Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Ian Holm

Set in the near-future, eXistenZ depicts a society in which game designers are worshipped as superstars and players can organically enter inside the games. At the center of the story is Allegra Geller...( read more  read more... ) whose latest games system eXistenZ taps so deeply into its users fears and desires that it blurs the boundaries between reality and escapism. When fanatics attempt to assassinate Allegra, she is forced to flee. Her sole ally is Ted Pikul (Law), a novice security guard who is sworn to protect her. Persuading Ted into playing the game, Allegra draws them both into a phantasmagoric world where existence ends and eXistenZ begins.

Flixster Users

66% liked it

38,607 ratings

Critics

73% liked it

44 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Release Date: April 23, 1999

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: October 19, 1999

Stats: 1,824 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (1,824)


  • September 29, 2009
    Not Cronenbergs best but it?s one of his more assessable movies
  • July 30, 2009
    Who should watch this film? Anyone who has ever taken acid, read Philip K. Dick, thought the premise of the Matrix was better then the special effects, has an interest in Philosophy, or likes having their sense of reality messed with. I laughed out loud at this film, just because...( read more) it was so outrageous and so spot-on. This film is great. This film is cool. It is better than the Matrix, by a long shot (I didn't fall asleep in Existenz, for a kick off: action/special effects films bore me stupid, and despite a plausible philosophical gloss, that is exactly what the Matrix is). Existenz is gross, it is disturbing, and it is funny. David Cronenberg has done some shonky stuff (Rabid) and some works of genius too (Videodrome is another one worth checking out, as is Stephen King adaptation The Dead Zone). But this is one of my all-time favourites. I can't remember the ending- which is a good thing, cos it means I can watch it again. Or perhaps I never watched this film at all. Maybe it's an implanted memory. Or maybe it 'really' happened to me. I don't know. At any rate, it is now seamlessly stitched into my overall illusion of reality, and I'm glad.
  • June 11, 2009
    My impression was that eXistenZ was a kinda flat movie version of a good original screenplay. Not great - but there is definitely some good stuff in here as Cronenberg messes with with ideas of reality, role playing and film making..
  • January 4, 2009
    Hmmm, not bad. This is one of those head-fucking sci-fi movies that blurs fantasy and reality to the extent where it's impossible to separate one from the other. Clearly intentional, Cronenberg's disorientation tactics are not necessarily a problem in themselves, but he loses poi...( read more)nts by giving us so little reason to care about what is happening to Jason Leigh and Law; if I'm being made to think, I need something to give a shit about, otherwise I will just give up! It's a fun film, perhaps just a bit too self-satisfied with its own cleverness to be wholly likeable. The cast looks strong on paper but, disappointingly, several performances turn out to be nothing more than cameos (Christopher Eccleston, Willem Dafoe, Ian Holm, Sarah Polley).
  • December 1, 2008
    I don't do sci-fi too often. But I'll do Jude Law any time.
  • October 24, 2009
    I started watching this and at first thought it was a bit rubbish, but as the film progressed I got more into the story, and by the end of the film I decided I really liked it! David Cronenberg, I salute you.
  • October 14, 2009
    The story had potential, but in the end, there was really nothing special about this movie except Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh...
  • October 8, 2009
    This movie had so many good ideas, and gave the impression that the narrative would take more surprising turns than it did. The end kind of dropped off. I lost my empathy for the characters and I didn't care anymore.
  • September 18, 2009
    So crazy and twisted innovative sci-fi Cronenberg tale. I totally love his films and his visual style and perspective.

    69/100
  • September 6, 2009
    l'idée est interessante, j'ai été captivée

Critic Reviews


Comments


  • phaybulous
    June 4, 2006
    dont know much about this movie just thought Id look this movie on account of, itz on TV next so yeah.......
    BYE
    FEEL THE LOVE GENERATION
    PEOPLEZ!!!!!!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • V for Vendetta
    V for Vendetta (25%)
  • The Matrix Reloaded
    The Matrix Reloaded (33%)
  • The Matrix
    The Matrix (59%)
  • Nirvana
    Nirvana (50%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

eXistenZ : Watch Free on TV


eXistenZ Trivia


  • I've been a robot on the run, a legendary womaniser, i got chilly up a big hill, i became part of existenz, had my identity stolen twice and gotten fairly close to people. Who am I?  Answer »
  • Where do you plug in the console to play "Existenz"?  Answer »
  • In the movie 'eXistenZ', where is the bioport that enables games to be plugged in located?  Answer »
  • Which sci-fi film stars Jude Law and Ian Holm ?  Answer »

Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for eXistenZ. Want to create one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?