Transcendence

PG-13

Released Apr 18, 2014

1 hr. 59 min.

Sci-Fi

Action

Mystery & Thriller

TRAILER

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List

19%

228 Reviews

Tomatometer

37%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Georgan G

Unsure why this film got low ratings as I thought it was very interesting. The plot is based on "singularity," meaning computer technology overcomes human being.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

Davide l

It actually made sense in the end, just gave the impression of being lost in the plot enough to make people miss it. Rhythm is everything in certain endeavours.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

Paul P

A decent concept, great actors, perfect cinematography... all let down by the complete lack of a cohesive story line, terrible writing and no direction. This could have been a great movie... it really wasn't though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/26/24

Full Review

Roy T

It's a good movie. It's been out a few years at this point, and AI has advanced quite a bit. People are starting to wake up to some scary scenarios. This movie takes some artistic license with it for entertainment, but the point is still very much real.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

Test T

I watched this on DVD recently, and found it very interesting and thought provoking. It's about an AI research project which get's out of control, and it's probably more relevant now than when the film was made. The trouble I had watching it was that it feels cold and detached. I never felt a connection with any of the characters, and without this the film was just a lifeless sequence of futuristic imagery. It's a shame, because the ideas and the story are worthy of a much better film, which the accomplished cast could have readily delivered with better direction. As it is, it's a technical spectacle with very narrow audience appeal.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/15/23

Full Review

Alec B

If the film had even an ounce of wit or intelligence I might appreciate the intimacy of the narrative but it's a humorless slog that's practically unwatchable.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/10/23

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

2:24

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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

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

Rated: 2/5

Aug 27, 2022

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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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
Executive Producer: Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Dan Mintz
Screenwriter: Jack Paglen
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Straight Up Films, DMG Entertainment, 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
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos

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