2001: A Space Odyssey

The film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is regarded as one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made. It occupies number one on the American Film Institute’s top ten science fiction films and fifteenth place overall in its top one hundred movies list. Its revolutionary storyline and techniques mean that it continues to inspire filmmakers today. Lines and scenes from the movie have become legendary and are regularly quoted in film, television, and popular culture. But while all of Kubrick’s films were complex and multilayered, compounded by his customary refusal to explain his intentions, 2001 is perhaps the most complex, multilayered, and enigmatic of all. As with all his films, it requires multiple viewings to unlock its secrets. This complexity has led to an ever-expanding scholarly literature on 2001 all detailing new interpretations. Books and articles range from production and reception histories to intricate analyses. Additional resources are available in the separate Oxford Bibliographies article in Cinema and Media Studies “Stanley Kubrick”; please cross-check. They have not been repeated here.