A Scanner Darkly

Play trailer

A Scanner Darkly

R

2006

1h 40m

Action

Drama

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Animation

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

185 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In the near future, as America virtually loses the war on drugs, Robert Arctor, a narcotics cop in Orange County, Calif., becomes an addict when he goes undercover. He is wooing Donna, a dealer, to ferret out her supplier. At the same time, he receives orders to spy on his housemates, one of whom is suspected of being Donna's biggest customer.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A faithful adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel, A Scanner Darkly takes the viewer on a visual and mind-blowing journey into the author's conception of a drug-addled and politically unstable world.

Read Critics Reviews

Brian Tallerico

UGO

03/24/2007

Linklater never pretends that he has all the answers, but he asks the questions in such an interesting, elegant fashion that you'll be glad you came along for the ride.

Go to Full Review

Dana Stevens

Slate

09/23/2006

As A Scanner Darkly proves, Keanu is the Coolness -- passive blankness, leaden line delivery, and all. Let's hear it for the vague blur.

Go to Full Review

Robert Hanks

Independent (UK)

08/19/2006

3/5

It is not a great film, but an insidious one, the sort that gets under your skin. It leaves you scrabbling at aphids, hoping they really are in your imagination.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/21/2022

4/4

A Scanner Darkly beautifully, and chillingly, considers Dicks persistent theme that our culture has destroyed its own ability to perceive objective reality.

Go to Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

09/14/2021

86/100

Episode 34: Relaxer / A Scanner Darkly / The Beach Bum / Holy Motors

Go to Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

02/14/2021

The hostility toward the Bush administration and its police-state ambitions is legitimate and no doubt deeply felt, but it is not particularly well developed.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Chris C

@PapaTangooo 4d

Interesting film. Very unique. Props to RDJ in his role.

See more

Irene M

@igawel Mar 30

March 2026 I'd read a graphic novel of this decades ago. I thought Robert Downey Jr was standout, so well-cast. The words disturbing, and Despair arise for me to describe how this movie made me feel.

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 26

The worldwide gross is $7,659,918.00.

See more

Luca D

@JoeCamel7 Dec 6

Apparently a faithful adaptation to the book. Not like the other adaptations of his books, no this isn't an 90s sci-fi thriller. It's more of an indie adaptation of a book about a problem we still face to this day. The messaging on drug use and big pharma is a bit lost in the plot. The acting from Keanu is surprisingly not that bad, you know, considering. The supporting acting really shines. I love RDJrs character so much he really fits it well. Winona's character could have been more fleshed out and she would have had more time to shine in her supporting role. Not a super emotional movie but visually intriguing in an era before we had AI. To the untrained eye most people would think this is an AI movie, but to me it looks more like the music video for Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John. If you like Black Mirror or any psychological short films this may interest you. Definitely not a "must see" though.

See more

Claire S

@RT81298580 Nov 24

Fascinating watch. Very original and visually amazing. True to the book and a film I keep returning to, it never gets old.

See more

A J

@RT09090618 Nov 15

How is this only 68€ Tomatometer!? One of the best movies ever made!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Richard Linklater

Director

Keanu Reeves

Fred

Robert Downey Jr.

Barris

Woody Harrelson

Luckman

Winona Ryder

Donna

Rory Cochrane

Freck

Renaissance

49%

59%

Renaissance

Watchlist

Timecrimes

90%

79%

Timecrimes

Watchlist

Death Sentence

20%

60%

Death Sentence

Watchlist

Running Scared

41%

79%

Running Scared

Watchlist

The Kingdom

51%

76%

The Kingdom

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In the near future, as America virtually loses the war on drugs, Robert Arctor, a narcotics cop in Orange County, Calif., becomes an addict when he goes undercover. He is wooing Donna, a dealer, to ferret out her supplier. At the same time, he receives orders to spy on his housemates, one of whom is suspected of being Donna's biggest customer.

Director: Richard Linklater
Producer: Tommy Pallotta, Jonah Smith, Anne Walker-McBay, Palmer West
Screenwriter: Richard Linklater
Distributor: Warner Independent
Production Co: Detour Filmproduction, Thousand Words, 3 Arts Entertainment, Section Eight Ltd., Warner Independent Pictures
Rating: R (Drug and Sexual Content|A Brief Violent Image|Language)
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 2006, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.5M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)