The Butterfly Effect

The psycho beginning aside, this is a nice and sensual film. However, I was quite confused in the first few minutes and had absolutely no idea who was getting the beating. Then it got clearer and I couldn't stop staring. Ashton Kutcher played like we haven't seen him before and Amy Smart was a great partner for him. I experienced that killing feeling of helplessness with them to the maximum. And it scares me just to think that someone would sacrifice themselves for me like that without me ever knowing about it. I even shed a tear at the end. Nice, 4 stars. (02/07/2012)

Quite a disappointment. I expected something interesting, like Donnie Darko, but alas. The Butterfly Effect is a viewer-friendly film aimed at an undemanding younger audience, the games with time are only for effect and without any depth. It is watchable, but it doesn’t have a chance to win my heart. (09/24/2008)

Constant hopelessness and despair in a perfect package of time jumps and the ensuing catastrophes. Back when The Butterfly Effect was still an unknown video cult film, I found myself standing stunned in front of the screen, because a directorial debut like this is a miracle. There are few movies where the viewer wishes more for a happy ending, because there are too many constant bad ones for one nervous system. True happiness can only be achieved through sacrifice. (12/08/2005)

I'm almost ashamed that I put off such an interesting, iconic, even cult film for so long. A great Ashton Kutcher, a great and flawless execution without logical holes and inconsistencies, and an even better presentation of the "butterfly effect" and the fatality of some situations. This film has no flaws, I sat riveted in my seat, just waiting to see what would happen next. Rightfully one of the best films of all time. (09/10/2023)

This film’s numerous visual tricks, incredibly high-octane plot and mysterious atmosphere, supported by a beautifully mysterious and emotional soundtrack, will captivate you and give you a powerful and moving experience. But if you use your head more actively, you will repeatedly get tripped up. Some of the twists are solely for effect and diminish the sense of what happened before (why didn’t he return more times to that one moment and shape the circumstances so that everything would be perfect?!). Actually, the whole film is a less sophisticated version of Twelve Monkeys, but revolving not around the end of the world, but around love. (11/05/2004)