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The Butterfly Effect

  • 20042004
  • RR
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
483K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,447
463
Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
A man travels through time to try and save a woman in this trailer for the supernatural thriller
Play trailer2:10
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller
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 j... Read allEvan 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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
483K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,447
463
  • Directors
    • Eric Bress
    • J. Mackye Gruber
  • Writers
    • J. Mackye Gruber
    • Eric Bress
  • Stars
    • Ashton Kutcher
    • Amy Smart
    • Melora Walters
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Eric Bress
    • J. Mackye Gruber
  • Writers
    • J. Mackye Gruber
    • Eric Bress
  • Stars
    • Ashton Kutcher
    • Amy Smart
    • Melora Walters
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.2KUser reviews
    • 174Critic reviews
    • 30Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 8 nominations

    Videos2

    The Butterfly Effect
    Trailer 2:10
    The Butterfly Effect
    The Butterfly Effect
    Trailer 2:16
    The Butterfly Effect

    Photos236

    Ashton Kutcher and William Lee Scott in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Logan Lerman in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Ashton Kutcher in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Melora Walters and Logan Lerman in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Ashton Kutcher and Ethan Suplee in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Melora Walters and Ashton Kutcher in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Amy Smart in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Ashton Kutcher and Elden Henson in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart in The Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Eric Stoltz in The Butterfly Effect (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ashton Kutcher
    Ashton Kutcher
    • Evan
    Amy Smart
    Amy Smart
    • Kayleigh
    Melora Walters
    Melora Walters
    • Andrea
    Elden Henson
    Elden Henson
    • Lenny
    William Lee Scott
    William Lee Scott
    • Tommy
    John Patrick Amedori
    John Patrick Amedori
    • Evan at 13
    Irina Gorovaia
    Irina Gorovaia
    • Kayleigh at 13
    • (as Irene Gorovaia)
    Kevin G. Schmidt
    Kevin G. Schmidt
    • Lenny at 13
    Jesse James
    Jesse James
    • Tommy at 13
    Logan Lerman
    Logan Lerman
    • Evan at 7
    Sarah Widdows
    • Kayleigh at 7
    Jake Kaese
    • Lenny at 7
    Cameron Bright
    Cameron Bright
    • Tommy at 7
    Eric Stoltz
    Eric Stoltz
    • Mr. Miller
    Callum Keith Rennie
    Callum Keith Rennie
    • Jason
    Lorena Gale
    Lorena Gale
    • Mrs. Boswell
    Nathaniel DeVeaux
    • Dr. Redfield
    • (as Nathaniel Deveaux)
    John Tierney
    • Priest
    • Directors
      • Eric Bress
      • J. Mackye Gruber
    • Writers
      • J. Mackye Gruber
      • Eric Bress
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All of the prison scenes were filmed in a real prison (Washington State) with real prisoners.
    • Goofs
      In the credits at the end, there is a name next to a character for "Evan at 3". Nowhere in either of the two cuts is an actor portraying Evan at three years old.
    • Quotes

      Jason Treborn: You can't change who people are without destroying who they were.

    • 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.
    • Alternate versions
      The director's cut contains a few new scenes:
      • Evan discovering that his grandfather had the same gift, and also was considered crazy, like his father
      • Evan and Andrea go to a palm reader that tells Evan he has no lifeline
      • Andrea telling Evan she was pregnant twice before he was born.
      • A scene in the prison where the prisoners publicly read Evan's journals.
      • A scene in the prison where the other prisoners come to rape Evan one night.
      • An extended hospital scene where Evan is visiting sick Andrea.
      • An alternate ending.
    • Connections
      Featured in Butterfly Effect: The Creative Process (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      When Animals Attack
      Written by Chris King, Dave Wadsworth, Ric Roccapriore, Keith Kaplan and Howard Karp

      Performed by Even Rude

      Courtesy of PWNETD Music

    User reviews1.2K

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    a real surprise
    I saw this intriguing film last night & was quite amaze at how much I enjoyed it.

    The lead actor Ashton Kutcher, has made a name or himself on a Television show & a few films in comedic roles.

    In THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, he gives a superb dramatic turn, I can foresee a big future for this young actor. Very few actors have excelled in both comedies & dramas. To name only 2, GLENN FORD & JACK LEMMON.

    The female lead is played by Amy Smart, this is a multi part performance & she too is excellent. I have heard her name but cant place her in any film, Mark my word,We will see much more of her,

    The rest of the cast are actors I did not recognize excerpt fort Eric Stolz, who plays Amy's father, The all are excellent.

    The entire production is first rate all the way through.

    This is a very complicated story of imagination, some real events & pure fantasy.

    The last film of this type that impressed me this much was DONNIE DARKO. In fact both films would make a fantastic double bill,BUT it would be hard to sleep the night you saw both.

    Like Donnie Darko, this is psychedelic fantasy, science fiction,horror story. This type film is rare & very hard to succeed.

    The Butterfly Effect succeeds on all counts.

    rating ***1/2 /4 points 90/100 IMDb 8
    helpful•163
    85
    • jaybob
    • Jan 9, 2005

    FAQ9

    • Why does his cellmate see the stigmata appear when Evan stabs through his hands? Surely he would always have had the scars as long as anyone else is concerned.
    • Is "The Butterfly Effect" based on a book?
    • What is the "Butterfly Effect"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 23, 2004 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El efecto mariposa
    • Filming locations
      • Monroe Correctional Complex - 16700 177th Avenue SE, Monroe, Washington, USA
    • Production companies
      • BenderSpink
      • FilmEngine
      • Katalyst Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $13,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $57,938,693
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $17,100,000
      • Jan 25, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $96,822,421
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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