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Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, William Lee Scott, Elden Henson, Melora Walters ... see more see more... , Eric Stoltz , Logan Lerman , Nathaniel De Veaux , Ethan Suplee , Kevin Schmidt , Jesse James , Callum Keith Rennie , Cameron Crigger , Irene Gorovaia , John Patrick Amedori , Brandy Heidrick

Final Destination 2 screenwriters Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber make their directorial debut with the sci-fi thriller The Butterfly Effect. Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher with facial hair) wants to fr... read more read more...ee himself from his disturbing childhood memories. As a kid, he often blacked out for long periods of time and tried to detail his life in a journal. As a young adult, he revisits the journal entries to figure out the truth about his troubled childhood friends Kayleigh (Amy Smart), Lenny (Elden Henson), and Tommy (William Lee Scott). When he discovers he can travel back in time in order to set things right, he tries to save his beloved friends. However, he finds out that relatively minor changes can make major problems for the future. The Butterfly Effect also stars Eric Stoltz, Ethan Suplee, and Melora Walters. The title was inspired by the story A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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81% liked it

543,714 ratings

Critics

33% liked it

167 critics

R, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber

Release Date: January 23, 2004

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DVD Release Date: July 20, 2007

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Stats: 38,136 reviews

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He was born on February 7, 1978 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was born on February 7, 1978 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect Ashton Kutcher The butterfly effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect
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Flixster Reviews (38,136)

  • garyX
    April 17, 2012
    garyX
    A boy suffering from memory lapses is diagnosed with a hereditary mental illness but later in life learns he is capable of revisiting previous moments in his life. A variant on the whole wish fulfillment concept we've all thought about where you imagine going back to a point in y... read moreour own life and try to change things for the better, this hokey sci-fi involves the ever perfectly coiffed Ashton Kutcher revisiting his past with various disastrous consequences. I feared the worst as the beginning of the film was very soapy and teen-friendly, but as the tone darkens it gets progressively more interesting. Some of the character development (if you can call it that; Kutcher's personality undergoes drastic rewrites at regular intervals) can be a little difficult to swallow and it's very episodic, but if you're willing to accept some flaws in logic it's actually quite a decent little diversion. Considering it's essentially a vehicle for a teen heart throb The Butterfly Effect is surprisingly inventive and entertaining.
  • fb223580
    January 19, 2012
    fb223580
    Intense. The multiple stories were legitimately interesting but I couldn't take Ashton Kutcher seriously. Fortunately, I was watching this movie in good company.
  • fb1463751009
    December 6, 2011
    fb1463751009
    Entertaining, but that's about it. Unmemorable. With a thriller and a premise like this, it should've been more memorable
  • gokhale1
    July 27, 2011
    gokhale1
    Chaos Theory: "It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world."

    We all have sometimes spoken about "turning back the clock", or changing that one event in our life; like taking a left turn i... read morenstead of the right turn....getting into school A and not school B...and perhaps things would've turned out differently for us! There have certainly been times in our lives when such a thought has always crossed our minds..."What if? Oh..what could've been!"

    "The Butterfly Effect" makes an attempt to play this thought out on the big screen with its initially complex narrative.

    Some people have called "The Butterfly Effect" "similar to Donnie Darko", because of its theme revolving around time travel and a troubled teen. While this 2004 American thriller, starring Ashton Kutcher (who most people love to hate), isn't anywhere close to "Donnie Darko" in terms of sheer originality of story-telling and its unforgettable characters, it isn't as worthless as most critics have made it out to be.

    [img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-flhzskuLeZ0/TjAwBcMzUsI/AAAAAAAAB7c/ICrsqGuEwbA/1.jpg[/img]

    Lenny, Evan, Kayleigh (Evan's childhood sweetheart) and her psychologically troubled brother Tommy are the recurring characters in the film shown at various stages in their lives in their growing-up years. Evan (who ultimately grows up to be Kutcher) has a gift...only he does not realize that until much later. For starters, he is a problem child and seems to have some kind of a medical condition whereby he 'blacks out' and of course, does not remember what happened during the black-out period. Only the people around him know that the events that occurred during the black-out period were of a very grave nature and some that may have brought about irreversible changes.

    [img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EbcQ373YM1w/TjAwBe1DUuI/AAAAAAAAB7g/sloVVqZsNq0/2.jpg[/img]

    After several disturbing episodes in their childhood the kids grow up...the present era shows Evan (Kutcher) studying in high school but apparently has almost no contact with his aforementioned childhood buddies. It has been 7 years and Evan hasn't had a blackout! And as he reminisces old times through his journals he has been maintaining, he realizes what his gift is! The episodes during the moments in which he blacked out and had no memory of, suddenly appear to him as he seems to have been transported back in time. Evan then realizes, he has the ability to go back to the past and manipulate or "re-write" these important events from his past, which could alter the future completely for him and his friends! However, things aren't as hunky dory as they seem, and Evan's attempts to change things aren't entirely without their side-effects. Evan tries to use his skills repeatedly to his advantage only to realize he isn't God and that no matter how hard he tries, something has to go wrong.....

    [img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uvNIk54N3So/TjAwB9jvXpI/AAAAAAAAB74/1y1ZZ5UgidA/4.jpg[/img]

    Now I must admit I was in awe of this picture when I first saw it, but after delving into it and giving it a re-watch my opinion slightly changed. "The Butterfly Effect" was primarily panned because it is difficult to digest how a person can go back in time and change events simply upon reading some journal notes! Secondly it seems the "effect" seems to influence only Evan and his friends' eventual outcomes, while the rest of the world remains status quo! This refers to some of the recurring characters in Evan's life as well. And after a certain point of time, the proceedings turn far too contrived just to take the screenplay to its conclusion, especially in a scene in which Evan ends up in prison!

    That said, In spite of the aforementioned holes in the narrative, this film manages to grip you from the start with its deftly shot frames and taut pacing. The initial episodes from Evan's childhood are somewhat disturbing for any child to handle and one can instantly gather why some children turn out the way they do. The scenes in the University, replete with the Fraternities and the Sororities much resemble a typical college romance film but not for long as the narrative twists and turns several times along the way! There are quite a few surprises in store, and plenty of interesting ones at that.

    [img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RGNRBAlc4WE/TjAwB1Ek9kI/AAAAAAAAB78/Tg32KXed3ko/5.jpg[/img]

    The background score by Michael Suby is excellent and as far as the acting is concerned, some known faces like Eric Stoltz, Elden Henson and Amy Smart appear and do a decent job. But it is Ashton Kutcher's film all the way as he delivers what could be the best performance I've ever seen from him! Yes...no matter how much you like to bash him, he is really good in this, if not great, and it is nice to see him do a serious role rather than the usual slapstick buffoonery he resorts to.

    Barring some holes and inconsistencies in the concept presented in "The Butterfly Effect", the film written and directed by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber is an enjoyable thriller that succeeded in showing me a good time. I sure do hope it has the same effect on you folks!

    Score: 8/10.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    Amazing film that's beautifully written. One of Ashton Kutcher's best roles and the film is so dark, serious, crazy, different and disturbing. As well as poignant. You get every emotion all rolled up into one. I'm so suprised that this got bad reviews, it's absolutely brilliant. ... read moreAmy Smart is also outstanding in this. A must see! Truly heart wrenching and saddening.
  • jennifxu
    June 8, 2011
    jennifxu
    One of the first movies to genuinely creep me out, in that I had to pause the movie in the middle and relax myself for a little bit (and grab my brother for protection) before I could return to it. I haven't seen it for like 5 years but there are still some residual effects of it... read more to this day. I guess it really got under my skin.
  • fb733768972
    March 14, 2011
    fb733768972
    The critics have never been more wrong. The Butterfly Effect is an extremely well-crafted suspense thriller that had me on the edge of my seat and cringing in every change of pace. This film jumps from lifeline to lifeline and it seems as though you believe every second of it. It... read more is the perfect length to keep you satisfied and will always be brilliantly fresh in my eyes.Ashton Kutcher surprisingly pulls off a stunning performance in which I believe this to be his breakout role. Every one of his alter life's come together to create a magnificent story that I will remember for a very long time. The Butterfly Effect is a great film!
  • 76Majikat
    March 12, 2011
    76Majikat
    This 'what if' style film is fairly unique is it's storytelling, with fairly serious moments throughout. It's time travel less the sci-fi element and thought provoking in it's changes.

    Possibly the only Ashton Kutcher film that I would consider rating highly

    This is my fir... read morest viewing of the happier ending, I hadn't realised there were two!
  • 3niR
    February 10, 2011
    3niR
    I'm surprised to see bad reviews on this because it was... what can I say... cool! Never been so curious to know every single part of something (my curiosity level is very low...most of the time). Whole time I was thinking what's next? what's next? (no lie).
    Watch it.
    *end... read more of story*
  • theunknownhobo
    January 20, 2011
    theunknownhobo
    I saw this movie by accident round a friends house and was instantly intrigued, mainly as to why I did not want to punch Ashton Kutcher in it. A brilliant and realistic piece of acting on his part that changed my perceptions of him as an actor. Sensitive subject matter flies from... read more every angle of this film and you will find yourself wondering why you cannot seem to shake it from your mind after you have finished it. If you have the special edition DVD there are some amazing extras that explain the chaos theory, on which the film and its title are based, giving the film a more poignant subtext the next time you view it. With a cast of generic "college humour" actors/actresses I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the acting and indeed the quality of the film as a whole.

View All The Butterfly Effect Reviews

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers
January 29, 2004
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Nothing can save this repetitive bore. Dude, where's your memory?

Rex Reed
January 29, 2004
Rex Reed, New York Observer

Not one second of this bilge makes a lick of sense. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
January 29, 2004
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Kutcher is the wrong actor to anchor a psychological freak-out. Full Review

Charles Taylor
January 24, 2004
Charles Taylor, Salon.com

It's one of the most unpleasant Hollywood films in some time. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
January 23, 2004
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

A flawed but serviceable thriller.

Ann Hornaday
January 23, 2004
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Sloppily conceived and clunkily paced, the movie goes from improbable to preposterous within its first few minutes; over the next two hours the filmmakers never miss a chance for some gratuitous piece...

Peter Howell
January 23, 2004
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

A grim and gruesome sci-fi thriller that labours to demonstrate [Kutcher's] range as a dramatic actor. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
January 23, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

It's trash, and yet there will always be a place for this kind of trash at the movies. Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 23, 2004
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Kutcher makes an agreeable traveling companion and guide here, and he turns in a performance that's modest and believable. Full Review

Roger Moore
January 23, 2004
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Kutcher scores laughs, both intentional and otherwise, and only seems at home in those Dude, Where's My Car? moments. And dude brings everybody else down with him. Full Review

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The Butterfly Effect Trivia

  • What movie shows the consequences of trying to change a moment in your past? (Starring one of the characters from the cast of "that 70's Show")  Answer »
  • In which movie did Ashton Kutcher have the ability to change events in the past?  Answer »
  • In what movie does Evan Treborn alter the lives of brother and sister Kayleigh and Tommy Miller?  Answer »
  • which movie has the 4 main characters evan, tommy, kayleigh and lenny?  Answer »
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