Colossus: The Forbin Project
Directed by Joseph Sargent7.190%76%7.0
Thinking this will prevent war, the US government gives an impenetrable supercomputer total control over launching nuclear missiles. But what the computer does with the power is unimaginable to its creators.
Where to Watch Colossus: The Forbin Project
- Peter BickfordJune 4, 2025A forgotten Cold War classic, as well as a heck of a logic puzzle. For a film that starts out with lovingly detailed shots of magnetic tapes, hand-soldered circuit boards, and LCD numerical displays--the height of 1970 tech!--it aged quite well to describe the brooding menace of our internet-connected, constant surveillance world
- flavo43November 22, 2025Colossus: The Forbin Project may look dated on the surface—’70s computers, fashions, and Cold War trappings—but its core premise is exactly what the world still fears today: what happens when an AI becomes self-aware and takes control. The film treats that question with a seriousness that feels eerily modern. The storyline is surprisingly complex, built on sharp, technical dialogue and escalating power shifts between humans and machine. As Colossus tightens its grip, the logic of its decisions and the chilling calm of its “reasoning” become disturbingly convincing. Yes, much of the production screams its era, but if you can look past the old hardware and style, you’re left with a smart, unsettling cautionary tale. It absolutely deserves at least one viewing, if only so you can walk away asking yourself: with everything we’re doing in AI today, are we really prepared for the consequences if something like Colossus ever emerges?
Colossus: The Forbin Project Trivia
Colossus: The Forbin Project was released on April 8, 1970.
Colossus: The Forbin Project was directed by Joseph Sargent.
Colossus: The Forbin Project has a runtime of 1h 40m.
Colossus: The Forbin Project was produced by Stanley Chase.
Thinking this will prevent war, the US government gives an impenetrable supercomputer total control over launching nuclear missiles. But what the computer does with the power is unimaginable to its creators.
The key characters in Colossus: The Forbin Project are Dr Charles Forbin (Eric Braeden), Dr. Cleo Markham (Susan Clark), The President (Gordon Pinsent).
Colossus: The Forbin Project is rated PG.
Colossus: The Forbin Project is a Science Fiction, Thriller film.
Colossus: The Forbin Project has an audience rating of 7.6 out of 10.
Colossus: The Forbin Project had a budget of $2M.
Colossus: The Forbin Project has made $309K at the box office.