Alphaville

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Alphaville

1965,

1h 38m,

Sci-Fi/

Drama/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

92%

51 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Government agent Lemmy Caution (Eddie Constantine) is dispatched on a secret mission to Alphaville, a dystopian metropolis in a distant corner of the galaxy. Caution is hot on the trail of rogue agent Henri Dickson (Akim Tamiroff) and a scientist named Von Braun, the creator of Alpha 60, a computer that uses mind control to rule over residents of Alphaville. Caution is aided in his quest to destroy the despotic computer ruler by Von Braun's own daughter, Natacha (Anna Karina).

Critics Consensus

While Alphaville is by no means a conventional sci-fi film, Jean-Luc Godard creates a witty, noir-ish future all his own.

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Bilge Ebiri

New York Magazine/Vulture

Dec 18, 2023

For all its influence, Alphaville still looks and feels like no other movie. More than a prophecy, it is poetry.

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Chris Vognar

Dallas Morning News

May 29, 2014

B

It's so archly intellectual that you fear it might splinter if you poke it in the ribs. It's also endlessly playful in its worship of American movie tropes, and deeply resourceful.

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

May 1, 2014

4/4

Nothing about this strange, moving work of agit-pop has ever seemed out of date. If anything, "Alphaville" moves closer to relevance with every passing year.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

May 20, 2025

A

It has its spot in history, and if you let yourself relax into what it’s doing — and respond to what it does instead of expecting it to do what you want — you’ll probably have a better time with it.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Feb 8, 2025

Jean-Luc Godard’s sole foray science fiction drama stirs “1984” and “Brave New World” into a pulp fiction private eye thriller.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Sep 14, 2024

3/4

Alphaville is Orwellian dystopia by way of Sam Spade sleuthing.

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Hagrid M

Aug 15, 2018

Imagine a French mashup of Dick Tracy and Brave New World and you've got this film. And I don't mean that in a good way. There's nothing this film can tell you that Brave New World or 1984 couldn't tell you in a better and more meaningful way.

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Abraham S

Aug 29, 2017

The kindest that I can say is that it aged tremendously bad, and I stop here because it would be disrespectful to add anything.

Draco R

Jul 6, 2017

A masterpiece. I wish I had the right words to describe my delight of this movie. Absolutely unique genre of sci-fi noir done with minimalist feel and yet very compelling and authentic. The voice of Alpha 60 is so hypnotic and memorable that it etches in your memory for a long time. Astounding and brilliant movie, makes you wonder how seemingly easy Godard created such convincing a universe.

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George W

Apr 25, 2017

This film is so unfulfilling in its story, so dull in atmosphere, and lame in script that the best I can give it is down the middle. Even with a limited budget Godard could have at least tried to make it feel like sci-fi, but no. He can't even make a good noir. There is okie-dokie satire and I don't mind the changing of tones but this film is just horribly uninteresting.

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Hermione R

Feb 18, 2017

I like the Film Noir aspects of this, and the dystopian idea of it...but I really had trouble staying into the film.

Anakin S

Sep 20, 2015

Interesting, but confusingly told by symbolic images and words. The deep voice was annoying. Props for making a futuristic noir sci fi without trying to create a different time or sets. 1001 movies to see before you die.

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Jean-Luc Godard

Director

Eddie Constantine

Lemmy Caution

Anna Karina

Natacha Von Braun

Akim Tamiroff

Henri Dickson

Valérie Boisgel

2nd Seductress Third Class (uncredited)

Jean-Louis Comolli

Prof. Jeckell (uncredited)

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Synopsis

Government agent Lemmy Caution (Eddie Constantine) is dispatched on a secret mission to Alphaville, a dystopian metropolis in a distant corner of the galaxy. Caution is hot on the trail of rogue agent Henri Dickson (Akim Tamiroff) and a scientist named Von Braun, the creator of Alpha 60, a computer that uses mind control to rule over residents of Alphaville. Caution is aided in his quest to destroy the despotic computer ruler by Von Braun's own daughter, Natacha (Anna Karina).

Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Producer: André Michelin
Screenwriter: Paul Éluard, Jean-Luc Godard
Distributor: Janus Films
Production Co: Athos Films, Chaumiane, Filmstudio
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): May 5, 1965, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Feb 7, 2014
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 4, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $46.6K
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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