Why 'Metropolis', Fritz Lang's Silent Movie, Still Defines Sci‑Fi 100 Years Later

Before 'Star Wars'. Before 'Blade Runner'. Before every futuristic city, rogue android, or AI uprising you’ve ever seen, there was 'Metropolis' (1927). This video dives deep into how Fritz Lang’s silent-era masterpiece built the visual language of modern sci-fi, shaped pop culture for a century, and predicted the world we live in today: AI, surveillance, mega-cities, class conflict, and the fear of machines taking over. We explore: The story of 'Metropolis' and its groundbreaking themes, how Robot Maria became the blueprint for C-3PO, Ava in 'Ex Machina', and every seductive android since and why 'Metropolis' still shapes the future, nearly 100 years later. Featuring exclusive archival material from the ​⁠‪@deutschekinemathek1963‬ in Berlin and insights from film historians and restoration experts. This video features excerpts from Fritz Lang’s visionary masterpiece Metropolis (1927) in the meticulously restored 2010 version by the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau Foundation. Since 1966, the foundation has been dedicated to preserving, protecting, and ensuring access to a significant portion of Germany’s cultural and film-historical heritage. It was also responsible for the globally acclaimed restoration – made possible by a spectacular discovery in Buenos Aires – which brought the nearly complete original version back to the screen, including the music by Gottfried Huppertz reconstructed by Frank Strobel. CHAPTERS 00:00 'Metropolis' – The film that built the future 0:57 The story of 'Metropolis' 02:51 How 'Metropolis' was made 07:11 Robot Maria and pop culture 10:53 Loss and resurrection 13:14 Why 'Metropolis' still matters CREDITS Metropolis, Universum Film AG, 1927 Director: Fritz Lang Screenplay: Thea von Harbou; Fritz Lang (uncredited) Cinematography: Günther Rittau; Karl Freund Optical Special Effects: Eugen Schüfftan (Schüfftan process); Ernst Kunstmann Set Design: Otto Hunte; Erich Kettelhut; Karl Vollbrecht Sculptor: Walter Schulze-Mittendorff Music: Gottfried Huppertz Restoration 2010: Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung, Wiesbaden In association with: Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen, Berlin In cooperation with: Museo del Cine Pablo C. Ducros Hicken, Buenos Aires Edition: Martin Koerber, Frank Strobel, Anke Wilkening Reconstruction and synchronization of the original music by Gottfried Huppertz (2010): Frank Strobel Instrumentation of missing parts of the score: Marco Jovic Music notation: Jörg Peltzer Edition commissioned by ZDF / ARTE: EUROPÄISCHE FILMPHILHARMONIE - Die Film Philharmonie GmbH. Recording: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin - an ensemble of Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre GmbH Musical direction: Frank Strobel Report: Scott Roxborough Camera: Marek Neumann-Schönwetter Editing: Phillip Rabenstein, Martha Rodriguez Producer: Oliver Glasenapp Executive Producers: Melanie von Marschalck, Matthias Frickel #dwculture #metropolis #fritzlang For more visit: https://www.dw.com/en/culture/s-1441 Please follow DW's netiquette: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G