A Scanner Darkly

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A Scanner Darkly

R

2006

1h 40m

Action

Drama

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Animation

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Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

185 Reviews

74%

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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.

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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.

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Brian Tallerico

UGO

Mar 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.

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Dana Stevens

Slate

Sep 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.

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Robert Hanks

Independent (UK)

Aug 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.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 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.

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Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Sep 14, 2021

86/100

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

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Feb 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.

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No B

@NoBSreview 8 hrs ago

I very much liked this one

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Tim M

@tgmacman Sep 19, 2026

Its rotoscoped animation more of an experimental oddity than a saving grace, A Scanner Darkly nevertheless does well in adapting Philip K. Dick's speculative thinking.

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Matija T

@maximilian Aug 16, 2026

The most underrated movie of all time.

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Petros T

@PetrosTserpelis Aug 6, 2026

The setting is very interesting, the visuals are cool, the cast (Rory Cochrane, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder) is excellent, and it has some really funny scenes and great dialogue. That being said, the story has more gaps than it cares to address, in terms of vibe it often feels like watching two different films with no cohesion, and no attempt is made to get us to sympathize with any of the characters, rendering the finale more anemic than it should've been.

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Chris C

@PapaTangooo Jul 11, 2026

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

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Irene M

@igawel Mar 30, 2026

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.

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Richard Linklater

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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)

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