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
    OscarsBest Of 2025Holiday Watch GuideGotham AwardsCelebrity PhotosSTARmeter 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
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

American Ultra

  • 2015
  • R
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
100K
YOUR RATING
Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart in American Ultra (2015)
A stoner - who is in fact a government agent - is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he's too well-trained and too high for them to handle.
Play trailer1:11
28 Videos
31 Photos
Dark ComedySatireStoner ComedyActionComedy

A stoner - who is in fact a government agent - is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he's too well-trained and too high for them to handle.A stoner - who is in fact a government agent - is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he's too well-trained and too high for them to handle.A stoner - who is in fact a government agent - is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he's too well-trained and too high for them to handle.

  • Director
    • Nima Nourizadeh
  • Writer
    • Max Landis
  • Stars
    • Jesse Eisenberg
    • Kristen Stewart
    • Connie Britton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    100K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nima Nourizadeh
    • Writer
      • Max Landis
    • Stars
      • Jesse Eisenberg
      • Kristen Stewart
      • Connie Britton
    • 243User reviews
    • 180Critic reviews
    • 50Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos28

    Trailer #3
    Trailer 1:11
    Trailer #3
    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Theatrical Trailer
    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:25
    Trailer #1
    Max Goods Online
    Clip 0:53
    Max Goods Online
    Piss My Pants
    Clip 1:01
    Piss My Pants
    American Ultra: Max Goods
    Clip 0:53
    American Ultra: Max Goods

    Photos30

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 24
    View Poster

    Top Cast81

    Edit
    Jesse Eisenberg
    Jesse Eisenberg
    • Mike Howell
    Kristen Stewart
    Kristen Stewart
    • Phoebe Larson
    Connie Britton
    Connie Britton
    • Victoria Lasseter
    Topher Grace
    Topher Grace
    • Adrian Yates
    Walton Goggins
    Walton Goggins
    • Laugher
    John Leguizamo
    John Leguizamo
    • Rose
    Bill Pullman
    Bill Pullman
    • Krueger
    Tony Hale
    Tony Hale
    • Petey Douglas
    Stuart Greer
    Stuart Greer
    • Sheriff Watts
    Michael Papajohn
    Michael Papajohn
    • Otis
    Monique Ganderton
    Monique Ganderton
    • Crane
    Nash Edgerton
    Nash Edgerton
    • Beedle
    Paul Andrew O'Connor
    Paul Andrew O'Connor
    • Diesel
    • (as Paul O'Connor)
    Freddie Poole
    Freddie Poole
    • Potter
    Ilram Choi
    Ilram Choi
    • Newton
    James Bendishaw
    • Bourbon
    Lavell Crawford
    Lavell Crawford
    • Big Harold
    Sam Malone
    Sam Malone
    • Quinzin
    • Director
      • Nima Nourizadeh
    • Writer
      • Max Landis
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews243

    6.199.5K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7iquine

    A Non-Paranoid Stoner Story

    Don't awaken or betray the hidden, trained, CIA killer operative, working in the convenience store, who has a weed-fiend alter ego or you will regret it. A shaggy haired low life stoner and his girlfriend suddenly find themselves being hunted by the best of breed special ops soldiers. Yet something awakens in the stoner and let's just say things don't go as planned for the special ops soldiers. This is an entertaining action movie with an absurd plot full of dry humor and several notable actors and actresses. Mixed all together and this is an unexpected recipe that would be welcomed at mid-level restaurants; a couple notches above Pizza Ranch.
    6bardia-moose

    Original, not Memorable

    American ULTRA is an action-packed comedy that doesn't deserve the bad rep it's been getting. The writing was really strong; Max Landis injected clever and quirky dialogue into a pretty simple story, giving it its own definitive personality. There's a ton of pot smoking, there's a whole lot of killing, and Jesse Eisenberg plays a badass action hero. Yea. If you're not down with any of that, don't watch this movie.

    The chemistry between Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, who've worked together before, is one of the best things American ULTRA has going for it. You completely believe them as this young couple; the 'tree and car' metaphor in the film, despite being top-tier pot talk, was quite touching. I can't really say the same thing about Topher Grace though; almost everything he said was outright cringe-worthy and over-the-top. It's strange though because, on paper, his character is a perfect match for the kind of tone this film was going for. Unfortunately, he just ended up feeling out of place.

    Many people are describing this movie as a cross between Pineapple Express and Bourne Identity, and it's difficult to argue against that. I know what you're thinking; it's a bizarre marriage indeed. But when you watch this, the amalgamation actually works. The jokes don't always hit, but the action hits hard. And while it's engaging and well choreographed, the film never takes itself too seriously; the balance between stoner comedy and crazy, bloody violent action is handled well, not as seamless as one would hope though. And through all the insanity that transpires, American ULTRA still manages to maintain a heart.

    I can positively say that I enjoyed watching American ULTRA. Is it a great movie? Hell no! I wouldn't even call it good, but it's funny when it needs to be, the violence, while excessive at times, always fit the story, and it's original. If you're someone who wants Hollywood to simmer down with all the reboots and sequels, then go see American ULTRA in theatres. You'll have fun and, at the same time, be supporting originality in cinema.
    Dr_Sagan

    Amateurish Direction for a same-o story about a secret program of the CIA.

    The story of this movie has been told over a million times in recent years. A ...special secret (!) program of the CIA that generates Jason Bourne-like super soldiers. Such programs had over the years lots of cool names like Daylight, Treadstone, etc. etc....so for this movie...Wiseman (!) it is! Wiseman is supposed to cost ...$400,000,000 and American Ultra had a budget of $28,000,000 but it doesn't show...

    The movie has an amateurish style and direction. It is aesthetically not pleasing and it looks like they shot it in a parking lot over the course of a weekend.

    I'm not a fan of Kristen Stewart but I consider her a good actress with a broad range of facial expressions and emotions and she delivers in this movie too. Topher Grace is adequate too but the rest of the cast looks like they prefer to be somewhere else including Connie Britton and the veteran Bill Pullman.

    There are some actions scenes where the mighty spy kicks some ass but overall the movie fails to produce a satisfying result.

    Maybe in the hands of a more capable director and a reworked script (written by the son of John Landis) this movie could be better. At least for 90 minutes of action fun...
    9staypuff-589-883937

    Actually Entertaining

    This review does not contain spoilers, it just talks about the actors and the general mood the film has.

    I started watching this expecting to hate it quite a bit, because I really don't like Jesse as an actor at all. I was quite surprised to find myself laughing, feeling and getting excited from the very beginning. I guess you could say that this movie was "ultra" fine ;). The action was great with enough blood for someone who likes movies along the lines of Kick-ass and similar. The comedy was funny enough to punch through the serious moments of the movie to give you a quick laugh before it throws you back into the quite depressing storyline. The twists (while i expected them a mile away unfortunately) had you feeling heavily for the protagonist. My final thoughts about this movie are that Kristin Stewart really can give a great performance. Do not judge her just on twilight.

    If you don't enjoy this movie even a little bit i think you really need to lighten up.
    7kosmasp

    Weird but in a good way

    Before he ruined Lex Luthor (popular way of thinking), see him in this. Although you probably have seen Jesse Eisenberg in a couple of other things too I reckon, this is where he does shine with his "special powers". Some may argue if he has more than one thing going for him (acting/power wise), but that would be kind of unfair to him and the movies he did so far.

    If you like movies with a weird touch, that have a strange story to tell and are not too squeamish about it, you could do worse. You could also do a bit better of course, but let's not focus on the negative things, but rather on the positives. This is entertaining enough to enjoy for what it is. I don't think it was successful enough to turn it into a series, but it works for what it is

    More like this

    Adventureland
    6.8
    Adventureland
    Mr. Right
    6.3
    Mr. Right
    30 Minutes or Less
    6.0
    30 Minutes or Less
    Once and Forever
    6.4
    Once and Forever
    Some Boys Don't Leave
    7.2
    Some Boys Don't Leave
    Equals
    6.0
    Equals
    The Runaways
    6.5
    The Runaways
    Come Swim
    6.2
    Come Swim
    The Cake Eaters
    6.3
    The Cake Eaters
    Zombieland: Double Tap
    6.7
    Zombieland: Double Tap
    Guns Akimbo
    6.3
    Guns Akimbo
    American Mind Control: MK Ultra
    5.3
    American Mind Control: MK Ultra

    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
    Satire
    Jim Breuer, Dave Chappelle, and Guillermo Diaz in Half Baked (1998)
    Stoner Comedy
    Bruce Willis and Taniel in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As a promotional stunt, Lionsgate gave away/delivered free marijuana at the San Diego Comic Con to anyone with a medical marijuana card.
    • Goofs
      When the CIA kill squad tracks Mike to Rose's house, they pump gas through the air conditioner. The hose is shown lying next to the air condenser on the outside of the house. However, the condenser does not pull air in the house. In a residential HVAC system, it is recirculated through the house. The condenser just cools the refrigerant to the coil.
    • Quotes

      Mike Howell: You know what skives me out, Phoebe?

      Phoebe: What?

      Mike Howell: That car down there has moved so much. Like, it was built in a factory, you know, on a production line. And then it was like, shipped here.

      Phoebe: And then, like, this guy drove it all over the place.

      Mike Howell: Yeah, exactly. But all the time, like for years, or really for, like, decades really, this one tree has been sitting in this one place not doing anything until tonight when it, like, stopped the car.

      Phoebe: Yeah?

      Mike Howell: Okay, so this car is always going. And that tree is always just, like, stopping. You know? Like, it's just been stopping there for years until tonight when it met something that it didn't want to keep going, and it was just like, "mmm-mmm! No! You're stopping, too"

      [crying]

      Mike Howell: And then this tree that has never done anything is fucking, like, destroying this beautiful, really beautiful fast-moving thing.

      Phoebe: Why are you crying?

      Mike Howell: Because, Phoebe, like... am I that tree?

      Phoebe: No. No!

      Mike Howell: I think I'm that tree. And I think you're the car and I think I'm stopping you.

      Phoebe: You are not the tree.

      Mike Howell: Okay.

      Phoebe: I love you.

    • Crazy credits
      During the closing credits, there is an "Apollo Ape" cartoon depicting the continuity of the film's final scene.
    • Alternate versions
      IMDb lists two different versions in its Technical Specifications page for this film, although both are quoted at the same length. The reason for this is unclear, but could be due to a number of factors: 1. How IMDb compiles its data and the technical realities of film distribution. The two runtimes listed in the "Technical Specifications" on IMDb for American Ultra do not represent two different creative versions of the film, like a theatrical cut and a director's cut. Instead, this discrepancy is almost always due to one of these two technical reasons: (a) Rounding and Data Aggregation: This is the most likely explanation for a tiny one-minute difference. IMDb gathers data from numerous sources worldwide. The film's actual, precise runtime might be something like 95 minutes and 30 seconds. One official source (like a regional distributor or a ratings board) might round that down to 95 minutes, while another source rounds it up to 96 minutes. IMDb often lists both figures as it aggregates this conflicting data. (b) Different Regional Prints: The version of the film distributed in North America by Lionsgate may have a slightly different total runtime than the version distributed internationally. This difference is not in the movie's content but in the logos and bumpers that play before the film starts. For example, the runtime of the US distributor's logo might be 15 seconds, while an international distributor's logo sequence might be 35 seconds. These small variations can be enough to push the total runtime from just under a minute-mark to just over it, resulting in a different rounded number. 2. It's important to distinguish this from PAL Speed-Up, another common reason for different runtimes, where films are sped up by 4% for broadcast in European and other PAL-standard regions (a similar situation exists for an NTSC conversion). This process, however, would result in a more significant time difference. In short, the two runtimes on IMDb reflect minor technical variations in distribution and data reporting, not the existence of two different edits of American Ultra.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Kristen Stewart/Jim Belushi/Yolanda Adams (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Pua Nani O Hawaii
      Composed by Leimamo Fish and Michael Scott

      Provided by APM Music

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ19

    • How long is American Ultra?Powered by Alexa
    • Is there a post-credits scene?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 21, 2015 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Switzerland
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Languages
      • English
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • Operación Ultra
    • Filming locations
      • Covington, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • PalmStar Media
      • FilmNation Entertainment
      • Likely Story
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $28,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,440,985
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,454,284
      • Aug 23, 2015
    • Gross worldwide
      • $27,262,374
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Auro 11.1
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • 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.