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The Butterfly Effect (2004)

R | | Sci-Fi, Thriller | 23 January 2004 (USA)
The Butterfly Effect Poster
Evan Treborn suffers blackouts during significant events of his life. As he grows up, he finds a way to remember these lost memories and a supernatural way to alter his life by reading his journal.

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,

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Kayleigh at 13 (as Irene Gorovaia)
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Sarah Widdows ...
Jake Kaese ...
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Storyline

Evan Treborn grows up in a small town with his single, working mother and his friends. He suffers from memory blackouts where he suddenly finds himself somewhere else, confused. Evan's friends and mother hardly believe him, thinking he makes it up just to get out of trouble. As Evan grows up he has fewer of these blackouts until he seems to have recovered. Since the age of seven he has written a diary of his blackout moments so he can remember what happens. One day at college he starts to read one of his old diaries, and suddenly a flashback hits him like a brick! Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

time travel | child pornography | surprise ending | blackout | reference to god | See All (259) »

Taglines:

Verändere die Zukunft, durch die Vergangenheit (Change the future, through the past.) See more »

Genres:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, sexual content, language and brief drug use | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

|

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

23 January 2004 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

L'effet papillon  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$17,065,227 (USA) (23 January 2004)

Gross:

$23,947 (USA) (7 May 2004)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

, ,  »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

All of the prison scenes were filmed in a real prison (Washington State) with real prisoners. See more »

Goofs

When Evan and his mother visit the fortuneteller in the Director's Cut, she says that Evan has no "lifeline" and should therefore not exist. In the scene that follows where Evan and his mother sit outside the fortune-teller's Evan's "lifeline" is clearly visible in his palm. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
[reading aloud as he writes a note]
Evan: If anyone finds this, it means my plan didn't work and I'm already dead. But if I can somehow go back to the beginning of all of this, I might be able to save her.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The title, "The Butterfly Effect," is superimposed over a depiction of a butterfly beating its wings, which is itself superimposed upon an X-ray profile of a human brain. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Ugly Betty: The Butterfly Effect: Part 2 (2009) See more »

Soundtracks

Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Written by Noel Gallagher
Performed by Oasis
Courtesy of Epic Records / Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Played during two final scenes and the end credits
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How was Evan able to go back to the birthday party or to the time of his birth without having experienced any blackouts at those times?
Q: Why didn't anything change the first time Evan went back to the past?
Q: Does Evan's condition cause the nose bleeds and brain damage?
See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Keep you on the edge of your seat from the start to the finish
15 February 2005 | by (United Kingdom) – See all my reviews

The film that was underrated. The film that only appeared on US cinemas. The Butterfly Effect.

I think Ashton Kutcher did a good job on this film, along with Andrea Treborn. I recall that Kutcher has never made a film like this, and his first thriller was somewhat peculiar. Not just any old thriller, this one would keep you on the edge of your seat from the start to the finish. A weird title however, but the tag line explains all. Change one thing, change everything. I think this automatically gets you thinking, and as the film proceeds, it gets harder. You like thinking? Get this film, because you will not want to miss it!
151 of 228 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?
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Director's cut ending VenserQL
The best version dancenog
help me understand the praise aps42
Why the Director's Cut Doesn't Work: powermandan
The sequels should never have been made Tessburton43
Probably been discussed before, but one thing that always bothered me. chilichilipepper
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