'

A Scanner Darkly

Play trailer

A Scanner Darkly

R

Released Jul 7, 2006

1h 40m

Action

Drama

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Animation

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

185 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In the near future, as America virtually loses the war on drugs, Robert Arctor, a narcotics cop in Orange County, Calif., becomes an addict when he goes under cover. He is wooing Donna, a dealer, to ferret out her supplier. At the same time, he receives orders to spy on his housemates, one of whom is suspected of being Donna's biggest customer.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

A faithful adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel, A Scanner Darkly takes the viewer on a visual and mind-blowing journey into the author's conception of a drug-addled and politically unstable world.

Read Critics Reviews

Brian Tallerico

UGO

Linklater never pretends that he has all the answers, but he asks the questions in such an interesting, elegant fashion that you'll be glad you came along for the ride.

Mar 24, 2007

Full Review

Dana Stevens

Slate

As A Scanner Darkly proves, Keanu is the Coolness -- passive blankness, leaden line delivery, and all. Let's hear it for the vague blur.

Sep 23, 2006

Full Review

Robert Hanks

Independent (UK)

It is not a great film, but an insidious one, the sort that gets under your skin. It leaves you scrabbling at aphids, hoping they really are in your imagination.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 19, 2006

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A Scanner Darkly beautifully, and chillingly, considers Dicks persistent theme that our culture has destroyed its own ability to perceive objective reality.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 21, 2022

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Episode 34: Relaxer / A Scanner Darkly / The Beach Bum / Holy Motors

Rated: 86/100

Sep 14, 2021

Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

The hostility toward the Bush administration and its police-state ambitions is legitimate and no doubt deeply felt, but it is not particularly well developed.

Feb 14, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Topher S

should probably watch this movie sober sometime so i remember the plot

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

Full Review

Gorptholemew T

🍀 4.9/10 I feel like this movie requires you to smoke marijuana while watching it. Unfortunately I did not understand it and that’s OK. Still stacked cast and some pretty good performances, it’s definitely different but just not really my thing.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

Full Review

Nano N

Animation is fascinating enough on its own to make this worthwhile. Funny and serious.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/21/24

Full Review

Carlos I

I always trust Linklater to make interesting choices, and go for the high concept ideas, as he chews on weightier material. And this is no different. I love the concept of tackling this story with rotoscoping animation, but it was a little distracting here. Which is unfortunate, as he probably could've had a sci-fi classic if he just made the same thing, but with traditional filmmaking...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/16/24

Full Review

Lucifer M

A true to the source material adaptation that’s engaging and entertaining by making you think while also hooking you with its almost animated cinematography. The film just pops like a moving graphic novel and with a great cast telling the story, Dick fans and sci-fi enthusiasts will certainly be pleased by this gem!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/10/24

Full Review

Doro B

A Scanner Darkly holds both a microscope and outstretched hand towards drug addiction. It is also a masterful use of this particular style of rotoscoping --- probably one of the best to this day. It's ability to blend fantasy and reality perfectly fits the film, in both plot and theme. Richard Linklater has proven he is a talent in multiple genres.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Richard Linklater

Director

Keanu Reeves

Fred

Robert Downey Jr.

Barris

Woody Harrelson

Luckman

Winona Ryder

Donna

Rory Cochrane

Freck

Renaissance

49%

59%

Renaissance

Watchlist

Timecrimes

90%

79%

Timecrimes

Watchlist

Death Sentence

20%

60%

Death Sentence

Watchlist

Running Scared

41%

79%

Running Scared

Watchlist

The Kingdom

51%

76%

The Kingdom

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In the near future, as America virtually loses the war on drugs, Robert Arctor, a narcotics cop in Orange County, Calif., becomes an addict when he goes under cover. He is wooing Donna, a dealer, to ferret out her supplier. At the same time, he receives orders to spy on his housemates, one of whom is suspected of being Donna's biggest customer.

Director: Richard Linklater
Producer: Tommy Pallotta, Jonah Smith, Anne Walker-McBay, Palmer West
Screenwriter: Richard Linklater
Distributor: Warner Independent
Production Co: Detour Filmproduction, Thousand Words, 3 Arts Entertainment, Section Eight Ltd., Warner Independent Pictures
Rating: R (Drug and Sexual Content|A Brief Violent Image|Language)
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 2006, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.5M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now