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.
- Diesel
- (as Paul O'Connor)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
A Non-Paranoid Stoner Story
Second degree
American Ultra is ultra violent, ultra simplistic and yes, a little stupid. But I think it's supposed to be?
As B Movie or just "childish R Rated" pleasure, this movie works. A lot of things going for it actually: a very punch mise en scène, some good casting and good performances from Kristen Stewart & co. given the genre and topic.... and yes, good fun.
Given the negative reviews, this may sound defensive but I am sure that a lot of people will enjoy it for what it is. DOn't expect the next Avengers and yes, don't expect anything deep.
Original, not Memorable
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.
Just have fun
Fun action movie
Did you know
- TriviaAs a promotional stunt, Lionsgate gave away/delivered free marijuana at the San Diego Comic Con to anyone with a medical marijuana card.
- GoofsWhen 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 creditsDuring the closing credits, there is an "Apollo Ape" cartoon depicting the continuity of the film's final scene.
- Alternate versionsIMDb 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.
- SoundtracksPua Nani O Hawaii
Composed by Leimamo Fish and Michael Scott
Provided by APM Music
- How long is American Ultra?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Operación Ultra
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- 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
- Runtime
- 1h 36m(96 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1







