Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

Acceptable Risk

  • TV Movie
  • 2001
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
4.6/10
481
YOUR RATING
Acceptable Risk (2001)
DramaSci-FiThriller

An ambitious medical researcher discovers a mold that he believes could be the foundation of a miracle cure for degenerative diseases.An ambitious medical researcher discovers a mold that he believes could be the foundation of a miracle cure for degenerative diseases.An ambitious medical researcher discovers a mold that he believes could be the foundation of a miracle cure for degenerative diseases.

  • Director
    • William A. Graham
  • Writers
    • Robin Cook
    • Michael J. Murray
  • Stars
    • Chad Lowe
    • Kelly Rutherford
    • Sean Patrick Flanery
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.6/10
    481
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William A. Graham
    • Writers
      • Robin Cook
      • Michael J. Murray
    • Stars
      • Chad Lowe
      • Kelly Rutherford
      • Sean Patrick Flanery
    • 5User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos13

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 7
    View Poster

    Top cast20

    Edit
    Chad Lowe
    Chad Lowe
    • Edward Welles
    Kelly Rutherford
    Kelly Rutherford
    • Kim Welles
    Sean Patrick Flanery
    Sean Patrick Flanery
    • Bobby
    Patty McCormack
    Patty McCormack
    • Lois
    Danielle von Zerneck
    Danielle von Zerneck
    • Gloria
    Phillip Troy Linger
    Phillip Troy Linger
    • Professor Gavin
    Yanna McIntosh
    Yanna McIntosh
    Joy Tanner
    Joy Tanner
    Scott Hylands
    Scott Hylands
    Chad Bruce
    • Tim
    James Bulliard
    James Bulliard
    • Billy
    Darce Florio
      Annabel Graham
      • Daughter
      Matt Kippen
      • Local Kid
      Arne MacPherson
      Arne MacPherson
      • Rupert
      Bruce McFee
      • J.B.
      Clayton T. Stewart
      • Money Guy
      Tony Ursini
      • Helicopter Pilot
      • Director
        • William A. Graham
      • Writers
        • Robin Cook
        • Michael J. Murray
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews5

      4.6481
      1
      2
      3
      4
      5
      6
      7
      8
      9
      10

      Featured reviews

      6sunbeam-4

      Interesting tragedy

      I liked everything about this film except the unfortunate ending. I've always been a big fan of Kelly Rutherford and she did her usual great job in this one. I used to watch her in The Adventures of Briscoe County Jr. it seems like ages ago, and have watched for her movies ever since. She's really good in Threat Matrix too, although in that she plays a rather stern, tough girl character in my opinion. Needless to say, I think she's a cutie and really added a lot to this movie.
      Sunny*

      Why change major plot points?

      I will never understand why movie adapters feel the need to change certain parts of books for the movie. Here is an example of a book I like very much becoming a very bad movie. I realize it's on TV and there are time constraints, but there is no need to change things like the last names of the characters or the time period of the historical element of the book. Not only that, but the entire concept of the book was distorted. Robin Cook's book was a commentary on the lengths people will go to for personality-enhancing, "happy-pill" psychotropic drugs, like Prozac or Ultra in the book, driven by the possible financial gain as well. In the movie, the drug was changed to a possible cure for Alzheimer's Disease or other mentally degenerative illnesses. And Edward is driven by a past disappointment in obtaining a patent on a drug Not only that, the main character of the book is Kim and her quest for removing the stigma of shame surrounding her accused-witch ancestor and also for personal acceptance. She becomes a flat character with almost no real action except for running away. Edward is the focal character in the movie.
      2rrsafety

      Unacceptable Movie

      Poorly acted, poorly scripted, stupid and boring. My wife and I howled with derision many times because it was so bad. Were it in a theater, plenty of popcorn would be thrown at the screen. If you are interested, watch the movie with friends and make fun of it (especially the scene where a phone is fought over no less than three times in about six minutes "I'm going to call the police." "Oh, no you're not." "Yes, I am." "Give me that phone." "No." --struggling -- " I...said....give....me...that....phone!") Awful.

      More like this

      Acceptable Risk
      6.8
      Acceptable Risk
      Mortal Fear
      4.7
      Mortal Fear
      Virus
      4.8
      Virus
      My Science Project
      5.9
      My Science Project
      Acceptable Risks
      5.9
      Acceptable Risks
      Invasion
      5.5
      Invasion
      Terminal
      4.8
      Terminal
      Harmful Intent
      5.3
      Harmful Intent
      Run the Wild Fields
      7.1
      Run the Wild Fields
      La Bamba
      7.0
      La Bamba
      Coma
      5.8
      Coma
      Skin Deep
      6.1
      Skin Deep

      Storyline

      Edit

      Top picks

      Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
      Sign in

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • March 2001 (United States)
      • Countries of origin
        • Canada
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Robin Cook's 'Acceptable Risk'
      • Filming locations
        • University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
      • Production companies
        • Entertainment Partners Canada
        • Von Zerneck-Sertner Films
        • Zerneck-Sertner Films
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 32 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Stereo
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.33 : 1

      Related news

      Contribute to this page

      Suggest an edit or add missing content
      Acceptable Risk (2001)
      Top Gap
      By what name was Acceptable Risk (2001) officially released in Canada in English?
      Answer
      • See more gaps
      • Learn more about contributing
      Edit page

      More to explore

      Recently viewed

      Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
      Get the IMDb app
      Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
      Follow IMDb on social
      Get the IMDb app
      For Android and iOS
      Get the IMDb app
      • Help
      • Site Index
      • IMDbPro
      • Box Office Mojo
      • License IMDb Data
      • Press Room
      • Advertising
      • Jobs
      • Conditions of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Your Ads Privacy Choices
      IMDb, an Amazon company

      © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.