Roger Ebert’s Second Review Turned Blade Runner Into a Certified Masterpiece

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Roger Ebert started his career as a film critic in the 1960s and became one of the most respected voices in American cinema. He was known for championing great science fiction films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, and, like all great critics, he wasn’t afraid to revisit and revise his opinions. A prime example of this was his growing admiration for Harrison Ford’s classic cyberpunk thriller over time.

Roger Ebert became a highly influential film critic, known not just for his writing but for his ability to connect with a broad audience. He and Gene Siskel made watching movie reviews entertaining, and their TV show reached millions. For years, people relied on Ebert’s reviews to find great films. Even after his death in 2013, his work remains popular. Notably, in 2007, he revisited and updated his review of a beloved 1980s cult classic.

Blade Runner Defined the Cyberpunk Genre

The story takes place in 2019, in a future where Earth’s natural environment is ruined and humans have begun exploring space. Natural life is scarce, and the powerful Tyrell Corporation makes money by creating artificial life forms – everything from animals to human-like beings called replicants. These replicants are built to work as laborers in space or handle simple jobs on Earth, but they’re designed with a four-year lifespan to prevent them from rebelling. When replicants do rebel, specialized bounty hunters known as ‘Blade Runners’ are sent to eliminate them.

I’ve always been captivated by the story of Rick Deckard. He’s tasked with hunting down rogue replicants led by the powerful Roy Batty, but things get complicated. As he gets to know Rachael, another replicant, he starts to really question what he’s doing and what it all means. It’s a fascinating struggle, seeing him grapple with his feelings and the morality of his job.

A central theme of the film explores whether artificial beings can be considered equal to humans. Though the replicants commit violent acts, they also demonstrate compassion and humanity, sometimes even more so than Deckard, the Blade Runner. As Deckard grapples with his duty and his feelings for Rachael, he ultimately confronts Batty, leading to a pivotal moment of understanding.

Not only did tell a compelling story, but it also set a new standard for creating believable and detailed worlds. The director was challenged to imagine what Los Angeles would be like forty years ahead of his time. Though today’s viewers might expect things like flying cars or space travel, they can take comfort in the fact that the environmental disaster the film predicted hasn’t happened yet.

When the film first came out, audiences and reviewers often commented on how detailed and immersive Scott’s world felt. However, opinions on the story itself were divided. Some praised its film noir influences, while others found the overall tone too depressing.

Blade Runner Is the Definition of a Cult Classic

The 1980s produced many now-loved, but initially unsuccessful, films, particularly in science fiction. These movies often failed in theaters because they didn’t fit the generally upbeat style of Hollywood at the time. While audiences enjoyed lighthearted films like Back to the Future, John Carpenter’s The Thing was a major box office disappointment. Blade Runner is a prime example – it felt more like a dark, complex thriller from the 1970s than a typical ’80s movie, and its gloomy atmosphere and challenging story weren’t popular with audiences then.

Although Blade Runner wasn’t initially successful in theaters, it quickly gained a dedicated following among both viewers and critics. Thanks to revised cuts and special editions, the film eventually earned back its money through sales of home video copies. This growing appreciation after its initial release paved the way for a sequel. However, like the first film, the sequel – with a budget exceeding $150 million – didn’t make much money in theaters, but instead found a larger audience later on.

The Blade Runner movies consistently struggle at the box office initially, but often gain praise later on. A major reason for this is the high cost of creating the futuristic, high-tech world the films are set in. However, future installments might do better by focusing on smaller, more contained stories.

Roger Ebert Appreciated Blade Runner More With Time

When Blade Runner first came out, reactions were mixed. While it blended the style of classic film noir with a futuristic, cyberpunk setting, its dark visuals and unusual approach didn’t appeal to everyone initially. It became a beloved cult film, failing to gain traction at first but eventually being celebrated as a modern masterpiece. Notably, Roger Ebert was an early champion of the film, giving it a positive review with three out of four stars.

He noted back then that the director appeared to prioritize building impressive film settings over developing believable characters, which was a key weakness in this case. While Blade Runner is visually spectacular, it falls short as a compelling narrative.

Years after its release, Ebert revisited Blade Runner and significantly changed his opinion. He upgraded his review to a perfect four stars, now considering it a masterpiece. He realized his earlier criticisms of the story didn’t make sense considering the film’s central themes about what it means to be human. He confessed he’d always admired the film from a distance, but now acknowledged its place as a cinematic classic. This change of heart was largely due to the ‘Final Cut’ of the film, which removed Harrison Ford’s unwanted voiceover and refined the ending. Ebert believed this version was the definitive masterpiece he had previously missed.

It’s impossible to know if Roger Ebert truly changed his opinion of the movie or simply evolved with the times, but his openness to revisiting and admitting he hadn’t fully understood it before is admirable for any critic. Most fans would likely agree with his assessment that the ‘Final Cut’ took an already excellent film and made it almost perfect.

Throughout his career, Roger Ebert didn’t often look back at his old movie reviews, though he sometimes wrote articles reflecting on a film’s lasting influence. When he revisited his review of Blade Runner, he changed his opinion, praising the film and finally giving it a perfect score.

Ebert Isn’t Alone in His Opinion of Blade Runner

Many critics, including Roger Ebert, came to appreciate Blade Runner more over time, and its popularity on home video proves its lasting appeal. The film is incredibly influential, essentially creating the cyberpunk genre and significantly impacting modern science fiction. With its stunning visuals and a nod to classic thrillers, it’s easy to see why it gained a larger following.

This film is considered one of the most thoughtful and impactful in its genre, thanks to its strong themes and well-developed characters. While it wasn’t widely known at first, it’s gained popularity, though its sequel unfortunately proves the original still doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

Science fiction boasts many beloved cult classics, like James Cameron’s The Abyss and John Carpenter’s The Thing. Director Ridley Scott has often made films that weren’t immediately popular, but gained dedicated fans over time. Blade Runner, released in 1982, initially wasn’t a success, but slowly earned recognition as the groundbreaking film it is today.

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2025-11-10 05:41