In Search of Tomorrow: The definitive ’80s sci-fi documentary?

The four-hour-long film will feature “insights and anecdotes from an extensive collection of experts and iconic talent.”

If you’re anything like me, then watching the above trailer for In Search of Tomorrow probably gave you — by turns — chills, thrills, a heavy dose of nostalgia, and maybe even a wee catch in the throat. The trailer features a seemingly never-ending array of scenes and lines from classic ’80s sci-fi films including Akira, Blade Runner, Brazil, Flight of the Navigator, Megaforce, Return of the Jedi, The Abyss, and Tron. (Yes, Megaforce is absolutely a classic in my book.)

Like the filmmakers’ previous film — an acclaimed 4-hour-long documentary about ’80s horror titled In Search of Darkness — In Search of Tomorrow is a similarly ambitious documentary about ’80s sci-fi cinema that will “celebrate, explore, and recontextualise these films and the influence they’ve had both on ourselves and our culture.” More:

In Search of Tomorrow will take viewers on a year-by-year deep dive into the many awe-inspiring worlds of 80s Sci-Fi movies, breaking down the most iconic and eccentric films you know and love (and many you may have forgotten or missed), and examining the science, technology, and artistry behind the fiction.

The completed feature will be more than four hours long and feature insights and anecdotes from an extensive collection of experts and iconic talent, including filmmakers, actors, special-effects and visual effects masters, tech advisors, authors, influencers, and visionaries. Not only will they tell their own stories, but they will share opinions about their own favorite Sci-Fi movies.

The film already boasts an impressive line-up of participants, including Sean Young (Blade Runner, Dune), Alex Winter (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure), Clancy Brown (Highlander), Henry Thomas (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), Shane Black (The Predator), Paul Verhoeven (Robocop), Nicholas Meyer (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan), and John Carpenter (Escape From New York, Big Trouble in Little China). And the filmmakers promise even more to come.

The full list of participants, plus many more details, can be found on the film’s Kickstarter page. The Kickstarter campaign has already been a massive success, raising $280,000 with just under two weeks left to go. And of course, a nerdy campaign like this has plenty of goodies for supporters, ranging from posters, shirts, and soundtracks to access to the film’s online community, watch parties, and special quest Q&A sessions.

In Search of Tomorrow has a planned release date of July 2021 (though the filmmakers do acknowledge that the current pandemic could affect their filming schedule).

Enjoy reading Opus? Want to support my writing? Become a subscriber for just $5/month or $50/year.
Subscribe Today
Return to the Opus homepage