The Dead Zone

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The Dead Zone

R

1983

1h 43m

Mystery & Thriller

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) awakens from a coma caused by a car accident, he finds that years have passed, and he now has psychic abilities. Heartbroken that his girlfriend (Brooke Adams) has moved on with her life, Johnny also must contend with his unsettling powers, which allow him to see a person's future with a mere touch. After shaking the hand of aspiring politician Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen), Johnny sees the danger presented by the candidate's rise and resolves to kill him.

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Critics Consensus

The Dead Zone combines taut direction from David Cronenberg and and a rich performance from Christopher Walken to create one of the strongest Stephen King adaptations.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

Sep 5, 2019

What makes the The Dead Zone so frightening-and finally deeply moving-is how it commits to the psychology of a guy whose destiny is destroyed and fulfilled by the way he's slipping through the cracks.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Oct 7, 2008

An accomplished psychological thriller.

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Sep 25, 2007

4/5

Cronenberg attempting a little mainstream with this Stephen King yarn and really pulling it off.

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Jesús Jara Godoy

Cinencuentro

Apr 23, 2026

A horror film? Yes. A drama? It is that too. A thriller? Obviously. Half fantasy, half realism? It's all of those things at once. This blend is what makes this Cronenberg film so powerful. [Full review in Spanish]

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Jun 11, 2025

4/5

...The Dead Zone has a few nasty details, but it’s generally a classy, accessible horror film that’s gained in richness over the years...the film has an effective, wintry feel, bolstered by Chris Walken’s wonderfully off-beat characterisation of Johnny...

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Joe Lipsett

Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network

Nov 21, 2023

3/5

The Dead Zone is a better Stephen King film than a David Cronenberg film. There's some great imagery here, but the best storylines (the murders) are speedily wrapped up to get to the hastily developed battle between Johnny and Stilson

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J H

@UpstateNYThriller 3 days ago

8.8/10 Stephen King, sci fi, 80s Very good movie Christopher Walken is a school teacher who goes in to a coma. He comes out with the ability to see the future by shaking peoples hands.

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Griffith J

@griffithxjohnson 4 days ago

I absolutely love the book, so it’s always fun to see a screen adaptation, even if this is bland, underwhelming, & ultimately does the soruce material a disservice. A big strength is the dreary, winter tone that builds tension throughout. It has all the important plot points from the novel but all done with a confusingly fast pace that leaves me very disappointed. The overall casting is unremarkable except the bad choice for Walken & the great choice for Sheen. No filmmaking style to hint Cronenberg directs this & that’s a big let down that pushes this into a forgettable realm of 80’s films.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 15, 2026

The Dead Zone = a *4* star Movie!

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MG_Claymore C

@Claymore Aug 15, 2026

A good Stephen King adaptation. Cronenberg made a very interesting film where the idea lingers in ones mind for some time. One of Chris Wallken's best roles.

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Jul 27, 2026

Good for a Stephen King adaptation. Walken gets in a bad car crash and after some years in a coma wakes up with the ability to touch things and know the past and the future.

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James S.

@Silverfox1951 Jun 27, 2026

When Christopher Watkins’s Best movies

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Synopsis

When Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) awakens from a coma caused by a car accident, he finds that years have passed, and he now has psychic abilities. Heartbroken that his girlfriend (Brooke Adams) has moved on with her life, Johnny also must contend with his unsettling powers, which allow him to see a person's future with a mere touch. After shaking the hand of aspiring politician Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen), Johnny sees the danger presented by the candidate's rise and resolves to kill him.

Director: David Cronenberg
Producer: Debra Hill
Screenwriter: Stephen King, Jeffrey Boam
Distributor: Video Classics, Paramount Pictures, VTI Home Video
Production Co: Lorimar Film Entertainment, Dino De Laurentiis Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 21, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital

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