In Search of Tomorrow

I can't imagine a better documentary about 80s science fiction movies than In Search of Tomorrow. Superb interviews, top-notch production and use of film footage. The producers were able to get interviews with lots of key people involved in making these films as well as top-notch commentators. They were not the top figures, such as George Lucas or James Cameron, but still included many big stars such as Billy Dee Williams and many lesser known figures who nonetheless had A-level insights. I was very happy to see interviews with people such as Nicholas Meyer, Peter Hyams, Joe Dante, Kerry O'Quinn, Peter Weller and Alex North. I gained a lot of appreciation for them and all of the films that were featured. I learned a lot and enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who loves 80s science fiction. I was a backer of the film on Indiegogo and am extremely happy with the results.

This is more of a Thank-you letter than strictly a review. I was always intrigued by the concept of this feature, but to finally see this masterpiece, I was amazed by the magic they so brilliantly brought back for me and my sons.

The irony is not just hearing from those individuals who discuss their role in film history but them actually discuss the films that changed them as well. It is 5 hours but like the best features, it goes by so fast and believe me you'll want a lot more! There are many highlights, I was touched hearing Ivan Reitman speak so kindly of his role, productions and his love for his favourite composer.

I'm sure everyone will have their faves, but it a wide range of reviewed titles from iconic to cult.

I look forward to watching it again and again to see which detail I may have missed.

It's a fantastic investment, and it bonus gift is reawakening the passion for this decade of these films will do to the viewer. (My sons and I have at least two watchlists).

The quality of the behind the scenes, trailers and film stock is second to none, absolutely amazing care and craft went into this production.

Associate backer here. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire documentary. Structure wise, it's edited well, music is great, interviews and stories are fun.

Content was great for me as well, even though I pretty much already knew every single thing they showed or mentioned and could probably recite nearly every scene that they featured.

My only gripe was it being a bit too heavy on the global warming preaching. It doesn't fit for the genre of that time in the first place, as the social commentary of sci-fi in the 70's and 80's was about nuclear war, population issues, etc. And even if it had been on point, we just don't need preaching in a nostalgia documentary. Mentioning it once or twice, sure, but it was far too recurring in the whole show and detracted from the overall enjoyment, even brought you out of the immersion a bit. Seriously, we get enough of "climate change" and "evil corporations" stuff in every single second of life today in all forms of media, we don't need it in this as well.

Other than that gripe, which is a small one, this is the movie to watch for some real sci-fi nostalgia.

While it's not possible to re-watch your favorite sci-fi movies from your childhood for the first time, this is as close as you can get to doing that.

Less than 5 minutes in and a young hipster-looking guy says "a lot of these films are warning about global warming,.." as if climate change was a thing in the 70's and before. It wasn't. 'Limits To Growth', one of the classic books of the environmental movement in the 70's, has not one mention of global warming or climate change or anything resembling it. Back then it was all about overpopulation, pollution of the seas and running out of resources. Global warming or climate change hadn't been invented and popularized yet. I'm not sure the thoughts of the said interviewees warrant the running time, but maybe nostalgia is enough to entertain you.

Excellently structured, brilliantly paced and very very thorough at over 5 hours long, and what a fantastic documentary it is.

To go through each year and go from movie to movie per year just fills the whole documentary with so much content, and it's amazing to see and hear from so many talented people that not only worked on these films, but many people who were inspired by these films.

It's a deep dive into all aspects of what made 80's sci-fi so amazing, so captivating, so memorable and how a lot of the ideas of the technologies have even come into existence in every day life today.

I grew up with so many of these movies that I still watch today and this documentary gives a great insight into the making of these films, the ideas that came together to get these films made and how they inspired many aspects of not only the making of future films but how the technologies have been developed from these ideas.

The documentary doesn't just go through each year with some of the most important films per year, it also goes over the scores, the heroes/villains/anti-heros, the development of the special effects, the science behind the movies, and so much more.

My review can't do this documentary any justice so I can only say, if you haven't watched it yet, watch it. It's a must see for Sci-fi fans and movie buffs alike.

Highly recommended.