The Butterfly Effect

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2:25

The Butterfly Effect

R

Released Jan 23, 2004

1h 53m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

34%

Tomatometer

170 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

College student Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) is afflicted with headaches so painful that he frequently blacks out. While unconscious, Evan is able to travel back in time to difficult moments in his childhood. He can also alter the past for friends, like Kayleigh (Amy Smart), who was molested by her father (Eric Stoltz). But changing the past can drastically alter the present, and Evan finds himself in nightmarish alternate realities, including one where he's locked away in prison.

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Critics Consensus

The premise is intriguing, but it's placed in the service of an overwrought and tasteless thriller.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. So very bad.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 28, 2010

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Apr 1, 2006

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Jonathan Crocker

BBC.com

Lobotomised entertainment that's dark, violent, and hilariously dumb.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 13, 2004

Full Review

Luke Buckmaster

Flicks (AU, NZ, UK)

This film is so gut-wrenchingly dark and twisted I’d also call it a horror movie, with virtually no respite once its core premise swings into gear.

May 21, 2024

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

Wildly uneven and not exactly high-quality entertainment, The Butterfly Effect has, nonetheless, weirdly turned out to be strangely memorable, especially for certain generation of moviegoers.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 12, 2022

Full Review

C.H. Newell

Father Son Holy Gore

The Butterfly Effect looks at the power of memory, the repercussions of events from our past that bleed into the present.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 5, 2019

Full Review

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Audience Member

This is a film for the modern age. For my generation at least, this film resonates. It's sharp, poignant, and - for science fiction - incredibly realistic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/09/24

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Samuel J

Critics missed the mark on The Butterfly Effect. While it has its flaws, the film’s ambitious storytelling and emotional depth make it nothing short of a masterpiece in my eyes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

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Dionisis T

DAMN that was a fucked up ending!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

Full Review

Jerrod G

Besides what top critics say I really like the movie. A man who wants everything and realizes he can't have it. Crazy thriller doesn't worth a watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

Full Review

J C

The top ?? critics are full of BS. GREAT MOVIE

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

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Harvey D

Worth a watch i am sure it's not for everyone but if you like the early 2000 movies this one is a good watch. Unless your one of those "Top critics" imagine hating everything in life. What a sad existence 🤣🤣

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

Full Review

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Eric Bress

Director

J. Mackye Gruber

Director

Ashton Kutcher

Evan Treborn

Amy Smart

Kayleigh Miller

Eric Stoltz

George Miller

William Lee Scott

Tommy Miller

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The Butterfly Effect: Trailer 1

2:25

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Synopsis

College student Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) is afflicted with headaches so painful that he frequently blacks out. While unconscious, Evan is able to travel back in time to difficult moments in his childhood. He can also alter the past for friends, like Kayleigh (Amy Smart), who was molested by her father (Eric Stoltz). But changing the past can drastically alter the present, and Evan finds himself in nightmarish alternate realities, including one where he's locked away in prison.

Director: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber
Producer: Chris Bender, A.J. Dix, J.C. Spink, Anthony Rhulen
Screenwriter: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Katalyst Films, Blackout Entertainment, Benderspink, Film Engine
Rating: R (Language|Brief Drug Use|Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 23, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.7M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, Dolby SRD, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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