Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Primer

  • 20042004
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 17m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
106K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,031
305
Primer (2004)
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller
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
3,031
305
  • 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
    • 512User reviews
    • 140Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • 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
    • Aaronas Aaron
    David Sullivan
    David Sullivan
    • Abeas Abe
    Casey Gooden
    Casey Gooden
    • Robertas Robert
    Anand Upadhyaya
    Anand Upadhyaya
    • Phillipas Phillip
    Carrie Crawford
    • Karaas Kara
    Jay Butler
    • Metalshop Workeras Metalshop Worker
    John Carruth
    • Man On Couch #1as Man On Couch #1
    Juan Tapia
    • Man On Couch #2as Man On Couch #2
    Ashley Warren
    • Hostessas Hostess
    Samantha Thomson
    Samantha Thomson
    • Rachel Grangeras Rachel Granger
    Chip Carruth
    • Thomas Grangeras Thomas Granger
    Delaney Price
    • Laneyas Laney
    Jack Pyland
    • Aaron's Co-workeras Aaron's Co-worker
    Keith Bradshaw
    • Clean Room Technicianas Clean Room Technician
    Ashok Upadhyaya
    • Laboratory Technicianas Laboratory Technician
    Brandon Blagg
    • Willas Will
    Jon Cook
    • Will's Cousinas Will's Cousin
    David Joyner
    • Rachel's Dateas Rachel's Date
    • Director
      • Shane Carruth
    • Writer
      • Shane Carruth
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Upstream Color
    6.5
    Upstream Color
    Coherence
    7.2
    Coherence
    Timecrimes
    7.1
    Timecrimes
    Triangle
    6.9
    Triangle
    Predestination
    7.4
    Predestination
    Exam
    6.8
    Exam
    Primer
    7.7
    Primer
    Time Lapse
    6.5
    Time Lapse
    Cube
    7.2
    Cube
    The Man from Earth
    7.9
    The Man from Earth
    Mr. Nobody
    7.8
    Mr. Nobody
    Moon
    7.8
    Moon

    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 reviews512

    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

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Primer (2004)
    Top Gap
    What is the Hindi language plot outline for Primer (2004)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:02
    LGBTQIA+ Movies and Shows to Watch This Summer
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.