Film ParticularsNot Rated
Creative Contributors
Fritz Lang
1890 - 1976
Metropolis
In a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the wealthy elite, the son of the city's mastermind falls in love with a working-class prophet.
Why Watch This Film?
Watch it to witness the visual source code of modern science fiction. Fritz Lang's special optical effects and the physical design of the legendary female robot are still jaw-dropping today.
Original Editorial Review
Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927) is the grand ancestor of all science fiction cinema. Its massive scale, breathtaking special effects, and iconic architectural designs of a towering futuristic mega-city continue to influence modern blockbusters from Star Wars to Blade Runner. Budgeted at over 5 million Reichsmarks, it was the most expensive film ever made at the time and nearly bankrupted its studio. The film's depiction of the "Maschinenmensch" (the iconic robot Maria) remains one of the most recognizable designs in pop culture. Over the decades, much of the original film was lost, but a miraculous discovery of a near-complete print in Argentina in 2008 allowed for the restoration of Lang's ultimate cut. The film is in the public domain in many jurisdictions, allowing science fiction lovers to explore its masterwork.
Archival Registry & Licensing Details
This film is hosted on the Internet Archive, a digital library with 501(c)(3) non-profit status that provides free public access to digital materials. It has been verified as public domain under United States copyright laws.
Archival Note: Under the 1909 US Copyright Act, statutory works published without an explicit copyright notice entered the public domain immediately. This film resides within public domain distribution.
Frequently Answered Questions
Is Metropolis (1927) in the public domain?
Yes, Metropolis has entered the public domain in various countries around the world due to the expiration of its copyright. The original version can be legally streamed and adapted by artists and platforms.
What is the message of Metropolis?
The film's central theme is encapsulated in its famous closing epigram: "The Mediator Between the Head and the Hands Must Be the Heart." It argues that society cannot function purely on the intellect of the rich planners ("the head") or the raw labor of the working class ("the hands") without empathy and love ("the heart") to unite them.