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IMDbPro

The Butterfly Effect

  • 2004
  • R
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
502K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
827
11
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
DramaSci-FiThriller

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.

  • 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
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    502K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    827
    11
    • Directors
      • Eric Bress
      • J. Mackye Gruber
    • Writers
      • J. Mackye Gruber
      • Eric Bress
    • Stars
      • Ashton Kutcher
      • Amy Smart
      • Melora Walters
    • 1.3KUser reviews
    • 177Critic reviews
    • 30Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 8 nominations

    Videos2

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

    Photos252

    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
    • Production, box office & more 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
      Edited into The Butterfly Effect: Deleted and Alternate Scenes (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 reviews1.3K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    What if there's an alternate life for you somewhere, out there, where the cumulative sum of your choices leads to a better reality, a happier and more fulfilling existence?
    What if you could go back to major junctions in your life and take the other path? What if there's an alternate life for you somewhere, out there, where the cumulative sum of your choices leads to a better reality, a happier and more fulfilling existence? On the flip-side - what if, at the end of the day, you really can't achieve a solid grip on these things, no matter how hard you try?

    A great deal of science fiction works of art have tried to approach these meaningful questions throughout the years, all presenting many philosophical ideas and notions as to how one man can change his own fate, for better or for worse. In this surprisingly good sci-fi adventure from 2004, directors Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber (who are also behind the screenplay of Final Destination 2) raise all these questions once again, but use a different angle this time around. Time travel is not the issue here. Instead, our lead protagonist, Evan Treborn (portrayed by Hollywood prankster Ashton Kutcher – but more on that later) leads his whole life up until his early 20's without knowing he has a rare medical condition that seemingly helps him shut away traumatic incidents that occurred throughout his childhood and adolescence years. All he remembers from these various occasions are bizarre blackouts. But when a blast from his past comes back into his life only to leave it ever so tragically (Kayleigh Miller, portrayed by the lovely Amy Smart who we've since seen in films such as Just Friends and Crank), Evan learns that he can return to those important lost moments in his life and re-inhabit his younger body, thus changing the present and future. However, with every shift in the past comes an alternate present that may seem better at first, but is in fact a far harsher reality than the original one Evan has left.

    What truly touched me about this film was the essence in which it captured the troublesome youth of my generation, that was born in the 1980's, grew up in the 1990's, and is ever since trying to adapt to the ever changing reality in which we all live in. Here, one man tries to alter all this, and his own personal journey is parallel in many ways to the journey many young people go through nowadays. Part of capturing this Generation X notion is the pop-culture presented throughout the film. When you see the young actors and actress fall in love, fight, and grow up real fast, it all happens amidst references to films of the period (Se7en, etc.), outfits, 1980's technology and other devices that fill you up with an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia and sentiment, as if you were there yourself, living these events and going through all these horrible/wonderful events.

    Above all things, the makers of The Butterfly Effect do the unbelievable and turn Ashton Kutcher into a good actor – a feat I thought was unachievable at best. However, in this sci-fi epic it appears as though anything is possible. Bottom line, it was a fresh breath of air when I saw it, left me pondering for days, and gave me the inspiration and write something myself after a long period of writers block. If a film manages to be this inspirational and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout its 113 minutes duration, all I can do is humbly bow down in front of its makers' talents. I'm eagerly waiting for other outings by these young folks.
    helpful•202
    51
    • saarvardi
    • Jul 28, 2007

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    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(prison scenes)
    • 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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