Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards 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
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • 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

The Fountain

  • 2006
  • PG-13
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
244K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,679
68
Rachel Weisz and Hugh Jackman in The Fountain (2006)
Theatrical Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer2:24
20 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaMysteryRomance

As a modern-day scientist, Tommy is struggling with mortality, desperately searching for the medical breakthrough that will save the life of his cancer-stricken wife, Izzi.As a modern-day scientist, Tommy is struggling with mortality, desperately searching for the medical breakthrough that will save the life of his cancer-stricken wife, Izzi.As a modern-day scientist, Tommy is struggling with mortality, desperately searching for the medical breakthrough that will save the life of his cancer-stricken wife, Izzi.

  • Director
    • Darren Aronofsky
  • Writers
    • Darren Aronofsky
    • Ari Handel
  • Stars
    • Hugh Jackman
    • Rachel Weisz
    • Sean Patrick Thomas
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    244K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,679
    68
    • Director
      • Darren Aronofsky
    • Writers
      • Darren Aronofsky
      • Ari Handel
    • Stars
      • Hugh Jackman
      • Rachel Weisz
      • Sean Patrick Thomas
    • 1KUser reviews
    • 293Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 39 nominations

    Videos20

    The Fountain
    Trailer 2:24
    Watch The Fountain
    The Fountain
    Trailer 0:32
    Watch The Fountain
    The Fountain
    Trailer 0:30
    Watch The Fountain
    Cate Blanchett Almost Played Clarice Starling?
    Clip 3:37
    Watch Cate Blanchett Almost Played Clarice Starling?
    The Fountain
    Clip 0:50
    Watch The Fountain
    The Fountain
    Clip 0:41
    Watch The Fountain
    The Fountain
    Clip 0:55
    Watch The Fountain
    The Fountain
    Clip 0:57
    Watch The Fountain
    The Fountain Scene: The Mayans Called It Shibalba
    Clip 0:53
    Watch The Fountain Scene: The Mayans Called It Shibalba
    The Fountain Scene: It's A Map To The Mayan's Greatest Secret
    Clip 1:21
    Watch The Fountain Scene: It's A Map To The Mayan's Greatest Secret
    The Fountain Scene: Your Wife Needs You
    Clip 1:16
    Watch The Fountain Scene: Your Wife Needs You
    The Fountain Scene: Together We Can Live Forever
    Clip 0:40
    Watch The Fountain Scene: Together We Can Live Forever

    Photos169

    The Fountain (2006)
    The Fountain (2006)
    The Fountain (2006)
    The Fountain (2006)
    Rachel Weisz and Hugh Jackman in The Fountain (2006)
    Rachel Weisz and Hugh Jackman in The Fountain (2006)
    Hugh Jackman in The Fountain (2006)
    Hugh Jackman in The Fountain (2006)
    The Fountain (2006)
    Hugh Jackman in The Fountain (2006)
    Rachel Weisz in The Fountain (2006)
    Hugh Jackman in The Fountain (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hugh Jackman
    Hugh Jackman
    • Tomas…
    Rachel Weisz
    Rachel Weisz
    • Isabel…
    Sean Patrick Thomas
    Sean Patrick Thomas
    • Antonio
    Ellen Burstyn
    Ellen Burstyn
    • Dr. Lillian Guzetti
    Mark Margolis
    Mark Margolis
    • Father Avila
    Stephen McHattie
    Stephen McHattie
    • Grand Inquisitor Silecio
    Fernando Hernandez
    • Lord of Xibalba
    Cliff Curtis
    Cliff Curtis
    • Captain Ariel
    Donna Murphy
    Donna Murphy
    • Betty
    Ethan Suplee
    Ethan Suplee
    • Manny
    Richard McMillan
    Richard McMillan
    • Henry
    Lorne Brass
    • Dr. Alan Lipper
    Abraham Aronofsky
    Abraham Aronofsky
    • Lab Technician
    Renee Asofsky
    • Lab Technician
    Anish Majumdar
    • Dr. Spencer
    Janique Kearns
    • Young Nurse
    Boyd Banks
    Boyd Banks
    • Dominican Monk
    Alex Bisping
    Alex Bisping
    • Foot Soldier Del Toro
    • (as Alexander Bisping)
    • Director
      • Darren Aronofsky
    • Writers
      • Darren Aronofsky
      • Ari Handel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Pi
    7.3
    Pi
    The Wrestler
    7.9
    The Wrestler
    Mother!
    6.6
    Mother!
    Requiem for a Dream
    8.3
    Requiem for a Dream
    Black Swan
    8.0
    Black Swan
    Noah
    5.8
    Noah
    Mr. Nobody
    7.7
    Mr. Nobody
    Welcome to Earth
    7.8
    Welcome to Earth
    Moon
    7.8
    Moon
    I Origins
    7.3
    I Origins
    Cloud Atlas
    7.4
    Cloud Atlas
    The Machinist
    7.7
    The Machinist

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Warner Bros. refused to do a director's commentary for the DVD release, so Darren Aronofsky recorded one in his living room and released it on his website.
    • Goofs
      The second brightest star of Orion constellation, Betelgeuse, is missing in the sky views throughout the film.
    • Quotes

      Isabel: For every shadow, no matter how deep, is threatened by morning light.

    • Crazy credits
      The movie ends with a white out, which represents the Big Bang or creation of the Universe. Following that, the white areas behind the credits condense, which correlates with the condensation of matter and ultimate large scale structure of the universe. These devolve to a black screen, the early "opaque" stage of the universe, when early particles were forming. From this, stars begin to form, one by one until the credits end with a universe full of stars and the story of our universe to the present, told behind the credits.
    • Alternate versions
      The film was originally submitted to the BBFC on 30th June 2006, where it was passed with a 15 certificate. However, on 30th November 2006 the film was submitted again as a "re-edited" international version, with "changes made to reels 2, 3 and 5". This new version runs 16 seconds longer and was awarded a lower 12A certificate. The BBFC's website does not list the specific changes made.
    • Connections
      Edited into Race for Space (2010)

    User reviews1K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    A New Transcendental Film
    This is one half of a review. Some films need to be seen more than once to be fully grasped. This is one of them.

    I would like to read Paul Schrader's review of this film. Not because he wrote the screenplay for Taxi Driver, but because he wrote a book about "Transcendental Style in Film" and "The Fountain" is certainly in this category of film-making.

    Because of Schrader's book, I've been viewing as many films by Dreyer, Ozu, and Bresson, that I can lay my hands on – especially those by Robert Bresson. There are many parallels between Aronofsky's film and Bresson, and yet their style is completely different – it's like comparing a Tintype photograph with a Van Gogh: Bresson is understated while Aronofsky is over the top. Yet, both directors create films that are best viewed more than once. Both styles leave a lot to the imagination which can be frustrating on the first viewing. I certainly was. This is why I consider this to be one half of a review. I've only seen this film once.

    The Fountain has three story lines: one set in the past, one in the present, and one set ostensibly in the future. The three timelines weave in an out of each other like a Chinese puzzle. The past is poetic, the present is realistic, and the future is plausible. Moreover the future be either a real future (as cinematic futures go) or merely a dream of the future. So, this could be a very subjective story that takes place now. It is ambiguous, mysterious, and subject to personal interpretation. In this regard, The Fountain, is very much like the films of Bresson.

    Bresson once mentioned that he intentionally avoids the obvious in his film; it is the mystery that propels the viewer's interest forward. Often later scenes reveal the mystery of that earlier enigma. This is a very literary form of film-making. Last night, I was surrounded by people in the audience who wanted every plot detail handed to us on a silver platter. As this was a sneak preview, we all got in for free. Some were probably expecting the extremes of "Requiem for a Dream". A group next to me left early. As I was leaving, I heard a teen say into her cell phone "don't bother to pay for this film – wait for it when it is on TV … for free". And I agree: if you can tolerate a lot of commercial TV and prefer magazines to books, then you may not like this film. If you read some of the reviews, for Bresson, you'll get some of the same impatience. These are films which break with what you'd expect from a film. Forget that you're in a movie theater; this piece will reward an open mind.

    The acting in The Fountain is very dynamic but there was not enough breathing room for empathy. There is only one break in the tension when there could have been more. Instead, to serve the three story lines, the tension feels like one continuous climb. A tearful moment, from one storyline, leads to another tearful moment in another storyline. The group next to me – the one that ultimately left – were snickering. It feels like overacting, even though each performance is convincing, on its own. So, I felt my empathy in suspension. A different edit would have added more power to the emotional timbre of the acting. I find myself wishing for another 20 minutes of story to draw me in.

    The music blended very well with the story – they never stood apart, which is ideal for a cinematic score. The visuals, however, did break the suspension of disbelief, on a few occasions. In one case, there was a tracking shot that uses a unique point of view that took me out of the story, thinking "wow, cool shot!", instead of thinking "I wonder where he is going". There is a certain amusement ride feel to some of the cinematography and Special Effects which detracts from the story. But, these shots are not gimmicks. They're premonitions and echoes of action in other sequences. They are crazy bold, like Van Gogh's brushstrokes tracing out a landscape. These bold strokes are the first thing that I notice, about "The Fountain". But, upon reflection, they paint a picture that is rather calm.

    I look forward to seeing this movie again.
    helpful•300
    126
    • warren-10
    • Nov 17, 2006

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ8

    • What is Xibalba?
    • Is Tom the Last Man?
    • What's the main concept behind the film? Are there other themes?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 22, 2006 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • TFM Distribution (France)
      • Warner Bros. (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Maya
    • Also known as
      • The Last Man
    • Filming locations
      • Guatemala(Exterior)
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • New Regency Productions
      • Protozoa Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,144,010
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,768,702
      • Nov 26, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,468,343
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Rachel Weisz and Hugh Jackman in The Fountain (2006)
    Top Gap
    What was the official certification given to The Fountain (2006) in Japan?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.