Blade Runner
Hacker ApprovedThe most recommended of 29 science fiction films
People recommend it for its visuals, atmosphere and fully realized world, and its influence on later films. Critics object to the color grading changes made in later cuts.
People recommend it for its visuals, atmosphere and fully realized world, and its influence on later films. Critics object to the color grading changes made in later cuts.
65 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 54
- criticize it
- 11
- approval share
- 83%
Recommended in 10 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Owned for 34 years
Median of the 3 owners who said how long they have had it.
Each square is one year.
Why it carries the badge
- 54 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 4.9 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 10 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Visuals, atmosphere and fully realized world
“The whole thing is just perfect, there's no other movie that comes close to the world that is envisioned in Blade Runner.”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)” “It is one of my favorites, for the completeness of the world, for the visuals, for the music”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)” “It's one of the very few immersive masterpieces where all elements complement each other”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)” - Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)”
- Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)”
- Comment from 5 Aug 2026 in “The Title Cards in Blade Runner Are Fucking Amazing”
- Comment from 26 Feb 2026 in “How to fold the Blade Runner origami unicorn (1996)”
- Comment from 18 May 2026 in “Halt and Catch Fire”
Iconic, influential science fiction masterpiece
“It belongs up there with Apocalypse Now, Mad Max / The Road Warrior, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Blade Runner, and the rest.”
Comment from 5 May 2026 in “Highlander returns to theaters in glorious 4K, for 40th anniversary.” “so much reverence for the original as a visual tectonic impact still influencing films decades later”
Comment from 27 Jan 2026 in “Blade Runner Costume Design (2020)” “some creations are absolutely rare, unique and unlikely artefacts of culture and circumstances”
Comment from 6 Aug 2026 in “The Title Cards in Blade Runner Are Fucking Amazing” - Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)”
- Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)”
Strong performances and costume design
“It's not even so much that I like the taste / style of the fashion in the original Blade Runner, more that it just feels more real and interesting.”
Comment from 26 Jan 2026 in “Blade Runner Costume Design (2020)” “The original Blade Runner has more creativity in one outfit than pretty much the entirety of the sequel.”
Comment from 26 Jan 2026 in “Blade Runner Costume Design (2020)” “he aced his role of Leon. Leon is weird, awkward and insecure, while also capable of great violence”
Comment from 29 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)” - Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)”
- Comment from 24 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)”
Ambiguous Deckard and humanity themes
“In Ridley Scott's original film, Deckard's humanity is still open to question”
Comment from 26 Nov 2025 in “Space Truckin' – The Nostromo (2012)” “the movie does a excellent job of leaving Deckard questioning his humanity”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)” “Honestly, that is still what I get from Ridley Scott’s version.”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Altered color grading in later cuts
“I'm deeply offended by how the Final Cut decided to add all these wonderful improvements yet Ridley Scott agreed to completely mess up the color grading”
Comment from 29 Sep 2026 in “Pirating the Pirates” “the theatrical cut is inferior”
Comment from 6 Aug 2026 in “The Title Cards in Blade Runner Are Fucking Amazing” “It is objectively awful and by far the worst release of the film”
Comment from 28 Sep 2026 in “Pirating the Pirates” Deckard-as-replicant twist seen as weak
“Scott's idea that Deckard is a replicant but doesn't know it is just weak”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)” “having Deckard be a "weak" replicant makes no narrative sense, and it also makes no sense thematically”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)” Acting criticized, especially Harrison Ford
“Harrison Ford is not very good in it—perhaps not a great actor generally.”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)” “There are some acting missteps that unfortunately flaw the film for me.”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)” Removed narration and audio complaints
“I thought getting rid of Deckard's inner thoughts VO was a mistake.”
Comment from 6 Aug 2026 in “The Title Cards in Blade Runner Are Fucking Amazing” “The audio was good but after I listened to it many times, I started to dislike it.”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “The Art and Beauty of Blade Runner (2015)”
Other science fiction films people recommend
The four most recommended other science fiction films, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blade RunnerThis page | 54 | 11 | 83% | 10 | 34 yrs3 owners | Approved |
| Colossus: The Forbin Project | 35 | 2 | 95% | 9 | — | Approved |
| Jurassic Park (1993 film) | 32 | 7 | 82% | 8 | — | Approved |
| The Fifth Element | 24 | 3 | 89% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Terminator 2: Judgment Day | 21 | 7 | 75% | 6 | — | Approved |
What people said
40 of the 85 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“The entire five disc Blade Runner 25th Anniversary 2007 Blu-Ray boxed set is pretty amazing.”
“Oh you're going to love the Penultimate Cut fanedit/restoration of Blade Runner”
“I'm deeply offended by how the Final Cut decided to add all these wonderful improvements yet Ridley Scott agreed to completely mess up the color grading”
“It is objectively awful and by far the worst release of the film”
“he aced his role of Leon. Leon is weird, awkward and insecure, while also capable of great violence”
“His scene sitting across the table from Holden is classic.”
“the movie does a excellent job of leaving Deckard questioning his humanity”
“Harrison Ford is not very good in it—perhaps not a great actor generally.”
“what really stands out are his eyes -- intense, fearful, paranoid, menacing”
“It is one of my favorites, for the completeness of the world, for the visuals, for the music”
“Honestly, that is still what I get from Ridley Scott’s version.”
“There are some acting missteps that unfortunately flaw the film for me.”
“having Deckard be a "weak" replicant makes no narrative sense, and it also makes no sense thematically”
“Scott's idea that Deckard is a replicant but doesn't know it is just weak”
“I primarily like the movie for the cinematography and atmosphere, more than the story”
“a stunning, iconic masterpiece of a movie with an unfortunate chilling cultural effect”
“It's one of those weird and rare movies that grows on you the number of times you watch it.”
“The audio was good but after I listened to it many times, I started to dislike it.”
“Probably one of the most important science fiction movie ever made.”
“The whole thing is just perfect, there's no other movie that comes close to the world that is envisioned in Blade Runner.”
“It's one of the very few immersive masterpieces where all elements complement each other”
“It's amazing that Blade Runner looks as good as anything that has come since.”
“I thought getting rid of Deckard's inner thoughts VO was a mistake.”
“the one with the best color grading.”
“I cannot forgive Ridley Scott for changing the color grading to a greenish tint”
“the theatrical cut is inferior”
“some creations are absolutely rare, unique and unlikely artefacts of culture and circumstances”
“That's the best version of the theatrical release that you'll probably ever be able to get.”
“they stumble upon something extraordinary that touches the heart of the human experience”
“I liked it, and was surprised with the general level of dislike it has received.”
“a beautiful, visually stunning masterpiece that I will never tire to look at”
“a more apt title would be "The Title Cards in Blade Runner are Thoughtfully Executed."”
“really give a good feel for the world they take place in”
“there are some films where the studio insisted on messing it up (Blade Runner is a prime example)”
“It belongs up there with Apocalypse Now, Mad Max / The Road Warrior, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Blade Runner, and the rest.”
“Its so alive. The whole world. So rundown. So real, so breathing.”
“so much reverence for the original as a visual tectonic impact still influencing films decades later”
“It's not even so much that I like the taste / style of the fashion in the original Blade Runner, more that it just feels more real and interesting.”
“The original Blade Runner has more creativity in one outfit than pretty much the entirety of the sequel.”
“In Ridley Scott's original film, Deckard's humanity is still open to question”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.