Original Release Date
December 19, 1971
Rotten Tomatoes
88%
Letterboxd Score
4.1/5
Official Synopsis
In a dystopian near-future Britain, charismatic sociopath Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) and his gang of "droogs" spend their nights indulging in "ultra-violence." After being betrayed by his gang and captured by the police, Alex is offered a chance to reduce his prison sentence by undergoing the controversial "Ludovico Technique"—an experimental psychological conditioning meant to render him incapable of violence. The film is a shocking, stylized exploration of free will, state control, and the nature of morality.
The Droogs & Victims
- Malcolm McDowell: Alex DeLarge
- Patrick Magee: Frank Alexander
- Michael Bates: Chief Guard Barnes
- Warren Clarke: Dim
- Adrienne Corri: Mrs. Alexander
- Miriam Karlin: Catlady
The Architects
- Director: Stanley Kubrick
- Writer: Stanley Kubrick (based on Anthony Burgess)
- Cinematography: John Alcott
- Music: Wendy Carlos
- Editing: Bill Butler
The Official Trailer
The Accolades
- 🏆 Academy Award Nominee: Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, and Editing.
- 📽️ National Film Registry: Inducted in 2020 for its cultural and historical significance.
Vault Intelligence
- Malcolm McDowell actually scratched his cornea during the filming of the Ludovico Technique sequence, as the metal eye-locks were real.
- Stanley Kubrick famously withdrew the film from British theaters in 1973 after being blamed for "copycat" violence; it wasn't officially re-released in the UK until after his death in 1999.
Film Specifications
| Financial Backing | $2.2 Million Budget |
| Theatrical Earnings | $26.6 Million (Original Run) |
| Cinematic Format | 35mm / 1.66:1 Spherical |
Retrospective Pending
"Ray’s full 2026 Northstar analysis for this controversial masterpiece is currently being restored from the vault."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A Masterpiece of Transgression
