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Play trailer 2:00 Poster for Stay R Released Oct 21, 2005 1h 38m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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26% Tomatometer 119 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Sam Foster (Ewan McGregor), a psychiatrist, has a new patient, Henry Letham (Ryan Gosling), who claims to be suicidal. In trying to diagnose him, Sam visits Henry's prior therapist (Janeane Garofalo) and also finds Henry's mother -- even though Henry has said that he murdered both of his parents. As reality starts to contradict fact, Sam spirals into an unstable mental state. Then he finds a clue as to how and when Henry may try to kill himself, and races to try to stop him.

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Critics Consensus

A muddled brain-teaser, Stay has a solid cast and innovative visuals but little beneath the surface.

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Critics Reviews

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Matthew Leyland BBC.com A head-scratching thriller... Rated: 2/5 Sep 6, 2006 Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Forster should be commended for attempting something as daunting as the overreaching Stay. Rated: 2.5/5 Oct 29, 2005 Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com In all honesty, by the time Forster and Benioff reach their conclusion (which, looking back on it, would be sort of neat if it didn't make the proceeding 90 minutes a waist of time), I had a headache so throbbing I simply didn't care. Rated: 2/4 Oct 29, 2005 Full Review Joshua Starnes ComingSoon.net It is both straightforward and abstract, using cinematic tricks to put the audience in Sam/Henry's headspace. The result is a bit a sense of intentional vertigo that may cloud the films ultimately humanist point. Rated: 9/10 Mar 30, 2011 Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed A sappy melodrama touted in a supernatural angle... Apr 29, 2009 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts and Ryan Gosling all lower their box office merit with this unbaked psychological thriller about a suicidal man (Gosling) taunting his eccentric psychologist (McGregor) after surviving a horrible car accident. Rated: D- Apr 19, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ralph R Stay (2005) is such an underrated gem that feels like it was built piece by piece with an artist’s brush. Marc Forster didn’t just direct a psychological thriller, he crafted a puzzle where every detail matters. From the way a painting on a wall echoes a scene, to characters reappearing in strange ways, to transitions that feel like they’re pulling you deeper into someone’s mind, this movie thrives on atmosphere and symbolism. The production design is incredible, and the attention to detail is the kind of thing you only fully appreciate after multiple viewings. The acting is another strong point. Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, and Ryan Gosling all bring depth to roles that could have easily slipped into clichés. Gosling especially sells the fragile, haunted side of Henry, while McGregor carries the weight of trying to hold it all together. The supporting cast fits in seamlessly, giving the whole thing a grounded feel even when the story gets surreal. Critics dismissed this film as too confusing or “style over substance,” but that’s missing the point. It’s a film about perspective, grief, and the fragility of life, told in a dreamlike way that doesn’t play by the usual rules. It asks you to pay attention, to let yourself get lost, and to pick up the clues hidden in plain sight. For me, that’s what makes it so good, and why it deserves way more recognition than it got. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/26/25 Full Review Jay B Personally I loved it, probably for the wrong reasons. Mainly to oggle Ryan Gosling, what a stunning performance from a beautiful guy. It struck me as a tad David Lynch, imagary and rather disjointed. Loved it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/26/25 Full Review Rachel O Do you know how when you watch Donnie Darko the first time, you have no clue wtf happened? It's like that, but no matter how many times you watch it you still have no clue what the plot is and what exactly happened. I have no clue what to say about this. Do not recommend. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/24/25 Full Review Paul S It was very hard to understand what was going on in this movie, but I still thought it was amazing. The confusion this movie put me through kind of made it better and more immersive, and the intensity of Ryan Gosling's performance made the movie really enjoyable. I definitely recommend it for thriller and drama fans! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/20/25 Full Review Audience Member eu comi cocô grande e eu gostei muito do cocô, mas o filme é melhor ainda Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/26/25 Full Review Peter N Don’t waste your time watching this movie.. The arty farty types will find a way to like the movie and tell you it is a work of art but it definitely is not.. 1 hr and 39 mins of my life wasted.. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/03/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Sam Foster (Ewan McGregor), a psychiatrist, has a new patient, Henry Letham (Ryan Gosling), who claims to be suicidal. In trying to diagnose him, Sam visits Henry's prior therapist (Janeane Garofalo) and also finds Henry's mother -- even though Henry has said that he murdered both of his parents. As reality starts to contradict fact, Sam spirals into an unstable mental state. Then he finds a clue as to how and when Henry may try to kill himself, and races to try to stop him.
Director
Marc Forster
Producer
Bill Carraro, Eric Kopeloff
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
New Regency Pictures
Rating
R (Language|Disturbing Images)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 21, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 9, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.6M
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD, DTS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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