“Soylent Green” – A Pop Culture Sci-Fi Classic!
As with all of you, I have been “quarantined at home” for the past several weeks, and it has given me the chance to dip into Hollywood classics, including one that has quite the reputation and one of the best punchlines in cinematic history!
In 1973, Hollywood legend Charlton Heston starred in one of science fiction’s most enduring classics – with a classic twist!
This “Cult Movie Monday” looks at the film that inspired the band Green Day’s name, and offered a twisted view of the future.
Here is the classic trailer for “Soylent Green”, showing life in New York City in 2022!
As you saw in the trailer, by the year 2022, Earth is overpopulated and polluted; our nation is kept alive by new kind of food, provided by Soylent Industries. But is this food REALLY plankton from the oceans?
When an Executive is murdered, a tough NY Detective investigates, and discovers the disturbing secret of the ingredient used to manufacture Soylent Green!
Wait, Soylent Green Is WHAT?!?!?!?!?!
Yes, there’s a secret ingredient in that little green wafer…which has made the movie a pop culture classic!
In the decades since the release of the film, the “secret” has become well known – much the same way we discovered that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker’s father…and “Soylent Green” has become a pop culture phenomenon!
“Soylent Green Is People!”
As you can see, it is one of the funniest punch lines that lives on from this science fiction classic – you find it used on T-Shirts, restaurant billboards and more – but here is something about the film that you might not know:
“Soylent Green” Is The Origin Of “Green Day!”
One of the most interesting bits of trivia is how the film inspired the band Green Day’s name!
As I’ve shown you, a sign saying “Tuesday is Soylent Green Day” appears in the film. It is legend that this inspired the name of the rock band Green Day. The font on the store-front window matches the ones that are used on Green Day’s “Uno”, “Dos”, and “Tres” albums!
The band hasn’t confirmed this, and some claim the name is based on the band’s fondness for cannabis, but the sign is clear:
This was also the third classic science fiction film made within five years by Heston:
This trio of sci-fi films are all terrific – you can click here to see the trailers for them:
So there you have it, Charlton Heston’s science fiction classic, available on demand and blu-ray for you to bite in to!
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Categories: 70's Cinema, Action Films, Books / Media, Classic Rock, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Movies, Music, Obscure Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
I heard 20-25 years ago that Green Day got their name from this movie, but now they deny it, claiming it has to do with pot. My theory is that it has more to do with Heston being conservative….
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Yes, I heard they took it back , but look at that still photo from the film…I can’t be a coincidence! Thanks for commenting!
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Why have I NEVER heard of “Soylent Green”?? Now I have to watch it. I remember vividly watching the first Planet of the Apes and playing I was Zira…
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Cindy, probably more people have heard the phrase “soylent green is people” than have actually seen the film! Planet Of The Apes BLEW MY MIND when I saw it a a young kid…
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Me, too! I fell in love with Roddy McDowell.
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I have not watched this movie, John, but I have heard all about it. This is another exceptionally clever idea for a story.
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I remember that movie, and the shocking ending. I had no idea It inspired Green Day’s name.
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Sounds like a film my other half would love! Thank you for sharing.
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It’s one of my favourites from back then, so i did know about the band using that as their name. Great triple-bill feature today, John. All excellent films in their day.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Rewatched this a few months ago and really enjoyed it.
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I remember the shocking reveal at the end!!! So interesting about Green Day’s name origin story
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