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Kevin Costner, Kathy Bates, Lisa Banes, Matt Craven, Kathryn Erbe ... see more see more... , Linda Hunt , Joe Morton , Ron Rifkin , Jay Thomas , Jacob Vargas , Susanna Thompson , Jacob Smith , Paul Gutrecht , Alison Lohman , Robert Bailey Jr.

In this supernatural thriller, Kevin Costner plays Joe Darrow, a physician mourning the death of his wife Emily (Susannah Thompson) in a bus accident in South America, where she was providing medical ... read more read more...outreach. Wracked by grief, Joe works extra shifts at the hospital to take his mind off the tragedy, but the intense workload triggers his short temper and some careless mistakes. His officious boss (Joe Morton) forces Joe to take time off, but Joe feels obligated to check in on his wife's pediatric patients, fulfilling a promise he made before she left. Visiting the ward, Joe starts to believe that Emily is using the near-death experiences of her terminal patients to communicate with him, through images the children report seeing in their dreams, and symbols they are inexplicably compelled to draw. While the children see Joe as a kindred spirit, the hospital staff worries about how these interactions are agitating them. At home, Joe begins finding other ethereal evidence of his wife's attempt to contact him from beyond the grave, some of it featuring the image of a dragonfly, which was the shape of the birthmark on her shoulder. His friends and a caring neighbor (Kathy Bates) worry that Joe is losing his marbles, especially as his quest becomes more frantic, putting his job in jeopardy. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Flixster Users

64% liked it

53,267 ratings

Critics

7% liked it

124 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Tom Shadyac

Release Date: February 22, 2002

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DVD Release Date: July 30, 2002

Stats: 1,791 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,791)


  • January 11, 2012
    The movie is OK - not outstanding, just OK. It is frustrating as we see Joe (Costner) getting these supposed messages from his deceased wife, and we don't know if he is crazy or if he really is getting messages (which could also be construed as being crazy). Anyways Joe takes o... read moreff for Venezuela to try and find out what happened for himself.
  • December 21, 2009
    Pssh.
  • January 30, 2009
    a very workable watchable film moving from modern chicagoland hospitals to the jungles of venezula, a tale of love that at first questions a doctor's sanity only to later prove to remarkably trancend the uncrossable divide, even death.
  • October 30, 2008
    I have really had it up to HERE with jump scares. My days of being impressed by loud sudden sounds are over, as is my capacity to appreciate this film. Dragonfly comes too close on the heels of The Mothman Prophecies to be considered novel, and too badly handles to be very entert... read moreaining. The story itself was not half bad, but it would have sustained a short film better than a feature. This film gets extra points for the unique ending, though. I have to admit that I've never seen anything like it in horror.
  • March 24, 2008
    Dragonfly was a very unique film with Kevin Costner. Kevin plays a husband whom looses his wive in a foregin land. Costner starts to get messages from his dead wife and starts to have many odd experiences. This is a very interesting film to check out.
  • October 20, 2007
    Surprisingly a very good story, with sad parts. I'm quite shocked that this got a 12 certificate as I think there are a couple of bits in there for children that may seem a little eerie. A good original story.
  • February 27, 2007
    I liked it. The story was a little far fetched but the end was really good.
  • January 25, 2007
    strange but it kept you watching to see where it was going the whole time
  • December 27, 2006
    Odd supernatural chiller that's typical in that it maintains interest as long you are trying to guess what's going on, and then are totally disappointed by the ridiculous and contrived ending. Passable enough entertainment though.
  • April 29, 2011
    Hollywood has always been fascinated with tales about dead people attempting to contact their grieving loved ones from beyond the grave and here Kevin Costner, plays Dr. Joe Darrow, a well-respected Chicago surgeon, who loses his wife in a sudden and tragic accident. Joe is grief... read more stricken and is trying to find closure by fulfilling a promise he made to his wife (also a doctor) to visit her patients who are children in the oncology ward in the same hospital.

    It is no surprise when strange paranormal events begin to happen, signs that Emily his dead wife (played by Susanna Thompson) is trying to reach him to tell him something important! Costner becomes obsessed with trying to discover why these events are occurring, in particular a strange symbol that appears in various guises.

    This may hold up as a love story, adhering to the idea that love conquers all, even death and Kevin Costner is quite believable as a distraught husband who has to piece together the clues his wife leaves him.

Critic Reviews


Jonathan Rosenbaum
February 26, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The undisputed king of the cornball concept, Kevin Costner has an uncanny aptitude for gravitating toward the dopiest projects in sight, but this time he's outdone himself. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
August 9, 2002
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

More dull than offensive, Dragonfly keeps Costner on screen for nearly every scene, which pretty much compounds the movie's boredom quotient.

Michael Wilmington
July 20, 2002
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

A sappy, often absurd disappointment. Full Review

Rex Reed
March 13, 2002
Rex Reed, New York Observer

A numbingly pretentious project.

Joe Leydon
February 25, 2002
Joe Leydon, Variety

Chances are good that if you loved Ghost or Truly Madly Deeply, you'll at the very least like this fitfully affecting tale of love beyond death and faith beyond reason. Full Review

Curt Fields
February 22, 2002
Curt Fields, Washington Post

If you're a Costner fan, you'll find Dragonfly mildly diverting, but otherwise you'll come away agreeing with the woman in the audience who said as the lights went up, 'That was so cheesy.'

Stephen Hunter
February 22, 2002
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

Probably was hatched by screenwriters watching The Sixth Sense on methamphetamines. Full Review

Claudia Puig
February 22, 2002
Claudia Puig, USA Today

While the themes sound intriguing, the movie lacks the necessary clarity of vision. Full Review

Susan Walker
February 22, 2002
Susan Walker, Toronto Star

... better described as a ghost story gone badly awry. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
February 22, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The thriller is only thrilling enough to kill the movie's romantic mood, while the romance just makes Dragonfly seem meandering and inert. Full Review

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Dragonfly Trivia


  • This movie's main character's name is Dr. Joe Darrow, played by Kevin Costner.  Answer »
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  • Just Got This Question What was Fiona's father's name in Shrek the third? Choose the correct answer: Dragonfly Crocodile Penguin Frog (correct) Hedgehog His name was king harold even though he turned into a frog   Answer »
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