Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- irreverent
- witty
- anarchic
- action movie night
- stoner movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film’s central premise and appealing leads promising but judged the execution distracted, familiar, and unevenly funny.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mike Howell begins as a perpetually high small-town slacker before becoming the target of a CIA termination operation.
Mike’s former handler triggers training he does not remember, revealing lethal skills beneath his ordinary persona.
Mike’s efforts to protect Phoebe remain central as CIA operatives and failed test subjects pursue them.
Mike unexpectedly defends himself using ordinary household items after his latent abilities activate.
Films like American Ultra, and why
Pineapple Express
shares the blend of stoner humor, violent action, government conspiracy, and an unexpectedly capable protagonist
The Nice Guys
combines irreverent comedy, covert-agency intrigue, sudden violence, and a mismatched couple under pressure
The Bourne Identity
features a seemingly ordinary protagonist pulled into black-ops violence through a comic, high-concept premise
Movie Details
- Director
- Nima Nourizadeh
- Release Date
- 2015-08-19
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (3030)
Cast
- Jesse Eisenberg
- Kristen Stewart
- Topher Grace
- Connie Britton
- Walton Goggins
- John Leguizamo
- Bill Pullman
- Tony Hale
- Stuart Greer
- Michael Papajohn
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is American Ultra about?
- A cannabis-loving small-town slacker discovers he is a CIA-trained assassin and must protect his relationship while surviving a lethal purge.
- What is American Ultra like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of American Ultra as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is American Ultra violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in American Ultra as graphic.
- What did critics think of American Ultra?
- Critics generally found the film’s central premise and appealing leads promising but judged the execution distracted, familiar, and unevenly funny.
- Which films are like American Ultra?
- Films with a similar feel include Pineapple Express, The Nice Guys, and The Bourne Identity.
- How long is American Ultra?
- American Ultra runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch American Ultra?
- In United States, American Ultra streams on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
