The Butterfly Effect

Name: The Butterfly Effect
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller
Released: January 23, 2004
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 30
Cast: Amy Smart, Ashton Kutcher, Melora Walters

2004

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 638 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 638 Ratings

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The Butterfly Effect

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Movie Details & Credits

New Line Cinema | Release Date: January 23, 2004 | R

Starring: Amy Smart, Ashton Kutcher, Melora Walters

Summary: Evan Treborn (Kutcher) has lost track of time. From an early age, crucial moments of his life have disappeared into a black hole of forgetting, his boyhood marred by a series of terrifying events he can't remember. Determined to do something now that he was incapable of doing then, Evan purposely travels back in time, his present-day mindEvan Treborn (Kutcher) has lost track of time. From an early age, crucial moments of his life have disappeared into a black hole of forgetting, his boyhood marred by a series of terrifying events he can't remember. Determined to do something now that he was incapable of doing then, Evan purposely travels back in time, his present-day mind occupying his childhood body, in an attempt to re-write history and spare his friends and loved ones these traumatic experiences. By altering the events of the past, Evan hopes to transform the present. (New Line Cinema)… Expand

Director: Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 113 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

James Berardinelli

The ending is weak, and may be the result of the filmmakers writing themselves into a corner and not wanting to conclude things in a burst of nihilistic excess. Yet, even though it's a cheat, it retains a degree of resonance. Read full review

Dallas Observer Gregory Weinkauf

As a thriller, The Butterfly Effect is iffy and uneven, but as a portrait of a people, it's effective and intriguing. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

Kutcher's performance isn't terrible, but the brilliant, bewildered, increasingly desperate Evan is the film's center, and grounding its flights of fantasy in rock-solid emotional reality is more than Kutcher can manage. Read full review

Steven Rea

Profoundly knuckleheaded. Read full review

Dennis Lim

You have to, if not love, at least not mind a movie in which the very act of Ashton Kutcher reading is enough of a cosmic trauma to rip a hole in the fabric of space-time. Read full review

Jack Mathews

If you approach this movie in the right frame of mind -- that is, with total contempt -- you can still enjoy it as a comedy. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

It's a terrible life, and a terrible movie.

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User Reviews

KennyT.

Oct 15, 2006

I thought this was a pretty good movie. Obviously I must not understand the art of film. . .

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Mar 5, 2010

I think the critics were paid to give these bad scores. Because seriously, this isn't the best movie but it's a damn fine one. I loved it. Kutcher acted really well, the story was interesting and intrguing and for me the only downer is the ending. It's not that typical "happy I think the critics were paid to give these bad scores. Because seriously, this isn't the best movie but it's a damn fine one. I loved it. Kutcher acted really well, the story was interesting and intrguing and for me the only downer is the ending. It's not that typical "happy ending" you'd want in this kind of movie but it did it's job. Great acting, great story: great movie.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful

SlamdogX

Feb 21, 2014

This is one of my most favorite movies of all time. I can't fathom what was going through the reviewers heads when they gave those scores. Looking at the user score restored some faith in people, but really? A critic review of 30 is reserved for Twilight-esque movies, not this gem.

47 of 49 users found this helpful472

JM.

Mar 19, 2007

Excellent movie. Must watch twice to get all of the twists you missed the first time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

geo333

Apr 5, 2016

The Butterfly Effect is a well written movie with a heartfelt story that will leave viewers with something to think about. Add to that good performances from all the cast in particular Ashton Kutcher who brings to life a great character. In the end, the butterfly effect is a good movie.

1 of 12 users found this helpful111

Tomo

Jan 23, 2007

The cast wasn't the best and the ending and the story itself could have been better but it was a very entertaining movie. I really enjoyed it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ChrisM

Jul 2, 2009

I'm so frustrated by teenagers who are not just looking for movies to pass their time but also try to proove how misguided the critics are.Stop saying this movie is a matserpiece just because of the clever idea behind it.What ever happened to the noble art of movie making?Is this the I'm so frustrated by teenagers who are not just looking for movies to pass their time but also try to proove how misguided the critics are.Stop saying this movie is a matserpiece just because of the clever idea behind it.What ever happened to the noble art of movie making?Is this the new virtues of films?Horrible acting and some so called personal torture tales?American Bullshit!No motive behind the movie but cheap amusement!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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13	#13 Most Discussed Movie of 2004
8	#8 Most Shared Movie of 2004