography" by second unit cinematographer Brian Tufano.

Scott's definitive The Final Cut (2007, 117 minutes) was released by Warner Bros. theatrically on October 5, 2007, and subsequently released on DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc in December 2007. This is the only version over which Scott had complete artistic and editorial control.

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 89% approval rating based on 132 reviews, with an average rating of 8.50/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Misunderstood when it first hit theaters, the influence of Ridley Scott's mysterious, neo-noir Blade Runner has deepened with time. A visually remarkable, achingly human sci-fi masterpiece." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 84 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".

Initial reactions among film critics were mixed. Some wrote that the plot took a back seat to the film's special effects and did not fit the studio's marketing as an action and adventure film. Others acclaimed its complexity and predicted it would stand the test of time. Negative criticism in the United States cited its slow pace. Sheila Benson from the Los Angeles Times called it "Blade Crawler", and Pat Berman in The State and Columbia Record described it as "science fiction pornography". Pauline Kael praised Blade Runner as worthy of a place in film history for its distinctive sci-fi vision, yet criticized the film's lack of development in "human terms". Ares magazine said, "Misunderstood by audiences and critics alike, it is by far the best science fiction film of the year."

Cultural analysis

Academics began analyzing the film almost as soon as it was released. One of the first books on the film was Paul M. Sammon's Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner (1996), which dissects all the details concerning the film making. He was followed by Scott Bukatman's Blade Runner and other books and academic articles. In Postmodern Metanarratives: Blade Runner and Literature in the Age of Image, Décio Torres Cruz analyzes the philosophical and psychological issues and the literary influences in Blade Runner. He examines the film's cyberpunk and dystopic elements by establishing a link between the Biblical, classical and modern traditions and the postmodern aspects in the film's collage of several literary texts.

The boom in home video formats helped establish a growing cult around the film, which scholars have dissected for its dystopic aspects, questions regarding "authentic" humanity, ecofeminist aspects and use of conventions from multiple genres. Popular culture began to reassess its impact as a classic several years after it was released. Roger Ebert praised the visuals of both the original and the Director's Cut and recommended it for that reason; however, he found the human story clichéd and a little thin. He later added The Final Cut to his "Great Movies" list. Critic Chris Rodley and Janet Maslin theorized that Blade Runner changed cinematic and cultural discourse through its image repertoire and subsequent influence on films. In 2012, Time film critic Richard Corliss surgically analyzed the durability, complexity, screenplay, sets and production dynamics from a personal, three-decade perspective. Denis Villeneuve, who directed the sequel, Blade Runner 2049, cites the film as a huge influence for him and many others.

It has also been noted for its postmodernist approach and that it contributes to the historical development of modern dystopia in film. Furthermore, the futuristic version of Los Angeles has been widely discussed by academics with some comparing it to Milton's descriptions of hell in Paradise Lost. A 2019 retrospective in the BBC argued that elements of the film's socio-political themes remained prescient in the real year of the film's setting, such as its depiction of climate change. From a more philosophical perspective, Alison Landsberg described Scott's direction of the film as a "prosthetic memory"—an action that has never happened and appears to be divorced from lived experience, yet it defines personhood and identity within the wider Blade Runner universe.

Awards and nominations

Blade Runner won or received nominations for the following awards:

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1982 British Society of Cinematographers Best Cinematography Jordan Cronenweth Nominated
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Cinematography Won
1983 British Academy Film Awards Best Cinematography Won
Best Costume Design Charles Knode and Michael Kaplan Won
Best Editing Terry Rawlings Nominated
Best Film Music Vangelis Nominated
Best Makeup and Hair Marvin Westmore Nominated
Best Production Design Lawrence G. Paull Won
Best Sound Peter Pennell, Bud Alper, Graham V. Hartstone, and Gerry Humphreys Nominated
Best Special Visual Effects Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich, and David Dryer Nominated
Hugo Award Best Dramatic Presentation Won
London Film Critics' Circle Special Achievement Award Lawrence G. Paull, Douglas Trumbull, and Syd Mead Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Original Score Vangelis Nominated
Academy Awards Best Art Direction Lawrence G. Paull, David Snyder, and Linda DeScenna Nominated
Best Visual Effects Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich, and David Dryer Nominated
Saturn Award Best Director Ridley Scott Nominated
Best Science Fiction Film Nominated
Best Special Effects Douglas Trumbull and Richard Yuricich Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Rutger Hauer Nominated
Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award Ridley Scott Nominated
1993 Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award Best Film – Ridley Scott (Director's Cut) Nominated
1994 Saturn Award Best Genre Video Release Blade Runner (Director's Cut) Nominated
2008 Best DVD Special Edition Release Blade Runner (5-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition) Won

Themes

Main article: Themes in Blade Runner

The film operates on multiple dramatic and narrative levels. It employs some of the conventions of film noir, among them the character of a femme fatale; narration by the protagonist (in the original release); chiaroscuro cinematography; and giving the hero a questionable moral outlook – extended to include reflections upon the nature of his own humanity. It is a literate science fiction film, thematically enfolding the philosophy of religion and moral implications of human mastery of genetic engineering in the context of classical Greek drama and hubris. It also draws on Biblical images, such as Noah's flood, and literary sources, such as Frankenstein and William Blake. Although Scott said any similarity was merely coincidental, fans claimed that the chess game between Sebastian and Tyrell was based on the famous Immortal Game of 1851.

Blade Runner delves into the effects of technology on the environment and society by reaching to the past, using literature, religious symbolism, classical dramatic themes, and film noir techniques. This tension between past, present, and future is represented in the "retrofitted" future depicted in the film, one which is high-tech and gleaming in places but decayed and outdated elsewhere. In an interview with The Observer in 2002, director Ridley Scott described the film as "extremely dark, both literally and metaphorically, with an oddly masochistic feel". He also said that he "liked the idea of exploring pain" in the wake of his brother's death: "When he was ill, I used to go and visit him in London, and that was really traumatic for me."

A sense of foreboding and paranoia pervades the world of the film: corporate power looms large; the police seem omnipresent; vehicle and warning lights probe into buildings; and the consequences of huge biomedical power over the individual are explored – especially regarding replicants' implanted memories. The film depicts a world post ecocide, where warfare and capitalism have led to destruction of 'normal' ecological systems. Control over the environment is exercised on a vast scale, and goes hand in hand with the absence of any natural life; for example, artificial animals stand in for their extinct predecessors. This oppressive backdrop explains the frequently referenced migration of humans to "off-world" (extraterrestrial) colonies. Eyes are a recurring motif, as are manipulated images, calling into question the nature of reality and our ability to accurately perceive and remember it. The film also consists of themes of Japan as a power, coming amid a time of anti-Japanese sentiment in the United States.

These thematic elements provide an atmosphere of uncertainty for Blade Runner's central theme of examining humanity. In order to discover replicants, an empathy test is used, with a number of its questions focused on the treatment of animals – seemingly an essential indicator of one's "humanity". Replicants will not respond the same way humans would, showing a lack of concern. The film goes so far as to question if Deckard might be a replicant, in the process asking the audience to re-evaluate what it means to be human.

The question of whether Deckard is intended to be a human or a replicant has been an ongoing controversy since the film's release. Both Michael Deeley and Harrison Ford wanted Deckard to be human, while Hampton Fancher preferred ambiguity. Ridley Scott has stated that in his vision, Deckard is a replicant. Deckard's unicorn-dream sequence, inserted into Scott's Director's Cut and concomitant with Gaff's parting gift of an origami unicorn, is seen by many as showing that Deckard is a replicant – because Gaff could have retrieved Deckard's implanted memories. The interpretation that Deckard is a replicant is challenged by others who believe the unicorn imagery shows that the characters, whether human or replicant, share the same dreams and recognize their affinity, or that the absence of a decisive answer is crucial to the film's main theme. The film's inherent ambiguity and uncertainty, as well as its textual richness, have permitted multiple interpretations.

Legacy

Cultural impact

See also: Tears in rain monologue
Screenshot of a police spinner flying through a cityscape next to a large building which has a huge face projected onto it. In the distance a screen can be seen with writing and pictures on it
A police spinner flying beside enormous skyscrapers, some with electronic billboards on them. Special effects such as these were benchmarks and have been highly influential on the esthetics of subsequent sci-fi films.
Tesla's Cybertruck was heavily inspired by Blade Runner.

While not initially a success with North American audiences, Blade Runner was popular internationally and garnered a cult following. The film's dark style and futuristic designs have served as a benchmark and its influence can be seen in many subsequent science fiction films, video games, anime, and television programs. Its influence has also extended beyond the science fiction genre, especially in the creation of cinematic worlds. For example, Denis Villeneuve, Christopher Nolan, Guillermo del Toro, Gareth Edwards, Rian Johnson, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick have all cited it as an influence. Nolan notes that he has seen Blade Runner "literally hundreds of times", while del Toro describes it as "one of those cinematic drugs, that when I first saw it, I never saw the world the same way again."

The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1993 and is frequently taught in university courses. In 2007, it was named the second-most visually influential film of all time by the Visual Effects Society. The film has also been the subject of parody, such as the comics Blade Bummer by Crazy comics, Bad Rubber by Steve Gallacci, and the Red Dwarf 2009 three-part miniseries "Back to Earth". The anime series Psycho-Pass by Production I.G was also highly influenced by the film.

Blade Runner continues to reflect modern trends and concerns, and an increasing number of critics consider it one of the greatest science fiction films of all time. It was voted the best science fiction film ever made in a 2004 poll of 60 eminent world scientists. Blade Runner is also cited as an important influence to both the style and story of the Ghost in the Shell franchise, which itself has been highly influential to the future-noir genre. Blade Runner has been very influential to the cyberpunk movement. It also influenced the cyberpunk derivative biopunk, which revolves around biotechnology and genetic engineering. The film is also considered to be one of the early examples of the tech noir subgenre.

The dialogue and music in Blade Runner has been sampled in music more than any other film of the 20th century. The 2009 album I, Human by Singaporean band Deus Ex Machina makes numerous references to the genetic engineering and cloning themes from the film, and even features a track titled "Replicant".

Blade Runner is cited as a major influence on Warren Spector, designer of the video game Deus Ex, which displays evidence of the film's influence in both its visual rendering and plot. Indeed, the film's look – and in particular its overall darkness, preponderance of neon lights and opaque visuals – are easier to render than complicated backdrops, making it a popular reference point for video game designers. It has influenced adventure games such as the 2012 graphical text adventure Cypher, Rise of the Dragon, Snatcher, the Tex Murphy series, Beneath a Steel Sky, Flashback: The Quest for Identity, Bubblegum Crisis video games (and their original anime), the role-playing game Shadowrun, the first-person shooter Perfect Dark, the shooter game Skyhammer, and the Syndicate series of video games.

The logos of Atari, Bell, Coca-Cola, Cuisinart, Pan Am, and RCA, all market leaders at the time, were prominently displayed as product placement in the film, and all experienced setbacks after the film's release, leading to suggestions of a Blade Runner curse. Coca-Cola and Cuisinart recovered, and Tsingtao beer was also featured in the film and was more successful after the film than before.

The design of Tesla's Cybertruck was inspired by the film. Prior to its release Elon Musk promised that it would "look like something out of Blade Runner". Besides referring to the truck as the "Blade Runner Truck", Musk chose to debut the truck in order to coincide with the film's setting of November 2019. The film's art designer Syd Mead praised the truck and said he was "flattered" by the homage to Blade Runner.

Media recognition

Year Presenter Title Rank Refs
2001 The Village Voice 100 Best Films of the 20th Century 94
2002 Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) Top 100 Sci-fi Films of the Past 100 Years 2
Sight & Sound Sight & Sound Top Ten Poll 2002 45
50 Klassiker, Film
2003 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
Entertainment Weekly The Top 50 Cult Movies 9
2004 The Guardian, scientists Top 10 Sci-fi Films of All Time 1
2005 Total Film's editors 100 Greatest Movies of All Time 47
Time magazine's critics "All-Time 100" Movies
2008 New Scientist All-time favorite science fiction film (readers and staff) 1
Empire The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time 20
2010 Total Film 100 Greatest Movies of All Time
2012 Sight & Sound Sight & Sound 2012 critics top 250 films 69
Sight & Sound Sight & Sound 2012 directors top 100 films 67
2017 Empire The 100 Greatest Movies Of All Time 13
2022 IGN Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies of All Time 2
2022 Sight & Sound Sight & Sound 2022 critics top 100 films 54

American Film Institute recognition

In other media

Before filming began, Cinefantastique magazine commissioned Paul M. Sammon to write a special issue about Blade Runner's production which became the book Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner. The book chronicles Blade Runner's evolution, focusing on film-set politics, especially the British director's experiences with his first American film crew; of which producer Alan Ladd, Jr. has said, "Harrison wouldn't speak to Ridley and Ridley wouldn't speak to Harrison. By the end of the shoot Ford was 'ready to kill Ridley', said one colleague. He really would have taken him on if he hadn't been talked out of it." Future Noir has short cast biographies and quotations about their experiences as well as photographs of the film's production and preliminary sketches. A second edition of Future Noir was published in 2007, and additional materials not in either print edition have been published online.

Philip K. Dick refused a $400,000 offer to write a Blade Runner novelization, saying: "⁠ told the cheapo novelization would have to appeal to the twelve-year-old audience" and it "would have probably been disastrous to me artistically". He added, "That insistence on my part of bringing out the original novel and not doing the novelization – they were just furious. They finally recognized that there was a legitimate reason for reissuing the novel, even though it cost them money. It was a victory not just of contractual obligations but of theoretical principles." Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was eventually reprinted as a tie-in, with the film poster as a cover and the original title in parentheses below the Blade Runner title. Additionally, a novelization of the movie entitled Blade Runner: A Story of the Future by Les Martin was released in 1982. Archie Goodwin scripted the comic book adaptation, A Marvel Comics Super Special: Blade Runner, published in September 1982, which was illustrated by Al Williamson, Carlos Garzon, Dan Green, and Ralph Reese, and lettered by Ed King.

Blue Dolphin Enterprises published the film's screenplay combined with selected production storyboards as The Illustrated Blade Runner (June 1982); a book of original production artwork by Syd Mead, Mentor Huebner, Charles Knode, Michael Kaplan, and Ridley Scott as Blade Runner Sketchbook (1982); and The Blade Runner Portfolio (1982), a collection of twelve photographic prints, similar to the artist portfolios released by their Schanes & Schanes imprint.

There are two video games based on the film, both titled Blade Runner: one from 1985, a side-scrolling video game for Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC by CRL Group PLC, which is marked as "a video game interpretation of the film score by Vangelis" rather than of the film itself (due to licensing issues); and another from 1997, a point-and-click adventure for PC by Westwood Studios. The 1997 game has a non-linear plot based in the Blade Runner world, non-player characters that each ran in their own independent AI, and an unusual pseudo-3D engine (which eschewed polygonal solids in favor of voxel elements) that did not require the use of a 3D accelerator card to play the game. Eldon Tyrell, Gaff, Leon, Rachael, Chew, J. F. Sebastian and Howie Lee appear, and their voice files are recorded by the original actors, with the exception of Gaff, who is replaced by Javier Grajeda (as Victor Gardell) and Howie Lee, who is replaced by Toru Nagai. The player assumes the role of McCoy, another replicant-hunter working at the same time as Deckard.

The television film (and later series) Total Recall 2070 was initially planned as a spin-off of the film Total Recall (based on Philip K. Dick's short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale"), but was produced as a hybrid of Total Recall and Blade Runner. Many similarities between Total Recall 2070 and Blade Runner were noted, as well as apparent influences on the show from Isaac Asimov's The Caves of Steel and the TV series Holmes & Yoyo.

Documentaries

The film has been the subject of several documentaries.

Blade Runner: Convention Reel (1982, 13 minutes)
Co-directed by Muffet Kaufman and Jeffrey B. Walker, shot and screened in 16 mm, featured no narrator, was filmed in 1981 while Blade Runner was still in production and featured short "behind-the-scenes" segments showing sets being built and sequences being shot, as well as interviews with Ridley Scott, Syd Mead and Douglas Trumbull. Appears on the Blade Runner Ultimate Collector's Edition.
On the Edge of Blade Runner (2000, 55 minutes)
Directed by Andrew Abbott and hosted/written by Mark Kermode. Interviews with production staff, including Scott, give details of the creative process and the turmoil during pre-production. Insights into Philip K. Dick and the origins of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? are provided by Paul M. Sammon and Hampton Fancher.
Future Shocks (2003, 27 minutes)
Directed by TVOntario. It includes interviews with executive producer Bud Yorkin, Syd Mead, and the cast, and commentary by science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer and from film critics.
Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner (2007, 213 minutes)
Directed and produced by Charles de Lauzirika for The Final Cut version of the film. Its source material comprises more than 80 interviews, including extensive conversations with Ford, Young, and Scott. The documentary is presented in eight chapters, with each of the first seven covering a portion of the filmmaking process. The final chapter examines Blade Runner's controversial legacy.
All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut (2007, 29 minutes)
Produced by Paul Prischman, appears on the Blade Runner Ultimate Collector's Edition and provides an overview of the film's multiple versions and their origins, as well as detailing the seven-year-long restoration, enhancement and remastering process behind The Final Cut.
Blade Runner Phenomenon (2021, 53 minutes)
Directed by Boris Hars-Tschachotin and made by the France and Germany European public service channel ARTE, this documentary informs viewers using behind-the-scenes material from various sets, photos, original locations in Los Angeles, and interviews with those involved in the production.

Sequel and related media

Main article: Blade Runner (franchise)
Screen capture of DVD bonus feature from Prometheus (2012), a dictated letter by Peter Weyland about Eldon Tyrell, chief executive officer of the Tyrell Corporation

A sequel was released in 2017, titled Blade Runner 2049, with Ryan Gosling alongside Ford in the starring roles. It entered production in mid-2016 and is set decades after the first film. Harrison Ford reprised his role as Rick Deckard. The film won two Academy Awards, for cinematography and visual effects.

The world of Blade Runner has also come to be explored in animation. Blade Runner 2049 was preceded by the release of three short films that served as prequels, where the chronological first, Blade Runner Black Out 2022, was anime (the other two, 2036: Nexus Dawn and 2048: Nowhere to Run, were live action, not animated).

In November 2021, a Japanese-American anime television series called Blade Runner: Black Lotus was released. The series tells the story of a female replicant protagonist, rather than that of a male Blade Runner one.

Dick's friend K. W. Jeter wrote three authorized Blade Runner novels that continue Rick Deckard's story, attempting to resolve the differences between the film and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? These are Blade Runner 2: The Edge of Human (1995), Blade Runner 3: Replicant Night (1996), and Blade Runner 4: Eye and Talon (2000).

Blade Runner co-writer David Peoples wrote the 1998 action film Soldier, which he referred to as a "sidequel" or spiritual successor to the original film; the two are set in a shared universe. A bonus feature on the Blu-ray for Prometheus, the 2012 film by Scott set in the Alien universe, states that Eldon Tyrell, CEO of the Blade Runner Tyrell Corporation, was the mentor of Guy Pearce's character Peter Weyland.

In late 2022, Amazon announced a Blade Runner 2049 sequel series would be produced. On October 12, 2022, an apparent official approval to actually make a Blade Runner 2099 TV series was reported.

See also

Notes

  1. Sebastian's death was never shot because of concerns over too much violence in the film.
  2. Some editions of Nourse's novel use the two-word spacing Blade Runner, as does the Burroughs book.

References

  1. ^ "Blade Runner". British Board of Film Classification. May 27, 1982. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  2. "Blade Runner". AFI.com. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
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