
About this episode
Soylent Green is one of the quintessential Malthusian science fiction films with one of the most memorable endings so we thought it was time to give it a watch. Luckily we did not end up having 40 million people in NYC as of 2022 which is usually how it goes with dystopian theories. We found the movie hard to buy into because of how over the top it is. It has some cool ideas but overall it is not surprising that the movie became more of a punch line than an enduring classic.
00:00 Introduction to Soylent Green
02:51 Cultural Impact and References
05:29 Dystopian Themes and Societal Commentary
08:25 Character Analysis and Relationships
11:09 Malthusian Dystopia and Overpopulation
13:52 Critique of the Film's Logic
16:54 The Role of Food and Consumption
19:40 The Ending and Its Implications
34:46 Soylent Green: A Dark Revelation
38:55 Relationships in a Dystopian World
40:11 Charlton Heston's Performance and Legacy
45:53 Women and Their Roles in Society
54:37 The Consequences of Overpopulation
59:20 Edward G. Robinson's Last Performance
01:03:28 Malthusianism and Its Flaws
01:06:48 Fear and Cultural Narratives
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get every episode summarized
Each time Midnight Local publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Midnight Local

Is Funny Hanks > Serious Hanks?, "The Burbs" (1989)
Midnight Local
Jul 22, 20251:10:52pending

The Big 3-Oh No! Logan's Run (1976)
Midnight Local
Jul 8, 20251:24:09pending

'Severance' the GOAT of TV
Midnight Local
Jun 17, 20251:07:04pending

Nothing can prepare you for 'Earth Girls Are Easy' (1988)
Midnight Local
Jun 10, 20251:06:13pending