

The Cold Equations
“Out of time. Out in space. The only choice is life or death.”
Synopsis
Lieutenant John Barton is sent on a special mission to deliver a special vaccine to a distant mining colony. He is infuriated to find Lee, a stowaway aboard his spacecraft. Barton has only enough fuel to carry himself and his precious cargo, and Lee's added weight insures that they will crash if she stays on board. They have gone too far to turn back, and Barton's superiors make it clear: the mission takes precedence and Lee has to be dumped into space. But she won't go quietly.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Peter Geiger
- Screenplay & Story
- Stephen Berger, Peter Geiger, Norman Plotkin
- Original Score
- Paul Rabjohns
- Original Title
- The Cold Equations
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 32m
- Production Studios
- Chanticleer Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Peter Geiger
Stephen Berger, Peter Geiger, Norman Plotkin
Paul Rabjohns
Christopher Walling
Mary Jo Markey
Jana Sue Memel, Yoram Barzilai
Department Leadership Roster
Peter Geiger
Director
Stephen Berger
Writer
Peter Geiger
Writer
Norman Plotkin
Writer
Mary Jo Markey
Editor
Gene Warren Jr.
Visual Effects Supervisor
Robert de Vico
Production Design
Christopher Walling
Director of Photography
Jana Sue Memel
Producer
Yoram Barzilai
Producer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Cold Equations.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Cold Equations.
Out of this World
Distant galaxies and altered realities. Time warps and mind-bending technology. The impossible becomes possible as human ingenuity meets cosmic forces in extraordinary ways.
Science Fiction
Sci-Fi Cinema in the 1990s
Science fiction movies from the nineties (1990-1999), including TV movies as well as stand-alone mini-series. This list uses a fairly strict definition of science fiction, and therefore does not include most films that deal with fantasy, the supernatural, or super heroes. Films that fall more under the umbrella of horror (like a lot of zombie and pandemic films) have also been omitted.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Cold Equations
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Cold Equations about?
Lieutenant John Barton is sent on a special mission to deliver a special vaccine to a distant mining colony. He is infuriated to find Lee, a stowaway aboard his spacecraft. Barton has only enough fuel to carry himself and his precious cargo, and Lee's added weight insures that they will crash if she stays on board. They have gone too far to turn back, and Barton's superiors make it clear: the mission takes precedence and Lee has to be dumped into space. But she won't go quietly.
Who directed The Cold Equations?
The Cold Equations was directed by Peter Geiger.
Who stars in The Cold Equations?
The principal cast of The Cold Equations includes Billy Campbell, Poppy Montgomery, Daniel Roebuck, William R. Moses, John Prosky.
When was The Cold Equations released and how long is it?
The Cold Equations was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 1h 32m.
Who composed the musical score for The Cold Equations?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Cold Equations was composed by Paul Rabjohns.
