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Transcendence

  • 2014
  • PG-13
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
243K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,536
65
Johnny Depp in Transcendence (2014)
Dr. Will Caster, the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, is working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists who will do whatever it takes to stop him. In their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed. For his wife Evelyn and best friend Max Waters, both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can...but if they should. Their worst fears are realized as Will's thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power, to what end is unknown. The only thing that is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him.
Play trailer2:34
34 Videos
99+ Photos
Artificial IntelligenceDramaSci-FiThriller

A scientist's drive for artificial intelligence takes on dangerous implications when his own consciousness is uploaded into one such program.A scientist's drive for artificial intelligence takes on dangerous implications when his own consciousness is uploaded into one such program.A scientist's drive for artificial intelligence takes on dangerous implications when his own consciousness is uploaded into one such program.

  • Director
    • Wally Pfister
  • Writer
    • Jack Paglen
  • Stars
    • Johnny Depp
    • Rebecca Hall
    • Morgan Freeman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    243K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,536
    65
    • Director
      • Wally Pfister
    • Writer
      • Jack Paglen
    • Stars
      • Johnny Depp
      • Rebecca Hall
      • Morgan Freeman
    • 610User reviews
    • 377Critic reviews
    • 42Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos34

    Trailer #2
    Trailer 2:34
    Trailer #2
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:29
    Trailer #1
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:29
    Trailer #1
    Transcendence
    Clip 0:50
    Transcendence
    Transcendence
    Clip 0:46
    Transcendence
    Transcendence: For 130 Thousand Years
    Clip 1:00
    Transcendence: For 130 Thousand Years
    Transcendence: Good Evening Donald Buchanan
    Clip 0:50
    Transcendence: Good Evening Donald Buchanan

    Photos361

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    + 356
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    Top cast95

    Edit
    Johnny Depp
    Johnny Depp
    • Will Caster
    Rebecca Hall
    Rebecca Hall
    • Evelyn Caster
    Morgan Freeman
    Morgan Freeman
    • Joseph Tagger
    Cillian Murphy
    Cillian Murphy
    • Agent Buchanan
    Paul Bettany
    Paul Bettany
    • Max Waters
    Kate Mara
    Kate Mara
    • Bree
    Cole Hauser
    Cole Hauser
    • Colonel Stevens
    Clifton Collins Jr.
    Clifton Collins Jr.
    • Martin
    Cory Hardrict
    Cory Hardrict
    • Joel Edmund
    Falk Hentschel
    Falk Hentschel
    • Bob
    Josh Stewart
    Josh Stewart
    • Paul
    Luce Rains
    Luce Rains
    • Roger
    Fernando Chien
    Fernando Chien
    • Heng
    Steven Liu
    • Chiu
    Xander Berkeley
    Xander Berkeley
    • Dr. Thomas Casey
    Lukas Haas
    Lukas Haas
    • James Thomas
    Wallace Langham
    Wallace Langham
    • Dr. Strauss
    James Burnett
    • Meth Head #1
    • Director
      • Wally Pfister
    • Writer
      • Jack Paglen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews610

    6.2243.1K
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    Featured reviews

    psy99999

    A rational plot that is very realistic

    No irony in the above. The irrational and immensely stupid human reactions are more than realistic, and paint a bleak future while also explaining why we are stuck here today. People are scared of human evolution and advancement, and do their utmost to prevent them from happening. Think of religion or populistic yet unreasonable laws that are based on religion or similarly unfounded assumptions.

    This film is great, the possibilities outlined are very real, and those hurring it down have absolutely no knowledge of science and have no imagination as to what the future may realistically hold.

    I would expect that Transcendence will do better in countries where there is more critical thinking, such as Japan or most of Europe.
    5trublu215

    This seems like wasted potential

    Transcendence, much like most of the latest sci-fi themed films to hit cinemas, is a wasted effort. It exhibits signature Pfister cinematography that we've come to love over the past decade. With Nolan's Batman trilogy and Inception, it was only a matter of time for Wally Pfister to take a stab at directing. Unfortunately, the only thing that seems well done in this film is the cinematography. The story, while seeming fresh and exciting on paper, devolves into a half baked idea with mediocre acting. Johnny Depp does the best he can while only being a mere voice during the latter half of the film. The rest of the cast seems wasted, this is especially true because we know how great Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman and Rebecca Hall can be. Wally Pfister focuses more on capturing really fantastic shots but seems never truly devoted to the actual story. This comes as a major disappointment especially because of the hype that this film has been generating over the last year. When it boils down to it, Transcendence is just another exercise in style over substance, never matriculating to anything more than an average sci-fi thriller that has a criminally underused cast and phenomenal camera-work.
    8jocean4

    The Line Between Humanity & Evolving into something More.

    This film will most likely split down the middle because of it's religious tones of God and evolution. Some people will love it and some will hate it because it might go against their belief system.

    For movie purposes, it has great acting, great story (though some may feel it's a little too far fetched, which I personally don't think is too far fetched when you see what the world was like 10 years ago before the mainstream web), and pretty good action scenes.

    At the heart, it's a story about a woman, Evelyn, who loves her husband, Will, so much she tries to hold onto him by helping him save his consciousness. She begins to wrestle with whether this being is really Will or is something new. It's also about evolution and the line between humanity and evolving into something more. This movie might be a turn off for religious people but it does make you think of what humanity could become whether you're religious or not.

    Overall, it's a great movie that's enjoyable, thought provoking, challenges some beliefs, and foreshadows some future realities we will all have to soon deal with.

    I would say go see it!
    8lathe-of-heaven

    Beautifully made, serious Science Fiction. More subtle and deeper than you may think... Blu-ray: Excellent A:10 V:10

    I'm glad that some of the reviews that I had read, even from fairly reputable and reliable sources like Bluray.com, were ultimately not accurate in their description of this film. For example, that site made it seem like this was a rather shallow movie that basically was about an Artificial Intelligence that typically goes amok. That is not true at all and completely misses the point.

    Now that I've just seen it, I can understand why they named it as they did; this wasn't just some usual commercially catchy phrase to sell a film, but after all is said and done (and viewed) that SPECIFICALLY was actually the primary theme of the film. It will be a little difficult to 'talk' about this aspect of it without entering Spoiler territory, which I do not wish to do.

    There are deeper themes running through this film than one may think at first. Without being specific, the final few scenes reveal that 'Transcendence' is indeed what is going on here. So, first and foremost, PLEASE do not be put off by those who say that this is just a shallow Sci Fi film about a machine taking over; if you like serious Science fiction that is done very well, then you should like this film.

    One caution though... My impression is that this movie is the moral antithesis of a film like, say, 'CHILDREN OF MEN', which I also just watched recently before this one. That film too is very beautifully shot and technically well done; AND, it also would be considered very serious, adult Science Fiction. But, I personally ***ENJOYED*** this one quite a bit more; the themes and mood of it resonated a LOT more with me personally than the other film. I just mention these particular films as a comparison of two well done, modern Sci Fi films, but with almost TOTALLY opposite philosophies behind them. Whereas 'CoM' is what I would call much more gritty and 'Realistic' and even quite Nihilistic in it's tone, where basically just about bloody EVERYONE dies, Mankind is shown to be nasty, selfish, and brutal, and with the supposed exception of it's last minute ending, completely without any hope at all. This film though, in my lowly and wretched opinion, is MUCH more subtle and enlightened in the themes that it is emphasizing, and it may not be until the very end when you fully realize what the point actually is (I'll give you a hint... It has to do with one of the last things Rebecca Hall says) Don't get me wrong, BOTH films are very well done, but I just wanted to show the extreme contrast in tone, so that it might help you to choose whether you would want to watch this one.

    Also, quite frankly, it is just a great film. It's a lot of fun, there is excellent suspense where you do NOT know what is going to happen next or whether what is going on is truly Good or Evil...

    So, as I mention in a lot of my reviews: If you are a bit on the cynical side and are the kind of person who likes their entertainment, whatever the Genre, to be of the more brutally 'Realistic' type, and you don't care for more imaginative or Idealistic films, then this one may not do much for you. BUT... IF you do appreciate films where the underlying themes may cause you to question your own attitudes towards Hope and Faith (and I DON'T mean anything Religious at all - Just Faith or Hope in things or people in general) THEN you might, as I did, really find this film quite refreshing and entertaining.
    8Sjhm

    Intriguing storyline which goes to the heart of human existence

    Truly the questions this film asks leave me wondering. So let's start with the film itself, as a scifi thriller, it's beautifully executed with some stunning visuals, to the extent that sometimes it has the feel of a travel advertisement. The story hangs together well, with strong central performances which keep you engaged. Some of the ethics are quite complex, and you have to ask if the machine's intent is really hostile, or is that just the interpretation characters are putting on it because they don't understand. And we fear what we do not understand. The intent here is clearly to tell a story in such a way that you walk away thinking about it. Job done. I came away thoroughly entertained, and thinking more about singularity and transcendence than I have in quite a while. If you are after a Saturday afternoon blockbuster with a lot of action, this might not be the film for you, but if you prefer your action with a little more intrigue, this is a great film.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Continuing his outspoken advocacy for the use of film stock over digital formats, cinematographer Wally Pfister not only chose to shoot the film in the anamorphic format on 35mm film instead of on a digital camera, but also finished the film photochemically, refusing to use a digital intermediate.
    • Goofs
      Will Caster is killed by the highly toxic radio-active element, Polonium (the same one used to murder Alexander Litvinenko in true-life in 2006). Despite its toxicity (scientists estimate that 1 gram could kill 50 million people), his wife and friends are allowed to remain with him in close proximity until his death. Whilst intact skin is actually a barrier to the passage of alpha radiation particles to a nearby person (so we could let them off this goof), we later see Caster's cremated ashes being tossed into the breeze above a river for all to breath in. These are hardly actions that any homeland security or radiation expert would conceivably have allowed to happen.
    • Quotes

      Will Caster: For 130,000 years, our capacity to reason has remained unchanged. The combined intellect of the neuroscientists, mathematicians and... hackers... in this auditoirum pales in comparison to the most basic A.I. Once online, a sentient machine will quickly overcome the limits of biology. And in a short time, its analytic power will become greater than the collective intelligence of every person born in the history of the world. So imagine such an entity with a full range of human emotion. Even self-awareness. Some scientists refer to this as "the Singularity." I call it "Transcendence."

    • Connections
      Featured in Half in the Bag: Transcendence and the Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Genesis
      Written by Jorma Kaukonen

      Performed by Jorma Kaukonen

      Courtesy of RCA Records

      By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

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    FAQ22

    • How long is Transcendence?Powered by Alexa
    • What does the last garden scene represent?
    • How did Max upload virus in Evelyn? Did he have access to Nano Technology?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 18, 2014 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Warner Bros. (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Trascender
    • Filming locations
      • Belen, New Mexico, USA
    • Production companies
      • Alcon Entertainment
      • DMG Entertainment
      • Straight Up Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $100,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,022,309
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $10,886,386
      • Apr 20, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $103,039,258
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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