Atlas Shrugged Part III: Who Is John Galt?

Atlas Shrugged Part III: Who Is John Galt? is a 2014 American science fiction political drama and the third film in a trilogy based on Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel. It continues the story from the previous film but features an almost entirely new cast, continuing a pattern where neither Part II nor Part III retained most actors from the earlier installments. J. James Manera wrote and directed the film, which stars Kristoffer Polaha, Laura Regan, Greg Germann, Eric Allan Kramer, Tony Denison, Mark Moses, Lew Temple, Stephen Tobolowsky, Peter Mackenzie, Larry Cedar, Louis Herthum, Neil Dickson, Rob Morrow, and Joaquim de Almeida.

Originally scheduled for July 4, 2014, the film was released on September 12, 2014. Like its predecessors, it was both a financial and critical failure.

The plot begins with the death of the owner of the 20th-century Motor Company. His children take over and implement a policy where everyone works as hard as possible but salaries are based on need. Lab engineer John Galt objects and declares he will stop the motor of the world. Twelve years later, the U.S. economy is in decline. Shortages have grounded airlines and revived railroads, while over-regulation has caused financial collapse. Galt is suspected of orchestrating the disappearances of corporate leaders and experts. Dagny Taggart, head of Taggart Transcontinental, pursues Galt in a private plane but crashes. Galt rescues her and brings her to Galt’s Gulch, where she meets other “disappeared” achievers, including banker Midas Mulligan, who left because they believed the government was enslaving them. Outside the Gulch, the government develops a secret weapon called “Project F” and nationalizes the railroads, including Taggart Transcontinental. Public frustration with central planning grows, and rallies demand Galt reform the government. Head of State Thompson offers Galt a government job, which Galt refuses. The government then tortures Galt using Project F, but others from the Gulch rescue him. They escape as the power grid around New York City collapses.

The cast includes Kristoffer Polaha, who reprises his role as John Galt from Part II. Former Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul, along with commentators Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity, appear as themselves in a news montage, but their segments are unrelated to John Galt’s speech.