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Stay

2005·Movie
1h 39min·R
51
MediocreGoodWatch score
IMDb6.7Metacritic417.4Rotten Tomatoes26%69%
IMDb6.7Metacritic417.4Rotten Tomatoes26%69%

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Stay fingerprint

Stunning style, high energy, emotionally cool.

Energy

Nerve-racking

  • Tension9
  • Spectacle6
  • Adrenaline5

Heart

Melancholic and moving

  • Melancholy8
  • Pathos7
  • Family Dynamics3

Humor

Some absurdist humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Absurdist Humor7
  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor3

World

The mind and mystery

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Ambiguity10
  • Novelty9
  • World Immersion8

Craft

Standout direction, storytelling, and performances

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction9
  • Narrative Structure9
  • Complexity9

Style

Standout cinematography, editing, and visual style

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Cinematography9
  • Editing9
  • Visual Stylization9

Who it's for

AdultsPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Suspense moviesPsychological moviesMelancholic moviesMind-Bending moviesMorally Complex movies

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

About

Between the worlds of the living and the dead there is a place you're not supposed to stay.

Psychiatrist Sam Foster has a new patient, Henry Letham, who claims to be suicidal. In trying to diagnose him, Sam visits Henry's prior therapist and also finds Henry's mother -- even though Henry has said that he murdered both of his parents. As reality starts to contradict fact, Sam spirals into an unstable mental state. Then he finds a clue as to how and when Henry may try to kill himself, and races to try to stop him.
Psychological ThrillerMind-Bending MysterySurrealist DramaAmbiguous NarrativeNon-Linear StorytellingVisually DisorientingExistential ThemesIntense AtmosphereDreamlike

Crew

Directed by:
Marc Forster, Michael Lerman, Peter Thorell
Written by:
David Benioff
Produced by:
Arnon Milchan, Francine Maisler, Guymon Casady
Composed by:
Lora Hirschberg, Ren Klyce, Paul Aronoff

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Stay

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Stay legally?

PrimeHuluPlexIndie Club

Stay is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free. 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 Stay worth watching?

51
MediocreGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 51/100 (IMDb 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes 26%, and Metacritic 41). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Stay rated?

RSuicide themesDisturbing imagery

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

How long is Stay?

1 h 39 min

Stay runs 1 h 39 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Stay?

Critics34
Audiences70

Not quite. Audiences rate Stay higher (70) than critics (34). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was Stay a box office hit?

Budget$50 million
Box office$8 million

No. It cost about $50 million to make and earned $8 million worldwide, 17% of its budget.

What language is Stay in?

English

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

In how many countries can I watch Stay?

89AEARATAUAZBEBOBRBZCACHCLCOCR+75

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Stay in 89 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Stay use?

Whole-Plot ReferenceFreeze-Frame BonusSeamless SceneryAmbiguous EndingDying DreamAte His GunRoom Full of CrazyDriven to SuicideThrough the Eyes of MadnessSanity SlippageAll Just a DreamArc Number

TV Tropes lists 12 storytelling tropes for Stay, including Whole-Plot Reference, Freeze-Frame Bonus, Seamless Scenery.