The Mothman Prophecies

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The Mothman Prophecies

PG-13

Released Jan 25, 2002

1h 59m

Mystery & Thriller

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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.

Critics Consensus

A creepy thriller that poses more questions than it answers.

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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

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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

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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

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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

Dan R

2002's 'The Mothman Prophecies' is an incredibly atmospheric thriller which is possibly my favourite Richard Gere movie. SYNOPSIS: 'A reporter is drawn to a small West Virginia town to investigate a series of strange events, including psychic visions and the appearance of bizarre entities.' 'The Mothman Prophecies' is a strong accomplished supernatural thriller that substitutes a dark and haunting atmosphere for monsters, and puts substance high on its list of priorities. It illustrates the beauty of a well made scary movie and the fact you don't have to believe it to feel your hair stand on end. In the style of the 'X Files', which was at its pomp on this film's release, this film draws on urban legend to fashion a spooky supernatural yarn. 8/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

Full Review

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Mark Pellington

Director

Richard Gere

John Klein

Laura Linney

Connie Parker

Will Patton

Gordon Smallwood

Debra Messing

Mary Klein

Lucinda Jenney

Denise Smallwood

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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: Lakeshore Entertainment, Screen Gems
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)