Transcendence
A grieving AI researcher uploads her husband’s consciousness, only to face a digital intelligence whose quest for knowledge threatens human freedom.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- ominous
- paranoid
- thoughtful
- late night science fiction viewing
- technology themed movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually distinctive and intellectually ambitious but undermined by weak logic, plot holes, and storytelling that could not adequately contain its ideas.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Will Caster's consciousness is transferred into a computer system, turning personal survival into a question of identity and control.
The uploaded Will pursues human enhancement and nanotechnology while Evelyn and Max question whether his transformation should continue.
Wally Pfister's cinematography emphasizes glowing interfaces, surveillance systems, vast data networks, and nanotechnological environments.
Will's digital presence expands through connected systems and evolves into a seemingly unstoppable quest for power.
Films like Transcendence, and why
Ex Machina
shares artificial intelligence, human enhancement, technological anxiety, and an escalating thriller framework
Her
shares AI consciousness, machine-human boundaries, romance, and philosophical science fiction themes
The Terminator
shares AI takeover fears, dystopian technology, and action-thriller suspense
The Matrix
shares mind uploading, transhumanism, omnipresent digital intelligence, and concerns about technological power
Movie Details
- Director
- Wally Pfister
- Release Date
- 2014-04-16
- Runtime
- 119 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (5959)
Cast
- Johnny Depp
- Rebecca Hall
- Morgan Freeman
- Paul Bettany
- Cillian Murphy
- Kate Mara
- Cole Hauser
- Clifton Collins Jr.
- Cory Hardrict
- Falk Hentschel
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Transcendence about?
- A grieving AI researcher uploads her husband’s consciousness, only to face a digital intelligence whose quest for knowledge threatens human freedom.
- What is Transcendence like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Transcendence as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Transcendence violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Transcendence as mild.
- What did critics think of Transcendence?
- Critics broadly found the film visually distinctive and intellectually ambitious but undermined by weak logic, plot holes, and storytelling that could not adequately contain its ideas.
- Which films are like Transcendence?
- Films with a similar feel include Ex Machina, Her, The Terminator, and The Matrix.
- How long is Transcendence?
- Transcendence runs 119 minutes.
- Where can I watch Transcendence?
- In United States, Transcendence is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
