On This Day

Soylent Green released

April 19th 1973

09:43 19 April 2024

'Soylent Green' opened in US theaters on this day in 1973. Richard Fleischer's dystopian thriller stars Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young and Edward G. Robinson in his final film role.

Based loosely on Harry Harrison's 1966 science fiction novel 'Make Room! Make Room', the movie is set in a densely populated, starving New York City in the year 2022.

Heston plays NYPD detective Robert Thorn who, while investigating the murder of an executive of the powerful Soylent Corporation, uncovers the terrible truth about Soylent Green. Fleischer's film opened to mixed reviews but has since gone on to become a cult classic.