<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $28 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $33.8 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Blade Runner is a 1982 American neo-noir science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos . Written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, the film is a loose adaptation of the 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick . It depicts a dystopian Los Angeles of 2019 in which genetically engineered replicants, which are visually indistinguishable from adult humans, are manufactured by the powerful Tyrell Corporation to work on off - world colonies . Those that escape and return to Earth are hunted down and "retired" by special police operatives known as Blade Runners . The story focuses on burnt - out expert Blade Runner Rick Deckard (Ford), who reluctantly agrees to take on one more assignment to hunt down a group of recently escaped replicants led by Roy Batty (Hauer). During his investigations, Deckard meets Rachael (Young), an advanced replicant who causes him to question his attitude towards replicants . </P> <P> Blade Runner initially polarized critics; some were displeased with the pacing, while others praised its thematic complexity and visuals . It underperformed in North American theaters, but has since become a cult film . The year following its release, the film won the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation . Hailed for its production design, depicting a "retrofitted" future, it remains a leading example of neo-noir cinema . The film's soundtrack, composed by Vangelis, was critically acclaimed and nominated in 1983 for a BAFTA and Golden Globe as best original score . The film brought the work of Philip K. Dick to the attention of Hollywood, and several later films were based on his work . Ridley Scott regards Blade Runner as "probably" his most complete and personal film . In 1993, the movie was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Blade Runner is now regarded by many critics as one of the all - time best science fiction movies . </P>

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