The War of the Worlds: Next Century (1981): Cast & Plot
The War of the Worlds: Next Century is a 1981 sci-fi film directed by Piotr Szulkin, starring Roman Wilhelmi as Iron Idem, Teodor Gendera and Stanisław Gawlik. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 34m (94 min)
- Director
- Piotr Szulkin
- Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Original language
-
Polish - Studio
- Zespół Filmowy "Perspektywa"
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The War of the Worlds: Next Century About?
The premise of The War of the Worlds: Next Century without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set in Poland during Christmas, a cadre of hyper‑intelligent, bloodthirsty Martians seize control of the nation and co‑opt the unlucky television newsman Iron Ide to front their propaganda effort. When Ide abandons the script and speaks truth, he incurs the wrath of a far more powerful foe—the oppressive state itself—turning his resistance into a battle on two fronts.
The War of the Worlds: Next Century Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- martian
- police
- rock concert
- future
- surrealism
- televised trial
- firing squad
- execution
- trial
- courtroom
- bar
- christmas
+38 more Show fewer
- body bag
- jail cell
- 1990s
- sex in an elevator
- dead wife
- bathtub
- wig
- elevator
- licking lips
- megaphone
- crying man
- confessional
- television studio
- christmas tree
- flophouse
- bunk bed
- newspaper
- chainsaw
- neon sign
- oppression
- media critic
- media
- mass media
- church
- ear mark
- social critic
- martian invasion
- critic
- television set
- television industry
- television
- brainwashing
- newscaster
- alien
- dystopia
- blood donation
- blood
- allegory
The War of the Worlds: Next Century Cast & Characters
Roman Wilhelmi leads the cast as Iron Idem, with Teodor Gendera as Idem's Lawyer and Stanisław Gawlik as Idem's Porter. Directed by Piotr Szulkin; 29 actors are credited in all.
- Director Piotr Szulkin
- Roman Wilhelmi as Iron Idem
- Teodor Gendera as Idem's Lawyer
- Stanisław Gawlik as Idem's Porter
- Bogusław Sobczuk as TV News Presenter
Also Starring in The War of the Worlds: Next Century
· 25 more- Janusz Gajos Water Supply Worker
- Włodzimierz Musiał TV Station Worker
- Tomasz Jarosiński Son of Water Supply Worker
- Jerzy Stuhr Attorney
- Krystyna Janda Gea
- Zbigniew Buczkowski Policeman
- Bożena Dykiel Nurse Drawing Blood
- Leonard Andrzejewski Male Nurse in Dormitory
- Witold Pyrkosz Judge
- Marek Walczewski Committee Receptionist
- Grzegorz Warchoł Grandson of Old Man Donating Blood
- Mariusz Dmochowski Head of TV Station
- Stanisław Tym Secret Agent
- Juliusz Kalinowski Old Man Donating Blood
- Borys Marynowski
- Jacek Strzemżalski Grandson of Old Man Donating Blood
Show all 29 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Joanna Żółkowska Woman with Dog
- Wiesław Drzewicz Old Man
- Piotr Komorowski Male Nurse in Dormitory
- Michał Leśniak Concert Broadcast Producer
- Stanisław Manturzewski Priest at Idem's Execution
- Czesław Majewski Hotel Receptionist
- Krzysztof Wróblewski Male Nurse in Dormitory
- Józef Skrzek Instant Glue Band Leader
- Marian Zdenicki Martian
More from Piotr Szulkin
More films directed by Piotr Szulkin: King Ubu, Femina, Ga-ga: Glory to the Heroes and O-Bi, O-Ba: The End of Civilization.
The War of the Worlds: Next Century Plot Summary
What happens in The War of the Worlds: Next Century from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
From the moment a more advanced civilization from Mars arrives, the film lays out a world where television dominates daily life and the state wields broadcasts as a tool of control. The Martians arrive promising friendship, yet the place they visit feels like a police state, saturated with spectacle and surveillance where the screens shape reality.
Full summary
The whole story of The War of the Worlds: Next Century, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The War of the Worlds: Next Century?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who portrays the television presenter Iron Idem?
The War of the Worlds: Next Century Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “Ο Πόλεμος των Κόσμων: Επόμενος Αιώνας” and “Война миров. Следующее столетие”.
- Also known as
-
- Ο Πόλεμος των Κόσμων: Επόμενος Αιώνας
- Война миров. Следующее столетие
- La guerra dei mondi
- Krieg der Welten - Das nächste Jahrhundert
- Válka světů - příští století
- The War of the World: Next Century
- Війна світів - наступне сторіччя
- 下一个世纪：世界战争
- A Guerra dos Mundos: Próximo Século
Seen The War of the Worlds: Next Century?
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The War of the Worlds: Next Century FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The War of the Worlds: Next Century, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The War of the Worlds: Next Century?
The War of the Worlds: Next Century runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).
When was The War of the Worlds: Next Century released?
The War of the Worlds: Next Century was released on November 1, 1981.
Who directed The War of the Worlds: Next Century?
The War of the Worlds: Next Century was directed by Piotr Szulkin.
More films by Piotr Szulkin Who is in the cast of The War of the Worlds: Next Century?
The War of the Worlds: Next Century stars Roman Wilhelmi as Iron Idem, Teodor Gendera as Idem's Lawyer and Stanisław Gawlik as Idem's Porter, among 29 credited actors.
Does The War of the Worlds: Next Century have a post-credit scene?
No. The War of the Worlds: Next Century has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The War of the Worlds: Next Century in?
The original language of The War of the Worlds: Next Century is Polish.
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