The Stanford Prison Experiment

Name: The Stanford Prison Experiment
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: July 17, 2015
Duration: 122 min
Rating: 67
Cast: Billy Crudup, Ezra Miller, Michael Angarano, Olivia Thirlby, Tye Sheridan

2015

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 71 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 71 Ratings

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The Stanford Prison Experiment

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: July 17, 2015 | R

Starring: Billy Crudup, Ezra Miller, Michael Angarano, Olivia Thirlby, Tye Sheridan

Summary: What happens when a college psych study goes shockingly wrong? In 1971 Stanford University professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo (Billy Crudup) cast 24 student volunteers as prisoners and guards in a simulated jail to examine the source of abusive behavior in the prison system. The results astonished the world, as participants went fromWhat happens when a college psych study goes shockingly wrong? In 1971 Stanford University professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo (Billy Crudup) cast 24 student volunteers as prisoners and guards in a simulated jail to examine the source of abusive behavior in the prison system. The results astonished the world, as participants went from middle-class undergrads to drunk-with-power sadists and submissive victims in just a few days. [IFC Films]… Expand

Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 122 min

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Critic Reviews

Drew McWeeny

Feb 1, 2015

Using real transcripts, and with the involvement of Dr. Philip Zimbardo, who was the psychologist who designed the project in the first place, Talbott and director Kyle Patrick Alvarez have opted to aim for something authentic and honest. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Jul 30, 2015

The Stanford Prison Experiment is the kind of movie that raises as many questions as it answers. It’s also the kind of film where you want to budget some time for discussion afterward. You won’t be able to shake this one off easily. Read full review

James Rocchi

Jul 16, 2015

Disturbing, honest and compelling, The Stanford Prison Experiment turns a well-known story into must-see storytelling, depicting the ugly truth through gorgeous filmmaking. Read full review

Brian Truitt

Jul 16, 2015

Even with some familiar faces, The Stanford Prison Experiment feels like an honest-to-goodness documentary — a high compliment for a movie based on an infamous college project. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Jul 20, 2015

It is remarkable, however, that The Stanford Prison Experiment works as well as it does, and for as long as it does. Crudup and the young cast (particularly Angarano) deserve much of the credit. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Jul 30, 2015

The film can be appreciated, if only as a showcase for its assured, emotional attuned performances, as a convincing time capsule and period piece, and as a chance to reconsider one of the more well-known and still-influential studies of its era. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Jul 22, 2015

Director Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s film underserves its cast of up-and-comers (Thomas Mann, Ezra Miller, Tye Sheridan), allows the usually solid actor Michael Angarano to go astray with a scenery-chewing role and buries Crudup in fretting and sanctity. Worse, the experiment’s inherent drama is exacted with a tin ear and a cheesy style. Read full review

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User Reviews

Reann-Morgan

Jan 9, 2020

This movie stayed true to many of the events that took place during the real experiment. It felt real and it felt horrifying. It's a scary piece of history that I feel is important to evaluate and this movie allowed an accurate representation of the study itself.

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SilverLining

Aug 17, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I saw this movie last year and I went "Oh my god! This was so exquisite and intense!" I really praise of how accurate this movie was to the source material from Dr. Phillip Zimbardo's "The Lucifer Effect" and the website. The other movies I've seen based on this experiment "Das Experiment" & its American-remake were dull due to its work of fiction. But this movie was actually based on fact and I appreciate that its title and story is based on the actual events that took place in Stanford University. The cast were well-done, especially Ezra Miller as Prisoner 8612 and Thomas Mann as Prisoner 416. The story was intense. It's like you feel more sorry for the helpless, scared prisoners than you do for the sadistic prison guards. What's scary about this movie is that they're just college kids who have never been in a fight and never had any mental misbehavior. The transformation of these youths is disturbing because it is controlled by a psychiatrist who attempts to strip away their individuality physically and symbolically. My favorite scene was when Prisoner 8612 (Ezra Miller) was in "The Hole" going insane. Banging on the closet door rapidly, screaming "Please! LET ME OUT OF HERE! I WANT OUT! I WANT OUT NOW!" I loved that scene because 1) it was a realistic performance, and 2) it captivated you to understand how traumatizing it can be to be in a horrific psychological state. This movie was amazing. I really recommend this movie to anyone who is a Psychology major.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

NickLikesMovies

Nov 14, 2015

A chilling and intense story of the depths and terrors of psychology. A fantastic ensemble, with outstanding work from Michael Angarano and Tye Sheridan, a phenomenal script, and a wonderful style and tone lead this to one of my favorites of the year. It's incredibly smart and usesA chilling and intense story of the depths and terrors of psychology. A fantastic ensemble, with outstanding work from Michael Angarano and Tye Sheridan, a phenomenal script, and a wonderful style and tone lead this to one of my favorites of the year. It's incredibly smart and uses fascinating details and story points. Don't miss "The Standford Prison Experiment."… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Noahboy

Sep 21, 2019

Alhough a bit unfocused, The Stanford Prison Experiment has some amazing cinematography, musical composition, performances (notably Ezra Miller's), and directing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BilkaDimma

Sep 8, 2021

Low Budget - Really High Quality
Really scary but true
Ezra really killed it

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Jan 6, 2021

This low budget flick does a compelling job in conveying the intense and disturbing true story. An honest and well made movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Sep 6, 2017

The Stanford Prison Experiment is not a movie for everyone, some may find it boring other claustrophobic, but certainly its subject does not leave you indifferent. Its plot had already been addressed in other projects but had never focused on real people who lived through this experienceThe Stanford Prison Experiment is not a movie for everyone, some may find it boring other claustrophobic, but certainly its subject does not leave you indifferent. Its plot had already been addressed in other projects but had never focused on real people who lived through this experience firsthand. I enjoy it, I think that the theme is quite interesting and the director and his cast deliver good accounts, with the exception of Billy Crudup who apparently did not know how to portray his character.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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