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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

Full Review

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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Will L

This movie tries to be deep and edgy but seriously misses the bar.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/25

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Kristen H

Requiem for a Dream is as disturbing as it is artistic—a brutal, visually striking descent into addiction and obsession. Darren Aronofsky doesn’t hold back, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. The film sticks with you, not just because of its subject matter, but because of how masterfully it’s told. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s a necessary one.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

Full Review

Gage H

This is a movie that you watch once and then you never need to see it again. God forbid you are smoking during this because this will make you never want to touch drugs again. Good movies are made to elicit emotion from the viewers. However, that doesn’t mean it needs to be a good emotion.. in this case it is disgust and anxiety. Everything else is done to perfection. The movie is able to easily get points across to you without having to show you specifically what’s being done. This might be one of the best uses of split screen that I’ve seen in a movie for a while. Not to mention the scenes where certain people are sped up and others aren’t. Brilliant stuff. Lastly, the score is terrific. It really builds the tension and queues the audience in to an important moment. Overall this is a well filmed & acted movie. The topic and the way it makes you feel prevents me from going any higher than 4 stars.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/25/25

Full Review

Armin A

shocking and realistic. my arm hurts

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/16/25

Full Review

Bryan C

haunting film, score, and performances

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/28/25

Full Review

adelyn h

very impactful and a shocking ending

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/18/25

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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