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The Fly

Play trailer 2:02 Poster for The Fly R 1986 1h 35m Horror Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 77 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
When scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) completes his teleportation device, he decides to test its abilities on himself. Unbeknownst to him, a housefly slips in during the process, leading to a merger of man and insect. Initially, Brundle appears to have undergone a successful teleportation, but the fly's cells begin to take over his body. As he becomes increasingly fly-like, Brundle's girlfriend (Geena Davis) is horrified as the person she once loved deteriorates into a monster.
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The Fly

The Fly

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Critics Consensus

David Cronenberg combines his trademark affinity for gore and horror with strongly developed characters, making The Fly a surprisingly affecting tragedy.

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Critics Reviews

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Jay Scott Globe and Mail The Fly is a mass-market, horror film masterpeice that is also a work of art. Dec 6, 2022 Full Review Patrick Goldstein Los Angeles Times What makes The Fly such a stunning piece of obsessive film making is the way Cronenberg deftly allows us to identify with his monstrous creation. Aug 4, 2013 Full Review Carrie Rickey Philadelphia Inquirer Wildly imaginative, gut-wrenchingly scarifying and profoundly primal (not to mention funny), David Cronenberg's The Fly is a movie that whacks you in the solar plexus and leaves you gasping. Rated: 4/4 Aug 4, 2013 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand ... a mind-warping drama grounded in the palpably physical, visceral horror of the helplessness in the face of a body’s degenerative transformation, part evolution and part designer disease. Oct 11, 2025 Full Review Bryce Hanson Horror Movie Talk Seth Brundle’s slow transformation moves from the superficial to the grotesque so gradually, that you still think of him as a man even when he becomes a straight up monster. Rated: 10/10 Sep 23, 2025 Full Review Howard Waldstein CBR Things go from bad to worse, and the climax of the film is as disgusting as it is moving. Jul 18, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Anonymous D So much fun. Terrible writing and that just adds to the fun of it! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/21/25 Full Review Christian K I struggled to fully buy into the romance side of things. But the creature effects and climax are great. Needed much more fly action. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/20/25 Full Review Shaun R One of the great horrors of that era. People will find it disgusting, yet somewhat touching. A great film that you need to watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/17/25 Full Review Craig H Expected a horror film but this is more of a tragic horrific love story based around scienece, the practical effects where exceptionally gruesome for a nearly 40 year old film, give me this over CGI anyday much more effective. The story was just sad, a charismatic smart scientist played by the brilliant Jeff Goldblum reduced to a horrific monster by the end and his downfall is horrible to witness. Can see the influence this film had with the body horror stuff, very impressive. The film is short but effective, you dont feel great after watching it but you'll be glad you did Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/12/25 Full Review Larry K Pretty cool movie, Jeff Goldblum is always good Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/09/25 Full Review thiago s Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas de terror são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Fly

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Movie Info

Synopsis When scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) completes his teleportation device, he decides to test its abilities on himself. Unbeknownst to him, a housefly slips in during the process, leading to a merger of man and insect. Initially, Brundle appears to have undergone a successful teleportation, but the fly's cells begin to take over his body. As he becomes increasingly fly-like, Brundle's girlfriend (Geena Davis) is horrified as the person she once loved deteriorates into a monster.
Director
David Cronenberg
Producer
Stuart Cornfeld
Screenwriter
David Cronenberg, Charles Edward Pogue
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
SLM Production Group
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 15, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 24, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$34.9M
Runtime
1h 35m
Sound Mix
Surround
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