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IMDbPro

Primer

  • 20042004
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 17m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
106K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,427
288
Primer (2004)
DramaSci-FiThriller
Four friends/fledgling entrepreneurs, knowing that there's something bigger and more innovative than the different error-checking devices they've built, wrestle over their new invention.Four friends/fledgling entrepreneurs, knowing that there's something bigger and more innovative than the different error-checking devices they've built, wrestle over their new invention.Four friends/fledgling entrepreneurs, knowing that there's something bigger and more innovative than the different error-checking devices they've built, wrestle over their new invention.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
106K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,427
288
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Shane Carruth
    • Writer
      • Shane Carruth
    • Stars
      • Shane Carruth
      • David Sullivan
      • Casey Gooden
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Shane Carruth
    • Writer
      • Shane Carruth
    • Stars
      • Shane Carruth
      • David Sullivan
      • Casey Gooden
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 514User reviews
    • 140Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 7 nominations

    Videos1

    Primer
    Trailer 1:42
    Primer

    Photos27

    David Sullivan and Shane Carruth in Primer (2004)
    David Sullivan in Primer (2004)
    David Sullivan and Shane Carruth in Primer (2004)
    David Sullivan and Shane Carruth in Primer (2004)
    David Sullivan in Primer (2004)
    David Sullivan and Shane Carruth in Primer (2004)
    David Sullivan and Shane Carruth in Primer (2004)
    Primer (2004)
    Anand Upadhyaya, David Sullivan, Shane Carruth, Casey Gooden, and Daniel Bueche at an event for Primer (2004)
    Shane Carruth at an event for Primer (2004)
    Shane Carruth at an event for Primer (2004)
    David Sullivan at an event for Primer (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Shane Carruth
    Shane Carruth
    • Aaron
    David Sullivan
    David Sullivan
    • Abe
    Casey Gooden
    Casey Gooden
    • Robert
    Anand Upadhyaya
    Anand Upadhyaya
    • Phillip
    Carrie Crawford
    • Kara
    Jay Butler
    • Metalshop Worker
    John Carruth
    • Man On Couch #1
    Juan Tapia
    • Man On Couch #2
    Ashley Warren
    • Hostess
    Samantha Thomson
    Samantha Thomson
    • Rachel Granger
    Chip Carruth
    • Thomas Granger
    Delaney Price
    • Laney
    Jack Pyland
    • Aaron's Co-worker
    Keith Bradshaw
    • Clean Room Technician
    Ashok Upadhyaya
    • Laboratory Technician
    Brandon Blagg
    • Will
    Jon Cook
    • Will's Cousin
    David Joyner
    • Rachel's Date
    • Director
      • Shane Carruth
    • Writer
      • Shane Carruth
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The budget for the entire film was around $7000. Most of the money was spent on film stock.
    • Goofs
      During numerous takes the director, Shane Carruth, mutters "cut" under his breath. According to the DVD commentary, this is due to their extremely low budget which did not allow them to "waste" film. Carruth notes that a total of 80 minutes of usable footage was shot; the final film is 78 minutes.
    • Quotes

      Aaron: Man, are you hungry? I haven't eaten since later this afternoon.

    • Crazy credits
      Thanks to Scott Douglass for having the faith to invest in the final stages of marketing and post production
    • Connections
      Featured in The 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards (2005)

    User reviews514

    Review
    Top review
    Staggeringly good, gorgeous, fascinating and beautifully structured science fiction film
    If you've heard that "Primer" is a complicated, dense, and difficult film, you heard correctly. This is not simple entertainment, not even complex entertainment, this is a film that demands true focus and attention, and only then is truly rewarding. I can imagine countless bored people who watched and listened to the movie but didn't REALLY pay attention to it, didn't think with it. You simply cannot expect to like "Primer" if you aren't prepared to be an active participant IN the film.

    The film is remarkably good visually, especially when budget is considered. Carruth clearly has a lot of talent. The cinematography is excellent, the shot composition is flawless, the strength of the visual storytelling astounding. Carruth's script is the best thing about the movie, and really isn't flawed at all. The dialogue flows naturally and the ideas are absolutely fascinating and captivating, and even the humor is effective. This movie does not use 'technobabble', it uses genuine scientific concepts as a basis for its events, and certainly some degree of knowledge of physics is needed for a proper understanding of the film.

    I have seen "Primer" four times and I still don't completely understand it (or, at least I couldn't explain it too well to someone else), even after reading dozens of explanations. It's an incredibly rich and detailed film, and it's one that not only rewards but actually requires multiple viewings. This will and has already put many, many people off watching the film, but it only increases its greatness in my opinion. It is simply incredible how much these guys came up with using so little. Carruth's vision was unique and complete, and he made possibly the greatest debut film ever made, and with a 2:1 shooting ratio (the ratio between the total duration of its footage shot and that which results from its final cut) at that. If that doesn't prove that Carruth knew what he was doing what does? One of the most inventive, original, and unique movies ever made.

    10/10
    helpful•68
    46
    • ametaphysicalshark
    • Feb 23, 2008

    FAQ12

    • A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
    • What is the conventional understanding of what occurs in the film?
    • Where did the title come from?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 25, 2005 (Turkey)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Máy Thời Gian
    • Filming locations
      • Henley's Aircraft Services - 15841 Addison Road, Addison, Texas, USA
    • Production company
      • ERBP
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $424,760
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $28,162
      • Oct 10, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $545,436
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 17 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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