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The Dead Zone

Play trailer Poster for The Dead Zone R 1983 1h 43m Mystery & Thriller Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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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The Dead Zone

The Dead Zone

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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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Critics Reviews

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Adam Nayman The Ringer 09/05/2019
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. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 10/07/2008
An accomplished psychological thriller. Go to Full Review Kim Newman Empire Magazine 09/25/2007
4/5
Cronenberg attempting a little mainstream with this Stephen King yarn and really pulling it off. Go to Full Review Jesús Jara Godoy Cinencuentro Apr 23
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] Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com 06/11/2025
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... Go to Full Review Joe Lipsett Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network 11/21/2023
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 Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Garry A @heavyg Jun 6 It felt like I watched two separate films featuring the same main character. Martin Sheen's character mafw the second half the more compelling story See more Bucky R @Bucky3085 May 25 Feels more like a bunch of TV episodes cut together than an actual throughgoing story. Good performances buoy an otherwise campy script. See more Nathan Y. @NathanYatesDouglass May 13 Brilliant. The premise could have overpowered the story, but the acting, writing, and direction somehow make it feel normal. A surprising thriller with some unexpected turns. See more Bruce M @BruceMc May 12 A good Stephen King movie but not a very good David Cronenberg movie: has an awful first act and isn't much of a thriller or have a psychological horror edge to it. Also, Christopher Walken is miscast. Has a nice second act, with the serial killer, and a few decent shots, but this is minor Cronenberg. Very forgettable. See more Ian R @RT23899272 Apr 12 This is a film for Christopher Walken fans. Which I am not. I loathe the bloke and his stupid jerky-wobbly accent. Good film otherwise. See more bret A. @bret333 Mar 13 love christopher walken See more Read all reviews
The Dead Zone

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Cast & Crew

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David Cronenberg

Director

Christopher Walken

Johnny Smith

Brooke Adams

Sarah Bracknell

Tom Skerritt

Sheriff Bannerman

Herbert Lom

Dr. Sam Weizak

Anthony Zerbe

Roger Stuart

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The Dead Zone

The Dead Zone (1983) The Dead Zone (1983) The Dead Zone (1983) View more photos

Movie Info

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