In a world starved for energy, no secret is more valuable.

Big Oil. Big Money. Big Mystery. Everyone's out to make a killing.

From the best-selling mystery thriller that rips the truth from behind today's headlines

What happens when the oil runs out? Two men know. They both want... The Formula.


With George C. Scott and Marlon Brando heading the cast, The Formula should have been far better than it is. Adapted by Steve Shagan from his own best-selling novel, the film is predicated on the concept that a formula for synthetic fuel had been developed by the Nazis during WW II. In the intervening 35 years since the war's end, the formula has disappeared and several people connected with it have died under mysterious circumstances. Also during this period, oil magnate Adam Steiffel (Marlon Brando) had commiserated with one of the decedents. Police officer Barney Caine (George C. Scott), a friend of the dead man, hopes to solve the mystery, and in so doing gets mixed up in a wide-ranging conspiracy to manipulate worldwide fuel prices. Reportedly, The Formula underwent a great deal of editing-room surgery before its release. If so, the editors certainly erred in retaining so many of the film's interminable "steadicam" sequences.


The film opened to mixed to negative reviews from critics. It was said that behind the scenes, John G. Avilsen was after a print of the film he liked to be released. Studio infighting led him to demand the film to be left alone, but writer-producer Steve Shagan decided to cut the film into a different version that ultimately ended in the theaters. Avildsen was bitter. He also wanted the print to be released to have little of Marlon Brando to emphasize the mystery. While critics liked the acting, they were not stunned by the plot and its twists. It also won Golden Raspberry nominations.


Release Date: December 19, 1980


Distrib: MGM

Boxoffice: $8,894,289 2013: $26,616,700