“Los Angeles November, 2019” is one of the simplest yet most effective title cards in sci-fi history. The sudden cut from plain white text to flying cars, belching pillars of fire, and endless city lights is an iconic opening that demonstrates just how far Blade Runner’s imagined future was from its 1982 release date.
In our 2019, blogger Jamie Zawinski realized that, thanks to a timestamp on archival footage in Blade Runner 2049, we can conclude that Blade Runner began on November 19th and ran through the 22nd. That means Rick Deckard got to work hunting and retiring rogue replicants five years ago today, and when we look at the current state of cyberpunk, it feels fitting that Blade Runner is fading into the past.
