Life out of balance
Takes us to locations all around the US and shows us the heavy toll that modern technology is having on humans and the earth. The visual tone poem contains neither dialogue nor a vocalized narration: its tone is set by the juxtaposition of images and the exceptional music by Philip Glass.
Koyaanisqatsi (1983) is a documentary and music film directed by Godfrey Reggio, released on April 27, 1983 with a runtime of 1h 26m. It stars Ed Asner, Pat Benatar, Johnny Carson and Dick Cavett. Viewers rate it 7.9 out of 10 across 795 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Koyaanisqatsi before you stream it.
Ed Asner
as Self (archive footage)
Pat Benatar
as Self
Johnny Carson
as Self (archive footage)
Dick Cavett
as Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Chambers
as Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis Jr.
as Self (archive footage)
Lou Dobbs
as Self (archive footage)
Linda Ellerbee
as Self (archive footage)
Peter Sellers
as Self (archive footage)
Thomas Dolby
as Self (archive footage)
Directed by Godfrey Reggio, written by Ron Fricke, Jacques Ellul and Ivan Illich, produced by Godfrey Reggio.
Average viewer score of 7.9/10 from 795 ratings.
This is an art film of sorts, eschewing dialogue or narration or a recognizable plot for a visual and musical banquet of images and scenes. So if you are into art films (or want to appear like you are), this is the film for you. The photographic techniques remind me of nature films, which may not be a coincidence since the subject matter seems to Focus on what is seen as being against nature. So it is all here:…
Reviewed on September 20, 2020
**For the general public, this film is uninteresting. However, it will have merits if displayed within the most correct context.** I've heard of this film as a documentary, but I honestly don't know if Godfrey Reggio really wanted to document anything. This was the director's debut, and for a first work we can say that there is quality, even though it is a somewhat strange film because it has nothing more than a…
Reviewed on October 6, 2023
In the Hopi language, this means a mess or a melée and that’s a pretty good description of this ultimate in observational documentaries. It starts and finishes showing us some of the most stunning and striking natural phenomena from the North American continent before gradually dipping its toe into the world of human endeavour. From some of the most impressive features nature created over millennia to some almost…
Reviewed on February 6, 2025
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Koyaanisqatsi (1983) is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. No subscription streaming option is listed right now, so availability may change.
The main cast of Koyaanisqatsi (1983) includes Ed Asner, Pat Benatar, Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett and Marilyn Chambers. The film was directed by Godfrey Reggio. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Koyaanisqatsi was released on April 27, 1983 and runs for 1h 26m.
Koyaanisqatsi (1983) holds an average rating of 7.9 out of 10 from 795 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy documentary and music films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Koyaanisqatsi trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
