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IMDbPro

Dream Scenario

  • 2023
  • R
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
88K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,708
246
Nicolas Cage in Dream Scenario (2023)
From writer/director Kristoffer Borgli and starring Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage, Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula and Dylan Baker. DREAM SCENARIO. In cinemas now.
Play trailer0:31
6 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark ComedyHigh-Concept ComedyPsychological HorrorComedyDramaFantasyHorror

An ordinary family man finds his life turned upside down when strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams.An ordinary family man finds his life turned upside down when strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams.An ordinary family man finds his life turned upside down when strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams.

  • Director
    • Kristoffer Borgli
  • Writer
    • Kristoffer Borgli
  • Stars
    • Lily Bird
    • Nicolas Cage
    • Julianne Nicholson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    88K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,708
    246
    • Director
      • Kristoffer Borgli
    • Writer
      • Kristoffer Borgli
    • Stars
      • Lily Bird
      • Nicolas Cage
      • Julianne Nicholson
    • 368User reviews
    • 220Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 18 nominations total

    Videos6

    In Cinemas Now
    Trailer 0:31
    In Cinemas Now
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Official Trailer
    Dream Scenario
    Trailer 2:25
    Dream Scenario
    Why Nicolas Cage Believes 'Dream Scenario' Is His Best Movie
    Clip 2:57
    Why Nicolas Cage Believes 'Dream Scenario' Is His Best Movie
    Dream Scenario (Featurette)
    Featurette 1:01
    Dream Scenario (Featurette)
    Official Promo
    Promo 1:01
    Official Promo

    Photos146

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    + 140
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    Top cast53

    Edit
    Lily Bird
    Lily Bird
    • Sophie Matthews
    Nicolas Cage
    Nicolas Cage
    • Paul Matthews
    Julianne Nicholson
    Julianne Nicholson
    • Janet Matthews
    Jessica Clement
    Jessica Clement
    • Hannah Matthews
    Star Slade
    Star Slade
    • Greta
    David Klein
    David Klein
    • Andy
    Kaleb Horn
    Kaleb Horn
    • Miles
    Liz Adjei
    Liz Adjei
    • Avery
    Paula Boudreau
    Paula Boudreau
    • Sheila
    Marnie McPhail
    Marnie McPhail
    • Claire
    • (as Marnie McPhail Diamond)
    Noah Lamanna
    Noah Lamanna
    • Jessie
    Tim Meadows
    Tim Meadows
    • Brett
    Dylan Baker
    Dylan Baker
    • Richard
    Maev Beaty
    Maev Beaty
    • Naomi
    Marc Coppola
    Marc Coppola
    • Sidney
    Krista Bridges
    Krista Bridges
    • Carlota
    Conrad Coates
    Conrad Coates
    • Dinner Guest #1
    Marnie Brunton
    • Dinner Guest #2
    • Director
      • Kristoffer Borgli
    • Writer
      • Kristoffer Borgli
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews368

    6.887.7K
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    Featured reviews

    7Kysugo

    An interesting look at dreams, fame and farts

    It was kind of hard to get into at first since the characters seem to come off kind of pompous and smug, which makes it hard to like them. Nic Cage's character comes off pretty pathetic and awkward - but that's the whole point. There were moments that were funny, but mostly I felt kind of uneasy. I think the camera was too close to the actors faces at times - that's probably what made me feel uncomfortable. It felt like I was invading their personal space. All that being said, this movie has probably one of the best fart scenes of all time. I would re-watch this movie just to experience that scene again lol.

    Dream Scenario is a pretty interesting look at what social media fame - or just fame in general - can do to a person and all the negative effects that come with it. It also highlights the toxicity of cancel culture. I guess moral of the story is: don't go chasing fame. Although, Paul didn't really engage in pursuing fame, it kind of came to him through something that was out of his control. The concept of ant intelligence and how ants might share a sort of hive mind definitely was a really interesting concept. I love how they tie that into the main story of how everyone is dreaming about the same person. The concept of influencers invading people's dreams to advertise products was an insane concept. Overall, this movie was pretty darn good. It had an interesting premise and took a creative approach when exploring its different concepts. I'd re-watch this movie and I can definitely recommend it if you want something different.
    8jtindahouse

    Original, hilarious and even touching

    Quick Review: My biggest pet peeve in films is dream sequences (I don't even love 'Inception' - don't hurt me). However the way they are done in 'Dream Scenario' was perfect. This film was a blast.

    Talk about getting everything out of a concept. The movie starts and you think, okay this is a lot of fun, but where are they going to go from here? Have no fear, they have plenty of tricks up their sleeves and the wild ride continues throughout.

    The film is hilarious. It contained some of the biggest theatre laughs I've heard in a long time. But it's more than that too. It actually gets quite touching and sad and has some real thought-provoking stuff going on. This was an excellent film. 8/10.
    7Lomax343

    Really good, up to the point where it isn't.

    The first eighty percent of this film was excellent - it felt like the best Stephen King story that King didn't write. The slow destruction of the life of an ordinary man for reasons which were completely outside his control was well-conceived, well-plotted and well acted. Nicholas Cage's performance was pitch perfect.

    To an extent, this film can be seen as a satirical condemnation of social media fame and cancel culture, though that's secondary to the theme of mounting paranoia - both from Prof Matthews and the wider world.

    The fact that this film started out as a project of Ari Aster is no surprise, as it has much in common with Beau is Afraid - notably the hapless and powerless central character and some surreal and blackly comic moments.

    Then, in the last fifteen minutes or so, the film loses its way. A new element is brought in which pretty much undermines what had gone before. The result wasn't bad, exactly, but seemed to belong in a different film. I think it would've been better if the film had had the courage of its convictions and followed Prof Matthews to his logical fate.

    For all that, it's an interesting film, and I would urge you to see it.
    8cgearheart

    Deeply Depressing Satire on Fame

    Horror Comedy? Uhm, yeah, no. Sure, there's a handful of funny moments and some scary stuff but it's far from being a horror comedy. This is a very traditional "Nicolas Cage" drama, through and through. It has an air of humor and awkwardness throughout all of it due to his performance, but overall, there's a bigger picture behind it. Oddly enough, in a lot of ways it felt like a very late companion piece to Cage's performance in The Weather Man, a movie where his character also deals with consequences of fame while dealing with a crumbling family life. The biggest difference is that Dream Scenario leans farther into the consequences of fame that celebrities never asked for and that consumers fail to understand because of the media. This is a very sad and upsetting movie that I would say accurately captures that feeling of not having control of your life. It's definitely among the best films I've seen this year.
    6MikesIDhasbeentaken

    so close to being amazing

    After the first half hour of this movie, i thought it was going somewhere amazing, it was funny and clever and nic cage is just really good in the mane role.

    But i don't think it did nt he 2nd half of the movie, it kind of faded out, and missed such a massive oppotunity.

    It's still a good movie, but it completely went in a different direction in the last half hour than i thought it would. Which was just such a shame.

    Such a missed oppotunity in my book, but still worth a watch. When the dreams turn darker i think there was such a great set up for a better last half hour or so. Shame.

    Worth watching but didn't reach it's potential.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Marc Coppola: As Sidney, the bald party guest who looks like Nicolas Cage's character Paul. Coppola is Cage's older brother.
    • Goofs
      Contrary to what Prof Matthews says, a zebra's stripes do provide it with a degree of camouflage. Seen from a distance through the heat haze of an African plain, the zebra's outline becomes blurred and indistinct.
    • Quotes

      Paul Matthews: Trauma is a trend these days. It is a joke. Everything is trauma. Arguing with a friend is trauma. Getting bad grades is trauma. They need to grow up.

    • Connections
      Featured in Amanda the Jedi Show: I ALMOST Walked Out | The Best and Worst of TIFF 2023 (2023)
    • Soundtracks
      Say You'll Say So
      Written by Geoffrey Landers

      Performed by Geoffrey Landers

      (c) Music from Memory

      Courtesy of Music from Memory Records

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Dream Scenario?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 22, 2023 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • El hombre de los sueños
    • Filming locations
      • University of Toronto-Scarborough Campus, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada(Osler University)
    • Production companies
      • A24
      • Square Peg
      • Quebec Film and Television Tax Credit
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,742,193
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $220,035
      • Nov 12, 2023
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,488,124
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 42m(102 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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