RoboCop (1987)
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A murdered police officer is resurrected as a cyborg law enforcer in a crime-ridden city.
The story
In a near-future dystopia, Detroit is on the brink of social and financial collapse. Overwhelmed by crime and dwindling resources, the city grants the mega-corporation Omni Consumer Products (OCP) control of the Detroit Police Department. After officer Alex Murphy is murdered by a gang of criminals, he is revived by OCP as the cyborg law enforcer RoboCop. Unaware of his former life, RoboCop executes a campaign against crime while coming to terms with the lingering fragments of his humanity. He is hailed by the media for his brutally efficient campaign, while his partner, Anne Lewis, begins to suspect his true identity.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In a near-future dystopia, Detroit is on the brink of collapse and grants Omni Consumer Products (OCP) control of the police. After officer Alex Murphy is murdered by a gang led by Clarence Boddicker, he is resurrected as RoboCop, a cyborg with three prime directives. While patrolling, RoboCop's efficiency is noted by the media, and his partner, Anne Lewis, begins to suspect he is Murphy. As RoboCop recovers fragments of his memory, he tracks Boddicker's gang to a cocaine factory. After a violent confrontation, RoboCop attempts to apprehend OCP executive Dick Jones, but a fail-safe (Directive 4) prevents him from acting against company leadership. Following a series of skirmishes and a police strike that plunges Detroit into chaos, RoboCop confronts Jones at the OCP Tower. During a board meeting, RoboCop reveals the truth of Morton's death. After the 'Old Man' fires on him, the fail-safe is neutralized, allowing RoboCop to shoot and kill Jones. In the aftermath, the Old Man asks for his name, and he responds, 'Murphy'.
- First release year
- 1987
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Paul Verhoeven
- Writers
- Edward Neumeier · writer; Michael Miner · writer
- Cast and characters
- Peter Weller · Alex Murphy / RoboCop; Nancy Allen · Anne Lewis; Daniel O'Herlihy · The Old Man; Ronny Cox · Dick Jones; Kurtwood Smith · Clarence Boddicker; Miguel Ferrer · Bob Morton
- Genres
- science fiction; action
- Tone and mood
- action; satire
- Premise and plot tags
- cybernetic; dystopia; law enforcement
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film was a financial success and was critically reevaluated as one of the best films of the 1980s, praised for its satire and depiction of a robot's humanity despite its extreme violence.
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Sound Editing · 60th Academy Awards · win; Saturn Award · Best Science Fiction Film · win; Saturn Award · Best Director · win; Saturn Award · Best Writing · win; Saturn Award · Best Make-up · win; Saturn Award · Best Special Effects · win
- Production trivia
- The film was conceived by Neumeier while working on the set of Blade Runner.; The character of Dick Jones was intended to look like Nazi Party member Heinrich Himmler.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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