Side Effects

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2:18

Poster for

Side Effects

R

Released Feb 8, 2013

1h 45m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

224 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

For four years, Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) has awaited the release of her husband, Martin (Channing Tatum), from being imprisoned for insider trading. Finally, Martin comes home, but Emily feels just as bad as she did when he was incarcerated, and she sinks into a deep depression. After her failed suicide attempt, psychiatrist Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) prescribes a series of medications. When those don't work, he gives Emily a new medication -- but the drug leads to ruined lives and death.

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Critics Consensus

A smart, clever thriller with plenty of disquieting twists, Side Effects is yet another assured effort from director Steven Soderbergh.

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

Steven Soderbergh has crafted a meticulously treacherous Hitchcockian thriller; the atmosphere crackles with sexual tension and betrayal.

Mar 22, 2023

Full Review

Inkoo Kang

Bitch Media

Dr. Banks' battle against evil lesbian scheme-hatchery sculpts him into a perfect husband, father, and doctor. It's surprising there isn't an epilogue to the film of him undergoing yet another transformation-this time into a saint, or maybe Superman.

Jan 14, 2021

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J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

Side Effects showcases much of what the just 50-year-old filmmaker does best.

Feb 22, 2019

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

Mara and Law are terrific in this film. Mara does a great job of drawing you into the character and making you feel her pain, while at the same time, you’re trying to understand her and what is going on with the story.

Rated: B+

Aug 23, 2024

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

A sexy, surprising, and straightforward psychological thriller that leads to a fulfilling payoff.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 22, 2023

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Coleman Spilde

The Daily Beast

Soderbergh skewers the reluctance to discuss mental health in an unforgettable psychological thriller...

Feb 17, 2023

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w Scott c

Some twists and turns with great acting.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/09/24

Full Review

Josh B

Tedious dross. Neither the story or the characters are credible. The context and the driving ideas rarely meet. An audio visual sedative prescribed for those who find it hard to wait for silly reveals.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

06/15/24

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Melissa L

This was a great movie, but the ending wasn't what I wanted.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/06/24

Full Review

gioconda d

Soderbergh has made many brilliant movies. In the case of "Side Effects" was frankly shocked at how truly awful this movie is. This is without a doubt the worst movie Soderbergh ever made. On the surface it looks promising. Within 5 minutes the film begins to unravel. Rooney Mara is absolutely awful. Wow. I know she has big connections, but why would a director of the calibre of Soderbergh hire someone so true bad? Did her family put up some production money? I've seen much more acting from both Jude Law & Catherine Zeta-Jones & know they both can do so much better than this schlock. They both probably want to forget about this movie too. I wonder if something went on behind the scenes where the story had to be rewritten --- or something. Did financing fall through & suddenly they had a week left to finish this ludicrous project?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

Full Review

James G

A continuously enthralling thriller that plays its winding twists and turns to great effect. Jude Law is a dashing leading man and the premise makes for a great deal of suspense and intrigue. Highly recommended.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

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Terry H

Started out interesting but figured out where it was going half way through. Felt a little Hollywood formulaic by the end. Like we've seen this plot a million times before. Wasn't a waste of time though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/29/24

Full Review

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Steven Soderbergh

Director

Jude Law

Dr. Jonathan Banks

Rooney Mara

Emily Taylor

Channing Tatum

Martin Taylor

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Dr. Victoria Siebert

Vinessa Shaw

Deidre Banks

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Video Interviews with the Cast of Side Effects: Jude Law, Channing Tatum, Rooney Mara, and more

Critics Consensus: Side Effects is Certified Fresh

Side Effects: Trailer 3

2:18

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Synopsis

For four years, Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) has awaited the release of her husband, Martin (Channing Tatum), from being imprisoned for insider trading. Finally, Martin comes home, but Emily feels just as bad as she did when he was incarcerated, and she sinks into a deep depression. After her failed suicide attempt, psychiatrist Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) prescribes a series of medications. When those don't work, he gives Emily a new medication -- but the drug leads to ruined lives and death.

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Producer: Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Gregory Jacobs, Scott Z. Burns
Screenwriter: Scott Z. Burns
Distributor: Open Road
Production Co: Di Bonaventura Pictures, FilmNation Entertainment, Endgame Entertainment
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 8, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 9, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.2M
Runtime: 1h 45m

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