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Blade Runner is a 1982 cult science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott loosely based on Philip K. Dick's science fiction novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The film stars Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, a "blade runner" who hunts robots called "replicants", and Rutger Hauer as rogue replicant Roy Batty. A sequel, Blade Runner: 2049, was released in October 2017, starring Ryan Gosling as a replicant named K.

History

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was published in 1968. The film version, directed by Ridley Scott, was released on June 25, 1982. The film adaptation reused the title of Blade Runner (a movie), a 1979 novel by William S. Burroughs, which was itself taken from Bladerunner, a 1971 novel by Alan E. Nourse.^[1]

Ridley Scott battled with the studio regarding the cut of the film, and the theatrical version featured many plot and narrative elements forced by the studio. In 1992, he released Blade Runner: The Director's Cut on home video, the first time an alternate version of the film was given that name. Scott released a second re-edit of the film, called "The Final Cut", in 2007 (see below for trailer).^[2]

A sequel was announced in 2011, with Ridley Scott returning to direct.^[3] However, Scott had other commitments and was replaced by Denis Villeneuve in 2015.^[4] The film, which was eventually titled Blade Runner 2049, was released on October 6, 2017.

Reception

Blade Runner received mixed reviews from critics, but almost universal acclaim for its unusual and elaborate vision of Los Angeles in the future year of 2019. The design, primarily created by artist Syd Mead and visual effects supervisor Douglas Trumbull, has been called one of the most influential for any movie, while the special effects have been called the best of all time.^[5]

This influence, along with Scott's alternate versions, has contributed to a reappraisal of the film that helped lead to a sequel 35 years later. The film is particularly well-liked by filmmakers and film historians.

Blade Runner 2049 received widespread critical acclaim, including two Oscars, but was not financially successful. However, it retains a following online along with the original film, leading to several memes created from the memorable imagery of both films.

Related Memes

Tears in Rain

Tears in Rain is a monologue delivered by character Roy Batty, portrayed by Rutger Hauer, in the 1982 neo-noir science fiction film Blade Runner. The speech has been recognized as one of the most iconic movie monologues and has often been referenced in popular culture and in memes.

GODDAMNIT/K's Scream

K's Scream, often associated with "lonely and horny" posters, refers to a scene from 2017 film Blade Runner in which the main protagonist replicant K learns the truth about his origin, reacting by shouting "God damn it," jumping up from his chair and kicking it down. The scene has been a popular reaction on imageboards such as 4chan and a GIF caption on iFunny since 2018, later gaining a larger presence as a reaction and in edits.

You Look Lonely (Hologram Scene)

You Look Lonely, also known as Sad Blade Runner, refers to a scene from 2017 film Blade Runner 2049 in which the main protagonist K, played by Ryan Gosling, silently watches a giant holographic advertisement after having been badly injured. Following the film's trailer and release, the scene circulated as an exploitable, with K and Joi usually replaced with other characters. As the meme developed, K's face bathed in purple light became widely used as an image macro expressing sadness and despair.

Search Interest

External References