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Altered States

Play trailer Poster for Altered States R 1980 1h 42m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Respected scientist and psychology professor Edward Jessup (William Hurt) decides to combine his experiments in sensory deprivation tanks with powerful hallucinogenic drugs, convinced that it may help him unlock different states of consciousness. The experiments are a success at first, but as Jessup continues his work, he begins to experience altered mental and also physical states. As he spends more time in sensory deprivation, his grip on reality begins to slip away.
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Altered States

Altered States

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Critics Consensus

Extraordinarily daring for a Hollywood film, Altered States attacks the viewer with its inventive, aggressive mix of muddled sound effects and visual pyrotechnics.

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Critics Reviews

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Lawrence O'Toole Entertainment Weekly Oct 15, 2025
C+
As trashy entertainments go, this one’s sometimes pretty swell. Go to Full Review Richard Corliss TIME Magazine Aug 16, 2014
It opens at fever pitch and then starts soaring -- into genetic fantasy, into a precognitive dream of delirium and delight. Go to Full Review Ian Nathan Empire Magazine Aug 16, 2014
3/5
It's got Russell's trademark eccentricity (read: slight bonkers-ness) all over it, which you may take as a warning or a recommendation. Go to Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl May 23, 2026
6/10
...may be taken as a warning about encroaching on customs you don’t understand and/or trying to isolate induced experiences from their cultural context. Go to Full Review James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk Dec 26, 2025
3/4
merges science fiction with heady counterculture drug-speak, producing an overheated mishmash in which technology and spirituality unlock the secrets of human evolution Go to Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending Dec 5, 2025
A-
...while the final cut of Altered States might not have been to Chayefsky’s liking, it’s certainly a fascinating and transfixing cinematic achievement. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 3 days ago Altered States = a *4* star Movie... See more Jonathan O @RT41230270 Aug 9, 2026 What a crazy, bizarre, body horror ride. The visual are out of this world it felt like Kubrick's style of 2001: a space odyssey, clockwork orange, and the shining and the sound effects are terrific but the make-up design by Dick Smith is absolutely unbelievable and fascinating and really outstanding cast and directing and storytelling. See more Melissa L @Agent99 Apr 29, 2026 Weird and dramatic, it really isn't a "horror" movie. It was okay. See more Bucky R @Bucky3085 Apr 4, 2026 This a WILD one from Ken Russell. See more Mark S. @sparkysnyder Feb 1, 2026 Freaky good. Introduced to William Hurt / Blair Brown. AHA stole the last scene for its “take on me” music video. Far out See more Justin T @RT08580778 Dec 3, 2025 I knew nothing about this film and had no idea what to expect. I was very engaged and enjoyed it a lot. It's a very high quality production. The cinematography especially is beautiful. Some minor issues with the sound design and special effects but nothing that takes away from the film. The acting is excellent. The writing is the star, it is a really interesting concept and feels believable, like they weren’t just talking science fiction, they were talking science fact. They explain it all well. It has a really engaging story and characters. There is a Lovecraftian vibe to some of it. It’s also possibly the best Cronenberg film and it wasn’t even made by him. The only real downside is the ending, it is so abrupt and leaves too much unresolved. See more Read all reviews
Altered States

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Ken Russell

Director

William Hurt

Professor Eddie Jessup

Blair Brown

Emily Jessup

Bob Balaban

Arthur Rosenberg

Charlie Haid

Mason Parrish

Thaao Penghlis

Prof. Eduardo Eccheverria

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Altered States

Altered States (1980) Altered States (1980) Altered States (1980) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Respected scientist and psychology professor Edward Jessup (William Hurt) decides to combine his experiments in sensory deprivation tanks with powerful hallucinogenic drugs, convinced that it may help him unlock different states of consciousness. The experiments are a success at first, but as Jessup continues his work, he begins to experience altered mental and also physical states. As he spends more time in sensory deprivation, his grip on reality begins to slip away.
Director
Ken Russell
Producer
Howard Gottfried
Screenwriter
Paddy Chayefsky
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Rating
R
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 1980, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2008
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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