Altered States (1980): cast, story & where to watch
1980 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1980, Altered States is a thriller, horror and science fiction film directed by Ken Russell, running about 102 minutes. “A dream is the key that unlocks the mysteries of the waking world.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A research scientist explores the boundaries and frontiers of consciousness. Using sensory deprivation and hallucinogenic mixtures from native American shamans, he explores these altered states of consciousness and finds that memory, time, and perhaps reality itself are states of mind.
Who’s in it. Altered States stars William Hurt as Professor Eddie Jessup, Blair Brown as Emily Jessup, Bob Balaban as Arthur Rosenberg and Charles Haid as Mason Parrish, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Altered States has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $19.9M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Altered States page.
If you liked it. Fans of Altered States tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Altered States (1980)?
- In US, Altered States is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Altered States worth watching?
- Altered States holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, horror and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Altered States?
- Altered States stars William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid and Thaao Penghlis.
- When was Altered States released?
- Altered States was released in 1980, with a runtime of about 102 minutes.