By Robert Scucci
| Published 26 seconds ago
1976’s Futureworld is one of those movies that was eaten alive by critics, and one that I secretly love. It’s totally insane, and if I had to compare it to anything a little more modern while still dating myself, it would be the 1994 Simpsons episode “Itchy and Scratchy Land.” In that iconic episode, animatronic robots go on an axe-wielding rampage, which isn’t a far cry from what happens in Futureworld. What’s unfortunate about Futureworld, though, is that it’s a deadly serious film, even though there are plenty of opportunities for laughs.
I’m not going to rail on Futureworld for not being a comedy when it’s clearly billed as a thriller. I just want to point out that a little added levity baked into the premise might have helped its reception. As it stands, the film currently sits at a 31 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels a bit harsh. There are plenty of great visuals in Futureworld, and I tend to throw it on as a vibe piece, but I also understand why its thematic shortcomings kept it from leaving a lasting impression within the broader sci-fi community.
Not Everything Is As It Seems At Futureworld
Functioning as a direct sequel to the critically acclaimed Westworld (1973), Futureworld picks up two years after the events of its predecessor. Following the disaster at the futuristic Westworld amusement park, the Delos Corporation is ready to reopen under new branding, and they’re eager to let the press take a look around. Four new parks Spaworld, Medievalworld, Romanworld, and Futureworld are introduced, with a reported $1.5 billion poured into the project to make it all possible.
When reporters Chuck Browning (Peter Fonda) and Tracy Ballard (Blythe Danner) are assigned to explore the park and document their findings, they jump at the opportunity, completely unaware of the sinister truth lurking beneath the surface. They choose to explore Futureworld, tapping into what most journalists would consider a career-defining scoop. The park is run entirely by robots, and its command center operates with NASA-level calculation and coordination.
The problem is that what initially appears to be a flawless operation slowly starts to show its cracks. Beneath the park’s obsessive attention to detail, far more disturbing activity is happening behind the scenes. While the public is distracted by sex robots and life-sized Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots attractions, world leaders are quietly being cloned, with their human counterparts eliminated in the process.
Chuck and Tracy soon realize that danger is lurking around every corner, but they’ve already dug themselves too deep into the park’s inner workings to simply walk away and report what they’ve uncovered. Finding an ally in a mechanic named Harry (Stuart Margolin), the two reporters attempt to expose what’s really happening behind closed doors at Futureworld. The real tension comes from wondering whether they’ll ever find a way out of this cold, calculating environment alive.
Great Visuals Around Every Corner
I’m drawn to Futureworld almost entirely for its visuals. The robotics alone make it worth revisiting on a rainy day, especially since the film nails that uncanny valley feeling I can’t get enough of. The storytelling often feels like a cheaper knockoff of Westworld, but that’s not exactly a surprise. Westworld is the superior film by most measures, yet Futureworld remains a blast to look at. Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner do what they can with the screenplay, and their sense of urgency never feels phoned in as their characters stumble onto a massive conspiracy during what should have been a routine press tour.
While I don’t agree with Futureworld’s critical assessment, it is easily the weaker entry in the Westworld franchise. That said, it’s far from charm-free. I’d recommend it based on vibe alone if you’re in the mood to watch some robots go haywire. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll probably have a good time with this one.
Futureworld is currently streaming for free on Tubi.
