The Experiment

Play trailer

The Experiment

R,

2002,

1h 56m,

Mystery & Thriller/

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

74%

57 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

As part of a psychological research project, twenty recruits will be divided up into prisoners and guards. In a controlled penitentiary-like environment, "prisoners" are incarcerated and ordered to obey the rules, "guards" are instructed to keep order. They will be thrown head-first into a two-week-long examination of the effects of assigned roles, power and control, and won't be the same when it's over. But it's just a simulation. Or is it?

Critics Consensus

Das Experiment's knotty plot may not prove as revelatory as it promises, but it succeeds as an action film with a lot on its addled mind.

Read Critics Reviews

Susan Walker

Toronto Star

Nov 8, 2002

3/5

The movie's central premise -- is well supported in a film whose strength is in its close-ups on characters and its ability to put the viewer in the cell with them.

Go to Full Review

Ray Conlogue

Globe and Mail

Nov 8, 2002

3/4

Probably it's more action film than anything else, but has enough insight to be of interest to serious filmgoers.

Go to Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Oct 25, 2002

3/4

What impressed me is how effective the movie was, even though the outcome is a foregone conclusion.

Go to Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

May 7, 2009

Never has there been such a chilling portrait of the human psyche.

Go to Full Review

Michelle Thomas

Future Movies UK

Apr 1, 2006

8/10

Johnny Butane

Dread Central

Feb 1, 2006

4/5

Go in expecting whatever you want, chances are you're going to get something that much better.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Poe G

Sep 19, 2007

Superb examination of the worst aspects of human nature. 20 male participants take part in a social experiment. For two weeks they will be housed in a prison, with a portion of them being guards and the remainder prisoners. Initially things go well, but after a while matters relations start to deteriorate. Superb movie. Great insight into the human psyche, herd instinct, how power corrupts and the depths to which we can sink. So good, it got remade by Hollywood, though to far less effect.

See more

Read all reviews

Oliver Hirschbiegel

Director

Moritz Bleibtreu

Tarek Fahd

Maren Eggert

Dora

Christian Berkel

Steinhoff

Justus von Dohnányi

Berus - Strafvollzugsbeamter

Oliver Stokowski

Schütte

The Believer

80%

82%

The Believer

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Believer

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

83%

86%

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Paid in Full

56%

93%

Paid in Full

Watchlist

Cronicas

71%

77%

Cronicas

Watchlist

Gangster No. 1

69%

77%

Gangster No. 1

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

As part of a psychological research project, twenty recruits will be divided up into prisoners and guards. In a controlled penitentiary-like environment, "prisoners" are incarcerated and ordered to obey the rules, "guards" are instructed to keep order. They will be thrown head-first into a two-week-long examination of the effects of assigned roles, power and control, and won't be the same when it's over. But it's just a simulation. Or is it?

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Producer: Norbert Preuss, Marc Conrad, Fritz Wildfeuer
Screenwriter: Mario Giordano, Don Bohlinger, Christoph Darnstädt
Distributor: Manga Films S.L., Samuel Goldwyn Company, IDP Distribution, Central Partnership, Senator Film, GAGA Communications [jp], Sherlock Media S.L., Nexo, Argentina Video Home, Metropolitan Filmexport [fr]
Production Co: Senator Film Produktion GmbH, Fanes Film, Typhoon Film AG, Seven Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Situations|Nudity|Sexuality|Strong Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 2002, Original
Box Office (Gross USA): $141.1K
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings