A visionary science fiction masterpiece from director Douglas Trumbull, this 1972 film explores humanity's relationship with nature through a haunting premise: in a world where Earth's vegetation has vanished, a lone astronaut must confront an impossible moral dilemma when ordered to destroy the final botanical specimens preserved aboard his spacecraft. Featuring Bruce Dern in a career-defining performance, the film combines philosophical depth with stunning practical effects, examining themes of environmental collapse and individual conscience. Written by Deric Washburn, Michael Cimino, and Steven Bochco, Silent Running remains a thought-provoking meditation on what we stand to lose.