Side Effects

Name: Side Effects
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: February 8, 2013
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Catherine Zeta Jones, Channing Tatum, Jude Law, Rooney Mara

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 438 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 438 Ratings

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Side Effects: In The Middle Of The Night

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Movie Details & Credits

Open Road Films | Release Date: February 8, 2013 | R

Starring: Catherine Zeta Jones, Channing Tatum, Jude Law, Rooney Mara

Summary: A woman turns to prescription medication as a way of handling her anxiety concerning her husband's upcoming release from prison.

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 106 min

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Critic Reviews

Film.com Jordan Hoffman

Feb 26, 2013

He’s taken what, on paper, boils down to an extra ridiculous episode of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” and passes it off as high cinematic art. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Feb 7, 2013

While the plot may be predictable (and more than a little preposterous) in retrospect, Mr. Soderbergh handles it brilliantly, serving notice once again that he is a crackerjack genre technician. Read full review

Scott Wold

Apr 3, 2018

Unsurprisingly, the substance of a movie genre is again enriched with his latest, masterfully spare and confident effort. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Feb 7, 2013

With Rooney Mara as the woman in question — a poised, tense Manhattanite prescribed anti-anxiety medication by her psychiatrist with newsworthy results — Side Effects finds its ideal performer. Read full review

Ty Burr

Feb 8, 2013

A sleekly clever murder mystery, the film plays as many games with the audience as it does with its characters, and for the majority of the running time — the challenge comes from matching wits with what you’re seeing. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Feb 7, 2013

It’s masterfully shot and edited, with a brooding soundtrack and a mysterious, dreamlike undertow – and, when all is revealed, it’s not even half as interesting as it seems to be. Read full review

Rex Reed

Feb 6, 2013

What it turns out to be is a preposterous puzzle that fails every test under scrutiny, leaving the spectator with a “Huh?” that is meant to be uttered only while chewing gum. Read full review

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User Reviews

movieboy

May 11, 2013

What a great way to go out with the best movie of 2013 I've seen so far. I loved the slowly unraveling serpentine plot that had us thinking it was an expose on Big Pharma and then it twisted in a totally different direction. Great acting too. A modern thriller classic.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

Brutus54

Mar 17, 2013

Clever plot, good acting. Hard to follow sometimes, and visually a bit unexciting, but pretty entertaining, adult entertainment anyway. Good turns from Jude La and Rooney Mara. Extra marks for not following predictable paths. Less marks for a moderately silly lesbian sub-plot that borderedClever plot, good acting. Hard to follow sometimes, and visually a bit unexciting, but pretty entertaining, adult entertainment anyway. Good turns from Jude La and Rooney Mara. Extra marks for not following predictable paths. Less marks for a moderately silly lesbian sub-plot that bordered on being pointlessly salacious. But still one of the better films of the year, so long as you pay attention to what is going on.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bfoore90

Jan 3, 2020

An underrated gem about the dangers of prescription medication and how doctors prescribe and over prescribe medications just simply because they can.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

poetreviewer

Feb 9, 2013

The creepy tone of this movie and overall craft were great, but the outcome of the supposed mystery was fairly predictable. Great acting. I enjoyed watching the movie, but if the intent was to surprise, it didn't work for me.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

foxgrove

Mar 9, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A wonderfully mature and adult thriller in which the puzzle is somewhat more satisfying than the resolution as it leaves a few uncertain conclusions. Jude Law is very good as the psychiatrist treating Rooney Mara's depressed patient and there are twists and turns in abundance; a shocking murder and a lot of debating the use of prescription drugs are just a few of the plot points that propel the story intriguingly forward. However, I must admit to some uncertainty about the conclusion which is lazily written. One gets the gist, but it is definitely not totally satisfactory. Good acting and a mood enhancing score from Thomas Newman add to the stylish effect.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

savoy16

Feb 16, 2013

Decent movie but not something I could recommend to anyone. I think the (roughly) 2 hours was not well spent. The last 20-30 minutes of the film felt rushed and it required a lot of acceptance from the viewer on things that were not very well explained to make the movie work. Overall itDecent movie but not something I could recommend to anyone. I think the (roughly) 2 hours was not well spent. The last 20-30 minutes of the film felt rushed and it required a lot of acceptance from the viewer on things that were not very well explained to make the movie work. Overall it was interesting but not new or unique.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

hg53

Mar 31, 2013

Character development was completely neglected in light of an actually great narrative. Good choice of actors to portray all elements of the story, but ultimately weak in creating anything substantial.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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98	#98 Best Movie of 2013
66	#66 Most Discussed Movie of 2013
59	#59 Most Shared Movie of 2013