Max Headroom

Here is a bit of nostalgia. The Max Headroom Story. The rare pilot that became the 1980's series "20 Minutes Into The Future" Staring Matt Frewer and Amanda Pays. The aired pilot episode for broadcast was a loose interpretation of this film but didn't capture the same dystopic edginess of this original. Copyright 1996 Lorimar Telepictures. All rights belong to the copyright holder.

[@Switcharoo12]

Unbelievable that that's not early cgi but actually really good make up and lighting; absolute genius!

[@letsmakethis]

Given how much this show got right, and the prevalence of nostalgia shows and movies these days, I'm still a bit surprised that no one has attempted a reboot.

[@KENNETHUDUT]

animator for the computer scenes was the guy who animated hitchiker's guide to the galaxy

[@douglasnimmo6078]

I watched this when it first aired on C4 in the 80s, and I loved the Saturday night Max Headroom show. I taped and watched this so many times, and it's still one of the best films I've ever seen. Thanks to whoever uploaded this onto KZbin! I still love it!

[@stephenspouse2857]

Thanks a million and a half for this upload !!!. I remember seeing this around 1984, and was glued to the whole viewing, the second time I saw it on tv I copied to video but. then the video tape was damaged. thanks again this is very watchable hookum.

[@jackmann6814]

This has always been one of my favorites, they should have filmed the rest of the series with the same cast and sets in England.

[@TheBoyMechanic]

I have a copy of this on Betamax... 80's achieved...

[@aerospike00]

Sean Lavery I bow in respect! #80sftw

[@melkosick-mccaw5308]

My mum has a copy of the last half hour of this on VHS along with other stuff that aired on the same night

[@SweetBaJa71]

Loved this show! I looked forward to it every week. Even taped it in VHS. Definitely a show that was ahead of its time. Now, I tell my kids about it. And they think it's ancient, lol! I loved the chemistry between Frewer's and Pays' characters, too. They don't make tv shows like this anymore.

[@rogermoss1976]

Whoever came up with this was a true seer. More true every day.

[@melkosick-mccaw5308]

There is a docu on youtube of the people that came up with this

[@jonmyers8046]

And here we are in 2022, decades later and 20 minutes into the future. Max would piss off a lot of people today

[@Chinga3000]

Max Headroom was ahead of it's time by quite a bit. Watched every show, my favourite one was Men At Work . Break dancing to Tour-de-France and Tim Westwood back in the day.LWR URUR!

[@Gondorff]

I remember watching this in the 80s, very late night on (probably) channel 4 and being very taken by it. I've always wondered about it and wanted to see it again - thank you so much for posting. Wonderful stuff.

[@ralphkwiatkowski6099]

I remember an article in Gallery about how the future of interactive entertainment would be A.I.-video images of persons upon the screen, able to react--as programmed--to the inputs of the viewer/player/user. It seems Max here was far more avant-garde then even the best Sci-Fi writers could imagine.

[@evelynesimon5758]

OMG!!! thank you so much for uploading this. There's nothing like the real thing! (jingle).

[@poobodimoo]

ace little film scarily prophetic , thanks.

[@stephenaldridge252]

Superb certainly the best version ;-)

[@theoriginalfarouk]

Thank you so much! I cannot tell you how many times I rented this VHS tape...

[@SacredSalad]

Max Headroom originally appeared in (this) a 1985 British-made cyberpunk TV movie "Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into The Future" on Channel 4. It was written as the back story for Max being cast as a veejay on a British music video program, The Max Headroom Show, whose first episodes unusually featured no introductory title sequence or end credits. The show was an immediate cult hit, doubling Channel 4's viewing figures for its slot. A second season was ordered in 1986, which broadened the original concept to include celebrity interviews and a studio audience, and was renamed to The Max Talking Headroom Show. The film was presented as an extended edition to American audiences in 1986 on Cinemax. A spin-off of the original film was the dramatic television series, Max Headroom, which was British produced, but broadcast in the United States on ABC, running for two seasons from 1987 to 1988

[@melhope]

+Stephen St. Romain I absolutely loved that show! I remember being very angry that they cancelled it but kept on She's the Sheriff, that horrible Suzanne Somers sitcom.

[@ralphkwiatkowski6099]

Ah-yes... I remember watching Max on ABC. Mind you, his introduction States-side came in the form of Coca-Cola commercials. It's difficult to remember if he was pushing old Coke or New (Coke-II), but that catch-phrase is unforgettable: "Don't say the 'P'-word!"

[@christaylor2529]

How's your head? Fine How's yours?

[@megadopeanimation5623]

Im only 15 and this was amazing They should bring him back still played by Matt Fewer and still simple prosthetics

[@thomasstambaugh4832]

Loved this when I first saw it, love it more now. Amazing. Just awesome.

[@alexflores7652]

This show was so ahead of it's time. I would say in the last say 20 years, we are just now starting to see the concepts of Max Headroom showing up. Not so much of the dark bleak view of the world but more of how the media pravades everyday life. A good case in point was when HRC started her run for the White House a certain Cable News Channel was going to take it upon themselves to endource her run by producing a documentry about her. There was an episode were the network ratings were votes for specific politicians. So if you are a cyberpunk junkie like am you should check out this neglectied under rated cult classic.

[@DLCOrganization]

HIGHLY underrated cult classic for real!

[@tyrssen1]

"This is the future: people generated as data." Prophetic.

[@only257]

Awesome never seen this rare pilot thanks 😜

[@Bonzodog01]

This was re-made into a pilot for the US TV series. A lot of the actors were retained, but it had a much larger American cast. Murray, Gorrister, Bryce and the majority of the 23 board were replaced by US actors. The episode was named "Blipverts".

[@ManifoldSky]

It also significantly changed (and ruined) the story and plot.

[@DLCOrganization]

@@ManifoldSky: "Changed," yes / "Ruined" -- HELL NO! The U.S. TV series actually broadened and gave continuity to the story, the overall plot AND and the characters. Also, as the story progressed for the two seasons it lasted on the air, it remained as profound and prophetic as the original pilot film.

[@ManifoldSky]

@@DLCOrganization It also totally changed the overall message of the film as well as removed the most important aspects of the plot.

[@DLCOrganization]

@@ManifoldSky -- Did you ever happen to _WATCH_ the TV series?

[@ManifoldSky]

@@DLCOrganization Of course I did, or I wouldn’t be commenting.

[@richuu]

Still got this on vhs somewhere but thanks so much for uploading. Still as good as I remember!

[@FluxHorizon]

This fantastic, thanks for sharing!! An all time favorite video.

[@garrypeirson]

ive not seen this b4, i worked for ultravox in the 80s, great soundtrack , xx

[@markd8333]

Thanks for uploading this.

[@PopeRocket]

Laura. The Decker we all wish were on comms during a shadowrun.

[@tonybroomfield7908]

I remember this from day 1. Spinning up to date there are so many parallels with where we are now its uncanny

[@harleyjackson3708]

WE NEED TO GET MATT FEWER INTO A QUEST 2 FOR A VR CHAT SESSION WITH MAX HEADROOM! OH MY GOD THAT WOULD BE SO PEr-PeR-pEr-PERFECT.

[@markcollins8254]

Originally saw this at school. We were studying George Orwells 1984 and we were shown this as a way into that...

[@SanFran51]

True story from Producer Peter Wagg. They actually got a call from a American ABC TV executive who had happened to watch this in his hotel room at the time. And was so blown away by it he actually rang them to get the people who made it and gave them the ABC series.

[@captainpiglee1909]

I've never seen this but thank you, looks amazing

[@temogin55]

The quality of the picture and sound is really nice, best out there.

[@canteventhough]

And at four fifty eight, Edison is back, and fine, without any explanation. That's fucking perfect.

[@carmelopai4833]

who's here in 2024? I'm so glad i was a teenager in the 80's. Sad to see how close we are to this reality tho... but Max's video show - soooo good!

[@joangordoneieio]

I so remember this! Thank you thank you thank you!

[@TheRainHarvester]

I succeeded in computer generating a heart on the screen. It beats:

[@TheRainHarvester]

Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZKpfKSFd7mdb9k

[@MrPhilterman]

Unique. Brilliant series.

[@raymondstpaul4913]

I remember seeing this an wondering whatever happened to it too bad a remake was never made for today's audience but doubtful it would be as good. It would be interesting.

[@SarahC2]

28:40 How did they do that Kinect 3D depth scan back then?

[@susankimball9148]

Marshall McLuhan would have been pleasantly amused.

[@samholden308]

Had a crush on Matt Frewer in the 80s😚

[@melkosick-mccaw5308]

Me too as well as Amanda Pays even at the time I was in primary school

[@Jabberwoc]

*LEGENDARY.*

[@patrickedmond7190]

Timeless klassik!!!

[@HobieBrown777]

21:56 *Best Intro montage*

[@182738281]

Awesome

[@chindleymuffin]

Weirdly Channel 4 told Morton and Jankel to go to HBO (which was in its infancy at the time) in the US, to get the funding to make this as a background story to Max Headroom. I'm guessing Channel 4 couldn't afford to pay for this movie on their own at the time, HBO made it in conjunction with Channel 4. I believe the show was cheaper to make because it was a Promo show for Crysalis Records, made by Crysalis Visual Productions and a network TV version of MTV in a way.

[@KRAPYBARA84]

34:22 DIVINE

[@bloodrunsclear]

I remember seeing the pilot! This is fascinating to compare it to. A lot more British people in the pilot O_o

[@jayrowe]

To Ara: this is the original UK film, produced about a year before the US TV series. I don't remember if this served as the pilot for the TV series (US shows often re-shoot pilots with new casts even if the show has been picked up). This version is definitely far more British than the US version. I'm still amazed that both this and the US TV version made it on to TV in the 80s. The most anti-TV TV show ever.

[@jonathanpeden9930]

I remember the TV show came first, then this followed - I loved every single second of this. Matt Frewer is STILL cool because of this!

[@SacredSalad]

Jonathan Peden Max Headroom originally appeared in a 1985 British-made cyberpunk TV movie "Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into The Future" on Channel 4. It was written as the back story for Max being cast as a veejay on a British music video program, The Max Headroom Show, whose first episodes unusually featured no introductory title sequence or end credits. The show was an immediate cult hit, doubling Channel 4's viewing figures for its slot. A second season was ordered in 1986, which broadened the original concept to include celebrity interviews and a studio audience, and was renamed to The Max Talking Headroom Show. The film was presented as an extended edition to American audiences in 1986 on Cinemax. A spin-off of the original film was the dramatic television series, Max Headroom, which was British produced, but broadcast in the United States on ABC, running for two seasons from 1987 to 1988

[@ralphkwiatkowski6099]

Yes, it was used as the pilot for the series in the 'States.

[@tyrssen1]

Yes, this was run as the pilot here in the US as well.

[@ManifoldSky]

@@ralphkwiatkowski6099No, it wasn't. The U.S. series totally reworked the British pilot, recast many, but not all, of the roles, and significantly changed (and ruined) the story line

[@SkyValleyStuff]

wow, ive seen this.. im old :(

[@qpol]

"line producer: Chris Griffin" he is a fictional character in family guy lol

[@scdesign1565]

Yes! Classic

[@plezurhounds]

Thanks!!!

[@Charles12]

From the directors of Super Mario Bros. comes their original creation of Max Headroom in 20 Minutes into the Future

[@jasonmarkgriffiths1457]

personally I would rather Max Headroom be available just as he originally was back when I was still a kid watching Channel 4, that is a host of music video promos. I love BAUHAUS and it's entirely his fault. Come back as you was Max. We miss the promos more than you...

[@SanFran51]

They actually went to America to get funding for it as Channel 4 had no money to finance the 60 minute film. After all Channel 4 doesn't make it's own productions at the time.

[@SaintCharlos]

i still see the x

[@SentinelTera]

Watching it again all these years later, it's kinda interesting just how much the first 5 minutes shares in feel and atmosphere with the marine platoon scenes in Aliens. God I miss that gloomy mid80s aesthetic.

[@KnucklesIsOG]

During some scene's my daughter Haley got scared the blood 🤟😂 and She screamed WHA BLOOD!! 👍

[@SanFran51]

This film is directed by none other than ROCKY MORTON AND ANNABEL JANKEL..... before Super Mario Bros destroyed their careers.

[@verdant2215]

Yes

[@日本製レプリカント]

わおっ！懐かしい！

[@johnvaldez8830]

Ma..Ma..Ma..Max Head...Headroom...Headroom...Headroom...Max Headroom. Hi. identify the station. Enter d-a-t-a...

[@DLCOrganization]

What was the point of uploading the trivia portion at the end if a huge chunk of it was going to get cut out anyway?

[@doktor_ghul]

I want Max to come back as a Twitter voice, a Twitch presenter that yells at the people in chat, and yes, a p-p-presidential cand-d-d-didate-ate-ate. -ate. I want Max Headroom for President instead of Trump; who else could out stupid that orange blob? MAX HEADROOM!

[@snnattsabbath]

Or as an interruption to the daily scroll

[@martinberkey5353]

gr grr grrrrrrrreat

[@Peertje304]

weather forecast! the answer is weather forecast! also 2

[@snnattsabbath]

43:14 "...big time"

[@snnattsabbath]

49:16 "...2%..."

[@hector-lee-taylor]

Blank Reg is the best.

[@Sam-Lawry]

Seasons available on Shut factory.com

[@Sirfev2010]

mmmamamamammax

[@yerboi2902]

Hmmm this has different cast And story idk why?

[@melkosick-mccaw5308]

The Americans changed some of cast members when they took over the series

[@johnrflinn]

Reminds me of today's cringe haircuts.

[@HontasFarmer80]

Am I the only one who thinks of Jim Carey when hearing this guy?