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AFI (2007) • AFI-070

A Clockwork Orange

1971 • Stanley Kubrick
A Clockwork Orange poster
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ABOUT THIS FILM
RUNTIME
136 min
FAMOUS QUOTE
“Public opinion has a way of changing.”

Stanley Kubrick’s provocative dystopian drama follows Alex DeLarge, a charismatic yet violent teenager who leads a gang committing acts of extreme brutality in a near-future society. After Alex is imprisoned, he becomes the subject of an experimental government program designed to eliminate criminal impulses through psychological conditioning. Kubrick’s striking visual style and use of classical music create a disturbing contrast with the film’s shocking violence. The story raises unsettling questions about free will, morality, and the role of the state in controlling behavior. Controversial upon release, A Clockwork Orange remains a bold exploration of human nature and societal control.

Why it matters

  • It endures because its core tensions (london, england; robbery; street gang) still feel modern, and the emotional turns land hard.
  • It’s a masterclass in Science Fiction, Crime storytelling—efficient scene work, memorable set-pieces, and choices that keep the tone confident.
  • As a time-capsule and an influence engine, it’s a key snapshot of 1971—and you can feel its DNA in countless films that followed.

Watch for

  • Recurring motifs and touchpoints (london, england, robbery, street gang, great britain, based on novel or book, nihilism)—notice how they show up, evolve, or get subverted scene-to-scene.
  • How information is revealed (or withheld): pay attention to what you learn first, and what you only understand in hindsight.
  • Performance details in close-ups—pauses, glances, and timing often do more than the lines.
  • Transitions and visual rhymes: watch how the film connects scenes through matching images, sound bridges, or repeated blocking.

Vibe

Dystopian DramaYouth ViolenceState ControlUltraviolenceFree WillPop BaroqueNihilismBehavioral ConditioningStylized CrueltyKubrick Provocation
AFI RANK
1998: #46
2007: #70
▼Moved down 24 spots