I Origins

2014 1h 46m EN

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 3,581

Science FictionDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A molecular biologist's study of the human eye has far-reaching implications about humanity's scientific and spiritual beliefs.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Michael Pitt
Ian Gray
Brit Marling
Karen
Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey
Sofi
Steven Yeun
Kenny
Archie Panjabi
Priya Varma
Cara Seymour
Dr. Jane Simmons
Venida Evans
Margaret Dairy
William Mapother
Darryl Mackenzie

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mike Cahill
Writers: Mike Cahill
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $1.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 48% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 12 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mike Cahill, shot by Markus Förderer. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Will Bates. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Mike Cahill shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Michael Pitt and Brit Marling and Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt2884206 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mike Cahill directs. Markus Förderer behind the camera. Will Bates scores. Mike Cahill cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $1.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Earned back only 48% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released 12 years ago.
4Directed by Mike Cahill, shot by Markus Förderer. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Will Bates. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Mike Cahill shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Michael Pitt and Brit Marling and Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt2884206 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Markus Förderer
Original score: Will Bates
Editing: Mike Cahill
Production design: Tania Bijlani
Costume design: Megan Gray
Makeup / hair: Jennifer Fleming
Sound: Steve Boeddeker
Stunt coordinator: Brian Smyj
Runtime: 106 min · 1h 46m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $1,000,000
Box office: $481,234
Return: 48% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: I Origins (2014)

Awards

Sitges Film Festival Best Feature-Length Film award
Alfred P. Sloan Prize

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Mike Cahill

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Dean2026-07-21
★ 10/10
I Origins is a visually striking and profoundly moving cinematic achievement that explores the delicate intersection between empirical science and metaphysical mystery. The film establishes a deeply atmospheric world from its opening frames, utilizing striking visual motifs, brilliant color contrasts, and a pervasive sense of intimate wonder that keeps the viewer completely transfixed. Every frame is composed with meticulous care, allowing the aesthetic and tonal qualities to carry the emotional weight of the experience. The narrative architecture moves with a quiet, hypnotic intensity, transitioning seamlessly from clinical intellectual inquiry into a sweeping philosophical exploration of human connection, destiny, and the echoes of existence. The performances are remarkably raw and authentic, selling complex emotional stakes through subtle nuances and profound vulnerability. Rather than relying on cheap sentimentality, the film treats its profound thematic concepts with genuine intellectual curiosity, raising haunting questions about patterns of existence and what remains of us. It is a rare work of art that engages both the intellect and the heart, leaving a lingering, unforgettable resonance long after the credits roll.

Production companies