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Altered States

Play trailer Poster for Altered States R 1980 1h 42m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
85% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Respected scientist and psychology professor Edward Jessup (William Hurt) decides to combine his experiments in sensory deprivation tanks with powerful hallucinogenic drugs, convinced that it may help him unlock different states of consciousness. The experiments are a success at first, but as Jessup continues his work, he begins to experience altered mental and also physical states. As he spends more time in sensory deprivation, his grip on reality begins to slip away.
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Altered States

Altered States

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Critics Consensus

Extraordinarily daring for a Hollywood film, Altered States attacks the viewer with its inventive, aggressive mix of muddled sound effects and visual pyrotechnics.

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Critics Reviews

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Lawrence O'Toole Entertainment Weekly Oct 15, 2025
C+
As trashy entertainments go, this one’s sometimes pretty swell. Go to Full Review Richard Corliss TIME Magazine Aug 16, 2014
It opens at fever pitch and then starts soaring -- into genetic fantasy, into a precognitive dream of delirium and delight. Go to Full Review Ian Nathan Empire Magazine Aug 16, 2014
3/5
It's got Russell's trademark eccentricity (read: slight bonkers-ness) all over it, which you may take as a warning or a recommendation. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Sep 18, 2026
6/10
It reflects certain experimental leanings of Russell, bolstered by William Hurt’s energetic performance, yet its surreal sci-fi horror narrative occasionally becomes uneven and relies heavily on gimmicky visual flourishes. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl May 23, 2026
6/10
...may be taken as a warning about encroaching on customs you don’t understand and/or trying to isolate induced experiences from their cultural context. Go to Full Review James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk Dec 26, 2025
3/4
merges science fiction with heady counterculture drug-speak, producing an overheated mishmash in which technology and spirituality unlock the secrets of human evolution Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mike P @RT09890132 5 days ago Genuinely weird Ken Russell transformation movie. Trippy in the extreme, and definitely powerful; but don't expect alot in terms of narrative cohesion. See more Huntin P @PaxVobiscum80 Sep 22, 2026 Extremely stressful horror movie involving sensory deprivation and drugs, and devolution from human to horror. As Roger Ebert said, it really puts you through the wringer. Lots of wild hallucinatory energy, delivered with volcanic intensity by maverick director Ken Russell. See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 9, 2026 Altered States = a *4* star Movie... See more Jonathan O @RT41230270 Aug 9, 2026 What a crazy, bizarre, body horror ride. The visual are out of this world it felt like Kubrick's style of 2001: a space odyssey, clockwork orange, and the shining and the sound effects are terrific but the make-up design by Dick Smith is absolutely unbelievable and fascinating and really outstanding cast and directing and storytelling. See more Melissa L @Agent99 Apr 29, 2026 Weird and dramatic, it really isn't a "horror" movie. It was okay. See more Bucky R @Bucky3085 Apr 4, 2026 This a WILD one from Ken Russell. See more Read all reviews
Altered States

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Cast & Crew

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Ken Russell

Director

William Hurt

Professor Eddie Jessup

Blair Brown

Emily Jessup

Bob Balaban

Arthur Rosenberg

Charlie Haid

Mason Parrish

Thaao Penghlis

Prof. Eduardo Eccheverria

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Altered States

Altered States (1980) Altered States (1980) Altered States (1980) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Respected scientist and psychology professor Edward Jessup (William Hurt) decides to combine his experiments in sensory deprivation tanks with powerful hallucinogenic drugs, convinced that it may help him unlock different states of consciousness. The experiments are a success at first, but as Jessup continues his work, he begins to experience altered mental and also physical states. As he spends more time in sensory deprivation, his grip on reality begins to slip away.
Director
Ken Russell
Producer
Howard Gottfried
Screenwriter
Paddy Chayefsky
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Rating
R
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 1980, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2008
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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