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The Butterfly Effect

2004·Movie
1h 53min·R

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Butterfly Effect fingerprint

High energy, immersive world, no humor.

Energy

Nerve-racking and fast-paced

Fast from start to finish.

  • Tension9
  • Fast Pace7
  • Adrenaline6

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Coming of Age7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor2
  • Situational Comedy0

World

The mind, everyday modern life, and growing up

  • Novelty8
  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and storytelling

  • Non-linear Narrative9
  • Direction8
  • Acting8

Style

Standout editing

  • Editing8
  • Cinematography7
  • Sound Centrality7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchTeensBinge-FriendlyThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Change one thing. Change everything.

A young man struggles to access sublimated childhood memories. He finds a technique that allows him to travel back into the past, to occupy his childhood body and change history. However, he soon finds that every change he makes has unexpected consequences.
Psychological ThrillerTime Travel DramaTragic ConsequencesNon-Linear StorytellingEmotional RollercoasterExistential DilemmaIntense & BleakCharacter-Driven PlotDestiny vs. Choice

Media

Questions about The Butterfly Effect

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Butterfly Effect legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Hoopla. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Butterfly Effect worth watching?

54
MediocreGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 55/100 (IMDb 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 34%, and Metacritic 30). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Butterfly Effect rated?

RViolenceDisturbing imagerySexual contentSuicide themes

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, disturbing imagery, sexual content, and suicide themes.

How long is The Butterfly Effect?

1 h 53 min

The Butterfly Effect runs 1 h 53 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Butterfly Effect?

Critics32
Audiences78

Not quite. Audiences rate The Butterfly Effect higher (78) than critics (32). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was The Butterfly Effect a box office hit?

Budget$13 million
Box office$97 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $13 million to make and earned $97 million worldwide, 7.4 times its budget.

What language is The Butterfly Effect in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in Canada, United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Butterfly Effect?

74AGARATAUAZBBBEBGBOBRBSBYBZCA+60

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Butterfly Effect in 74 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Butterfly Effect use?

Temporal AbortionHollywood LawI Want My Beloved to Be HappyTap on the HeadBeard of SorrowBlofeld PloyAll Just a DreamDid Not Get the GirlBullying a DragonBeauty Is Never TarnishedDowner EndingNot Quite the Right Thingand 110 more

TV Tropes lists 122 storytelling tropes for The Butterfly Effect, including Temporal Abortion, Hollywood Law, I Want My Beloved to Be Happy.