Transcendence

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2:24

Transcendence

PG-13

Released Apr 18, 2014

1h 59m

Sci-Fi

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

19%

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225 Reviews

37%

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50,000+ Ratings

Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp), the world's foremost authority on artificial intelligence, is conducting highly controversial experiments to create a sentient machine. When extremists try to kill the doctor, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed. Will's wife, Evelyn (Rebecca Hall), and best friend, Max (Paul Bettany), can only watch as his thirst for knowledge evolves to an omnipresent quest for power, and his loved ones soon realize that it may be impossible to stop him.

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Critics Consensus

In his directorial debut, ace cinematographer Wally Pfister remains a distinctive visual stylist, but Transcendence's thought-provoking themes exceed the movie's narrative grasp.

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Roxana Hadadi

Punch Drunk Critics

There's no surprise here; no nuance. And without any understanding of its subject matter or any interest in making others understand, either, Transcendence gives you very little reason to care.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 9, 2017

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David Sims

The Atlantic

Pfister and Paglen are going for emotional intimacy, but they forgot to add enough shading to their ensemble to land any kind of punch.

Sep 22, 2016

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Pfister manages to put up one eye-catching image after another, yet never engages us for more than a moment.

Jun 18, 2016

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“Transcendence” looked good on paper but not in execution.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 27, 2022

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Transcendence looks like a top-notch production, but nothing about it stands out in any way.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 15, 2022

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Asks some interesting questions but might have been more thought provoking if it was a better movie

Rated: 2/5

Feb 1, 2021

Full Review

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Glyn M

Watching this in 2025 June brings the reality of AI alot closer to home. We are closer now to this reality than ever.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

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Andrew W

In 2014, this premise was a sci-fi, distant future concept. In 2022, federal funding was authorized within Executive Order 14073-Enhancing the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

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Audience Member

Deserves a better rating, worth watching in 2025

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

Full Review

Noah N

I am incredibly surprised by all the negative reviews. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it; I guess it just isn't for everyone... It is a great movie and deserves a much better rating in my opinion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/01/25

Full Review

d y

For a movie made in 2014, Transcendence is an interesting movie to watch in 2025, when the world is full of AI. The kind of future the movie depicts is thought-provoking as we try to build self-awareness into AI. Worth watching if you are into this kind of ideas. I don’t feel bored at all. But most people cannot fully understand the depth behind it, or lack the genuine interest to understand it. Sadly they naturally give bad reviews. A typical movie with a topic too deep to be widely appreciated by everyone. But overall nice movie!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

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D H

An interesting premise executed extremely poorly.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/25

Full Review

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Wally Pfister

Director

Johnny Depp

Will Caster

Rebecca Hall

Evelyn Caster

Paul Bettany

Max Waters

Cillian Murphy

Agent Buchanan

Kate Mara

Bree

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Transcendence: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp), the world's foremost authority on artificial intelligence, is conducting highly controversial experiments to create a sentient machine. When extremists try to kill the doctor, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed. Will's wife, Evelyn (Rebecca Hall), and best friend, Max (Paul Bettany), can only watch as his thirst for knowledge evolves to an omnipresent quest for power, and his loved ones soon realize that it may be impossible to stop him.

Director: Wally Pfister
Producer: Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Kate Cohen, Marisa Polvino, Annie Marter, David Valdes, Aaron Ryder
Screenwriter: Jack Paglen
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: DMG Entertainment, Straight Up Films, Alcon Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Sci-Fi Action and Violence|Brief Strong Language|Sensuality|Some Bloody Images)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 18, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 14, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.0M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos

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