Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

The Mothman Prophecies

Play trailer Poster for The Mothman Prophecies PG-13 Released Jan 25, 2002 1h 59m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
52% Tomatometer 141 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
From the director of Arlington Road comes a spine-tingling, super-natural thriller based on actual events that will rattle your nerves and shake your beliefs. Distraught by the sudden, tragic death of his wife (Debra Messing), John Klein (Richard Gere), a journalist for The Washington Post, finds himself mysteriously drawn to a small West Virginia town when his car inexplicably strands him. Rescued by the sympathetic but skeptical local police sergeant (Laura Linney), he soon learns that many of the town's residents have been beset by bizarre events, including sightings of an eerie "moth-like" entity, similar to the one seen by his late wife. Investigating further and having his own terrifying encounters with the creature, he becomes obsessed with the idea that this supernatural being can predict impending calamities and is trying to warn the town of one. Is this a psychic delusion brought on by his grief or can he convince the police sergeant that there's a tragedy that must be averted? His life, and potentially others' lives, depend on his making the right choice before time runs out.
The Mothman Prophecies

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A creepy thriller that poses more questions than it answers.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (141) Critics Reviews
Bill Stamets Chicago Reader Sights that might have been comforting before suddenly seem strange and menacing, and the technological landscape we depend on for our survival becomes the mise-en-scene of a horror film... Rated: 3/4 Jun 23, 2022 Full Review Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com One of the creepiest movies ever made. Rated: B+ Oct 9, 2020 Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media Psychological thriller may deeply upset some kids. Rated: 2/5 Dec 28, 2010 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast More of a vibe than it is a narrative-driven thriller, but it's an extremely chilling vibe nonetheless. Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 4, 2023 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh A handful of creepy sequences aside, it's ultimately a hokey and uninformed adaptation of a genuinely bizarre series of events. Rated: 2/5 Sep 20, 2023 Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Unfortunately, the actual event caused more fright than the film. Nov 13, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Scott M The Mothman Prophecies is one of those films that people tend to either love or hate. In my opinion, it's easily one of the most underrated and genuinely creepy films of the 2000s. Marketing it as a mystery/thriller did this film a great disservice and set people up for disappointment because the film is actually more of a slow-burn, unsettling, cerebral horror drama. There is very little in the way of action, suspense, or cat-and-mouse style chases, as people often expect from thrillers. This movie is a vibe more than anything; a very eerie, uncanny vibe that really gets under your skin if you let it. The film also had the misfortune of being released in a time when American audiences generally favored big, loud, shocking horror over challenging, deliberately paced chillers. If you enjoy movies like Kairo (Pulse), Lake Mungo, and The Empty Man, there's a strong chance you'll appreciate this film, so long as you don't go into it expecting fast-paced thrills or concrete answers. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/09/25 Full Review Janis E A true masterwork. It pulls you into a world of ancient myths comes true with magnificent photography, intriguing performers, and a compelling story. An immersive experience is produced through the visually arresting visuals, precise set design, and great acting. Your emotional investment is maintained by the outstanding cast's ability to give their characters depth and dimension. The blend of mystery, adventure, and mythology is expertly done, with ideal pacing and topics that will get you thinking. The musical score for the movie adds yet another level of excellence. The mothman Prophecies is a masterpiece of epic storytelling of alleged real life event with twist of fantasy and a must-see for movie buffs. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/16/25 Full Review Geoff M Beautifully shot and haunting Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/07/25 Full Review Robert M A Sci Fi thriller with Richard Gere and Laura Linley. I've seen reviews that say it's a horrible movie and garbage. I couldn't disagree more. It has good performances by the above actors, it's well filmed, and has an interesting plot. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/02/25 Full Review Anton H This absolute garbage excuse for a movie has about as much intelligence and horror content as a basket of sun-dried moth carrion. Rewatching it gave me great shame, as I somehow remembered it being a lot better. What did 14-year-old Me know? Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/08/24 Full Review Farah R There's an intriguing mystery at the heart of this well-acted thriller, but the agonizingly slow pace ruins it. Had the fat been trimmed, the climax would've impacted more. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/07/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Mothman Prophecies

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Fear X 57% 39% Fear X Watchlist Dragonfly 7% 62% Dragonfly Watchlist High Crimes 31% 50% High Crimes Watchlist The Truth About Charlie 34% 27% The Truth About Charlie Watchlist The Sixth Sense 86% 90% The Sixth Sense Watchlist TRAILER for The Sixth Sense Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis From the director of Arlington Road comes a spine-tingling, super-natural thriller based on actual events that will rattle your nerves and shake your beliefs. Distraught by the sudden, tragic death of his wife (Debra Messing), John Klein (Richard Gere), a journalist for The Washington Post, finds himself mysteriously drawn to a small West Virginia town when his car inexplicably strands him. Rescued by the sympathetic but skeptical local police sergeant (Laura Linney), he soon learns that many of the town's residents have been beset by bizarre events, including sightings of an eerie "moth-like" entity, similar to the one seen by his late wife. Investigating further and having his own terrifying encounters with the creature, he becomes obsessed with the idea that this supernatural being can predict impending calamities and is trying to warn the town of one. Is this a psychic delusion brought on by his grief or can he convince the police sergeant that there's a tragedy that must be averted? His life, and potentially others' lives, depend on his making the right choice before time runs out.
Director
Mark Pellington
Producer
Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Gary Goldstein
Screenwriter
Richard Hatem, John A. Keel
Distributor
Screen Gems
Production Co
Screen Gems, Lakeshore Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexuality|Language|Terror)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 25, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$35.2M
Runtime
1h 59m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)