Requiem for a Dream

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Requiem for a Dream

R

Released Oct 27, 2000

1h 41m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

138 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Imaginatively evoking the inner landscape of human beings longing to connect, to love and feel loved, the film is a parable of happiness gloriously found and tragically lost. "Requiem for a Dream" tells parallel stories that are linked by the relationship between the lonely, widowed Sara Goldfarb and her sweet but aimless son, Harry. The plump Sara, galvanized by the prospect of appearing on a TV game show, has started on a dangerous diet regimen to beautify herself for a national audience.

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Critics Consensus

Though the movie may be too intense for some to stomach, the wonderful performances and the bleak imagery are hard to forget.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

At times disturbing and always intense, this flick offers its own acid trip for viewers and is a first-hand look at four people who become trapped by their own hell.

Rated: A

Sep 12, 2017

Full Review

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

A staccato narrative parallels the experiences and hallucinations of a woman on drugs with those of her son and his friends.

Sep 20, 2011

Full Review

Matt Noller

Slant Magazine

A gut-wrenching, formally adventurous masterpiece or an ugly, flashy piece of empty-headed propaganda?

Rated: 2/4

Sep 8, 2009

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Kristy Strouse

Cinematic Lovelies

I think it’s a masterpiece; gut-wrenching and soaked in a hellscape of realistic proportions. Requiem for a Dream is a tough watch, but an essential one.

Mar 12, 2023

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

If anything, Aronofsky’s doomy, freaky, humorless style defeats his own purpose: It re-animates the dark romance of dissolution.

Rated: C-

Sep 3, 2022

Full Review

Carey-Ann Pawsey

Orca Sound

Though all aspects of the film are excellent from story to cinematography to directing it is the acting which holds the whole thing together. The three leads are amazing.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 14, 2020

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Miles B

Absolute masterpiece, and now I just feel sad

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

Full Review

Film Critic F

I don't understand what's so gut-wrenching about it, but I do think it's a must-see for movie-goers.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

Full Review

Gabrielle H.

Beautiful. Such a fantastic film showcasing the dangers of addiction and drugs as well as the corruption in our hospitals and prisons. The main characters are all struggling with a different form of addiction; Sara has an addiction to diet pills and struggles with being an outcast with her neighbors and son. Harry struggles with needles and pushes himself to the brink to help his girlfriend and his mother. Ty struggles with an addiction to powder and the struggles with being a young black man living in a poor financial situation. Marion gets addicted to the same powder and ends up not being able to live without it and turns to affairs after her parents neglect her needs and replace it with monetary love. It really plays with your heart and the difficulties of drugs and money— this movie will drive you to tears.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

Full Review

Nick B.

It’s a beautifully tragic film. Very hard to watch but hard to look away from.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

Full Review

Sto C

The main characters chase delusional dreams, descending deeper and deeper into their abyss — an acid trip with great editing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

Full Review

James O

One of the most powerful I have ever seen. The film's score and editing will haunt you for years to come.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

Full Review

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Darren Aronofsky

Director

Ellen Burstyn

Sara Goldfarb

Jared Leto

Harry Goldfarb

Jennifer Connelly

Marion Silver

Marlon Wayans

Tyrone C. Love

Christopher McDonald

Tappy Tibbons

Requiem for a Dream: Official Clip - Wait for Me

1:46

Requiem for a Dream: Official Clip - Fetal Position

3:05

Requiem for a Dream: Official Clip - Meaningless

1:36

Requiem for a Dream: Official Clip - I Know It's Pretty

1:56

Requiem for a Dream: Official Clip - Smart, Loyal and Not a Junkie

1:09

Requiem for a Dream: Official Clip - Feed Me, Sara

2:13

Requiem for a Dream: Official Clip - I Have a Favor to Ask

2:46

Requiem for a Dream: Official Clip - There's My Three Meals, Mr. Smartypants

1:16

Requiem for a Dream: Official Clip - We're on Our Way

1:42

Requiem for a Dream: Official Clip - The Red Dress

2:10

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Requiem for a Dream: Trailer 1

1:19

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Synopsis

Imaginatively evoking the inner landscape of human beings longing to connect, to love and feel loved, the film is a parable of happiness gloriously found and tragically lost. "Requiem for a Dream" tells parallel stories that are linked by the relationship between the lonely, widowed Sara Goldfarb and her sweet but aimless son, Harry. The plump Sara, galvanized by the prospect of appearing on a TV game show, has started on a dangerous diet regimen to beautify herself for a national audience.

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Producer: Eric Watson, Palmer West
Screenwriter: Darren Aronofsky, Darren Aronofsky
Distributor: Artisan Entertainment
Production Co: Industry Entertainment, Protozoa Pictures, Requiem for a Dream LLC, Thousand Words, Truth and Soul Pictures, Artisan Entertainment, Sibling Productions, Bandera Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 6, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.6M
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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