Videodrome

"First it controls your mind. Then it destroys your body."

1983 1h 28m EN

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 2,592

HorrorScience FictionMystery

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

As the president of a trashy TV channel, Max Renn is desperate for new programming to attract viewers. When he happens upon "Videodrome," a TV show dedicated to gratuitous torture and punishment, Max sees a potential hit and broadcasts the show on his channel. However, after his girlfriend auditions for the show and never returns, Max investigates the truth behind Videodrome and discovers that the graphic violence may not be as fake as he thought.

“First it controls your mind. Then it destroys your body.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon Prime VideoSubscription

Amazon Prime Video with AdsSubscription

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

James Woods
Max Renn
Debbie Harry
Nicki Brand
Sonja Smits
Bianca O'Blivion
Peter Dvorsky
Harlan
Leslie Carlson
Barry Convex
Jack Creley
Brian O'Blivion
Lynne Gorman
Masha
Julie Khaner
Bridey

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: David Cronenberg
Writers: David Cronenberg
Languages: English, Japanese
Countries: Canada

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

RUNTIME

Did you know

88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 36% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

43 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Japanese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by David Cronenberg, shot by Mark Irwin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

James Woods and Debbie Harry and Sonja Smits carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

David Cronenberg directs. Mark Irwin behind the camera. Howard Shore scores. Ronald Sanders cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Canada. Dialogue in English, Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Earned back only 36% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
343 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Japanese.
5Directed by David Cronenberg, shot by Mark Irwin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Howard Shore. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Ronald Sanders shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8James Woods and Debbie Harry and Sonja Smits carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "First it controls your mind. Then it destroys your body.".
10IMDB entry: tt0086541 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 24 themes, including "suicide", "virtual reality", "radio presenter", "black market".

The technical file

Cinematography: Mark Irwin
Original score: Howard Shore
Editing: Ronald Sanders
Costume design: Delphine White
Makeup / hair: Shonagh Jabour
Sound: Elius Caruso
Runtime: 88 min · 1h 28m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $5,952,000
Box office: $2,120,439
Return: 36% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Videodrome (1983)

Also by

David Cronenberg

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2023-02-09
★ 6/10
"Max" (James Woods) runs a television channel that specialises in adult content. Always on the look out for new and more innovative and shocking content, he stumbles upon a brief series of satellite images that tantalise him. It's on a television talk show that he meets "Nicki" (Debbie Harry) who has a penchant for sex with a twist - and that not only turns them both on, but furthers his desire to obtain his newly found (and pretty violent) content for his Channel 83 output. The other guest on that show is the renowned "Prof. Oblivion" (Jack Creley) who prognosticates that one day the reality of television and video will replace the "real" reality. These threads slowly all tie together when "Nicki" decides that she is going to star in this new "Videodrome" enterprise and "Renn" must now reconcile his concern for her safety with his mounting need to acquire the show. This film is surreal and bizarre and yet it's still quite effective at illustrating the most visceral aspects of human nature - sex, venality, lust - even pain; and the visual effects (particularly towards the last fifteen minutes) must have been particularly effective. It's a bit on the sordid side - not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but at times the seaminess of it all is distracting from the more interesting and provocative aspects of the narrative. Time hasn't been very kind to it either, the effects have lost much of their potency now and the acting is mediocre at best. It is well worth a watch, but I'm not sure that will be the case for very much longer.

Production companies