Buzz
Science fiction has long served as a lens for envisioning the future, often with startling accuracy. This is particularly true for Soylent Green, the 1973 film adapted from Harry Harrison's novel Make Room! Make Room!. Set in 2022, the movie portrays a world ravaged by overpopulation and environmental collapse, where the impoverished survive on synthetic food while the wealthy thrive in towering skyscrapers. Detective Robert Thorn, played by Charlton Heston, delves into the murder of a high-ranking Soylent Corporation executive.
As we now inhabit the year the film predicted, how much of Soylent Green holds up? Sadly, many of its grim forecasts were on point, though not all its bleak visions materialized.
1. Accurate Prediction: Environmental Collapse
The opening sequence of Soylent Green delivers essential exposition with striking clarity. Thorn awakens and engages in light-hearted conversation with his roommate, Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson). When Thorn rejects spoiled margarine, Roth laments the relentless heat and references the 'greenhouse effect.'
Although winter hasn’t disappeared entirely, global temperatures are undeniably rising. The summer of 2022 brought unprecedented heat to the Northeast, with Boston hitting 98°F and Albany reaching 99°F. New York City saw temperatures of 93°F, though this fell short of the 1944 record of 100°F. Cities like Philadelphia, Washington, and Boston declared heat emergencies. Meanwhile, a heat dome engulfed the West Coast, with California, Oregon, and Washington enduring temperatures exceeding 100°F. A UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report cautioned that unchecked fossil fuel emissions could exacerbate global warming.
2. Accurate Prediction: Nutritional Supplements
The titular Soylent Green is a bland, nutrient-rich paste designed to sustain a population facing severe food shortages. (Even Soylent is limited, sparking near-riots during distribution.) While most healthy individuals don’t require supplements, protein shakes, bars, and meal replacements have become staples in the American diet. Approximately half of Americans regularly consume protein shakes. Ironically, a company named Soylent produces a plant-based protein drink, also called Soylent, popular among tech enthusiasts and busy professionals seeking convenient nutrition.
3. Partially Accurate: Human 'Furniture' Employment
While investigating the mysterious death of affluent William Simonson at his residence, Thorn encounters a young woman named Shirl, who identifies herself as 'furniture'—a companion for wealthy tenants supplied by the apartment complex. Though it’s suggested Shirl may have been a sexual partner for Simonson, their relationship also appears friendly, despite the inherent sexist imbalance.
In Japan, it’s possible to hire a stand-in—someone who can act as a friend or relative at events like weddings, reunions, or baby showers. One such professional, known as 'Mr. Rental,' shares meals and offers a listening ear to clients discussing their personal lives.
4. Accurate Prediction: Scarcity of Everyday Items
As Thorn explores Simonson’s apartment, he’s astonished by the rare luxuries he finds, including a bar of soap and cold running water. Later, he longs for ice cubes, cigarettes, and a spoonful of strawberry jam, which costs an exorbitant $150 per jar.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to widespread shortages of everyday items, from toilet paper to Choco Tacos. When these items do appear, they often come with steep price hikes. Supply chain disruptions have also impacted the availability of baby formula, gasoline, and imported goods. Even prior to the pandemic, consumers experienced a temporary shortage of Dawn dish soap.
In Soylent Green, shortages trigger violent riots. While real-world scarcities haven’t led to widespread unrest, there have been occasional reports of shoppers clashing over limited supplies.
5. Accurate Prediction: Fitness Equipment with Incentives
During the pandemic, fitness enthusiasts turned to brands like Peloton, which combine stationary exercise machines with motivational features, such as virtual trainers on screens. Similarly, Soylent Green features an exercise bike, but its purpose isn’t fitness—it’s used by Sol Roth to generate electricity for their apartment.
6. Inaccurate Prediction: New York City’s Population Size
Much of the hardship in Soylent Green stems from overpopulation. The film opens with a title card stating New York City houses 40 million people. In reality, the city’s population in 2022 is just under 9 million.
7. Inaccurate Prediction: Unemployment Statistics
Thorn casually mentions that Manhattan has '20 million guys out of work,' implying an unemployment rate of 50 percent or higher. In reality, New York City’s unemployment rate in July 2022 was a much more reasonable 6.1 percent, though still above the national rate of percent at the time.
8. Partially Inaccurate: Cannibalism as a Theme
Even for those unfamiliar with Soylent Green, the film’s shocking Twilight Zone-style twist is well-known [SPOILER ALERT!]: The food substitute Soylent is revealed to be made from human remains.
While real-world food supplies haven’t included such grim revelations, cannibalism has become a recurring theme in 2022 media. As The New York Times noted, it’s featured in novels like Tender Is the Flesh, films like Fresh, TV series like Yellowjackets, and even documentaries like House of Hammer. Though Soylent Green didn’t predict actual cannibalism, it seems modern culture is fascinated by the concept.
