Culture 4 min read By Trevor Kendall
Silo Author Hugh Howey Names His Favorite Movie, and It Is Not Science Fiction
Hugh Howey, the author behind the hit series Silo, has revealed his favorite movie of all time, and it is an unexpected pick from the 1990s that has nothing to do with dystopian sci-fi.
Hugh Howey, the author behind the massively popular Silo book series and its hit Apple TV+ adaptation, has a favorite movie that will surprise many of his readers. Despite building a career on dystopian science fiction, Howey's all-time favorite film is not a space epic or a futuristic thriller. Instead, it is a 1990s gem that has earned a devoted following for its inventive storytelling and emotional depth.
The film in question is the 1990 adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau and starring Gérard Depardieu in the title role. The movie, based on Edmond Rostand's classic 1897 play, tells the story of a brilliant poet and swordsman who believes his oversized nose makes him unlovable, leading him to help a handsome but inarticulate soldier woo the woman they both love. Depardieu's performance earned him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival and an Academy Award nomination, cementing the film as a landmark of French cinema.
Howey's choice stands out because it is so far removed from the genre he is best known for. The Silo series, which began with the self-published novella Wool in 2011, imagines a post-apocalyptic world where the last remnants of humanity live in a massive underground silo, forbidden from venturing to the surface. The books became a publishing phenomenon, and the television adaptation starring Rebecca Ferguson has become one of Apple TV+'s flagship dramas. Yet when asked about his favorite movie, Howey pointed not to the science-fiction canon but to a period romance with a tragicomic heart.
The 1990 Cyrano de Bergerac is often praised for its visual poetry and its faithful yet cinematic take on Rostand's work. Rappeneau's direction turns the play's famous balcony scene into a sweeping, moonlit set piece, and the film's use of slow motion and dramatic lighting gives the story a dreamlike quality. Critics at the time hailed it as one of the best adaptations of the play ever committed to film, and it remains a staple of international cinema courses and retrospectives.
For fans of Howey, the revelation offers a glimpse into the author's creative influences. Cyrano de Bergerac is, at its core, a story about identity, hidden truths, and the fear of being seen for who we really are. Those themes resonate strongly with the world of Silo, where characters live behind masks of conformity and the truth is a dangerous commodity. Howey has often spoken about his love of character-driven storytelling, and his favorite film reflects that priority over spectacle.
The choice also highlights a broader trend among contemporary genre writers, many of whom cite classic literature and historical drama as major inspirations. Howey's admiration for a 35-year-old French film suggests that the boundaries between literary genres are far more porous than they might appear. In interviews, he has described the movie as emotionally overwhelming and has recommended it to fans who want to understand the kind of stories that move him.
Cyrano de Bergerac remains widely available on streaming platforms and home video, and its reputation has only grown in the decades since its release. For readers looking to connect with the mind behind one of the most talked-about science-fiction franchises of the decade, Howey's pick offers a clear and unexpected path. It is a reminder that even the most futuristic storytellers often look to the past for their deepest inspiration.
