Though it received poor reviews upon release, the film has many defenders.
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Friday, 15 November) is The Butterfly Effect, the 2004 cult classic sci-fi thriller.
An against-type Ashton Kutcher (That ’70s Show) stars as Evan, a college student who suffered a traumatic childhood and is now afflicted with headaches so painful that he frequently blacks out.
While unconscious, however, he discovers he is able to travel back in time to alter the past for himself and his friends (including Amy Smart, Crank).
“But changing the past can drastically alter the present, and Evan finds himself in nightmarish alternate realities, including one where he’s locked away in prison,” the plot synopsis reads.
While it received predominantly negative reviews upon release, The Butterfly Effect was a box office hit upon release and was well-received by audiences – currently holding an 81% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.6 score on IMDB.
In the intervening years, meanwhile, certain critics have argued for its merit – praising its interesting sci-fi premise, its dark story and its performances.
The movie even got two direct-to-DVD sequels in 2006 and 2009.
The original Butterfly Effect is airing on TV tonight at 9pm on the channel Legend Xtra. It is also available to rent on Apple TV and the Sky Store.
Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight:
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Sky Showcase – 8pm
The epic conclusion to Peter Jackson’s beloved fantasy adventure trilogy.
The Last Duel / Alien: Covenant – Film4 – 9pm / 12.10am
To mark Gladiator II, it’s a Ridley Scott double bill.
Jack Reacher – E4 – 9pm
Tom Cruise’s first outing as author Lee Child’s most famous creation is immensely watchable.
47 Ronin – Legend – 9pm
A not-good fantasy epic starring Keanu Reeves.
The Magnificent Seven Ride! – TG4 – 9pm
The third and last sequel of the 1960 western The Magnificent Seven.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout – RTÉ2 – 9.40pm
Probably the best of the Tom Cruise action spy movie franchise.
Four Weddings and a Funeral – BBC One – 10.40pm
Hugh Grant stars in one of the best rom-coms ever.
Women Talking – BBC Two – 11.05pm
Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley and Rooney Mara headline this powerful Oscar-winning drama as group of American Mennonite women debating their future after shocking revelations come to light.
Adaptation – RTÉ One – 11.15pm
This Oscar-winning meta comedy-drama sees Nicolas Cage play the writer of the movie – Oscar-winner Charlie Kaufman.
Black Rock – Legend Xtra – 11.15pm
This decent horror thriller sees a camping trip on a Maine island turn nightmarish for three women (Kate Bosworth, Katie Aselton and Lake Bell) after they encounter a group of violent war veterans.
Assault on Precinct 13 – Legend – 11.25pm
Halloween and The Thing director John Carpenter’s breakthrough movie, Assault on Precinct 13 revolves around the inhabitants of a defunct police precinct who must defend themselves against a relentless criminal gang.
One of the tensest, tightest thrillers of all time.
Read more:
- Prime Video has just added one of 2024’s best movies
- Netflix has just added one of the best thriller movies of recent years
- A legal thriller movie with an A-list cast is on TV tonight
- The JOE Film Club Quiz: Week 20
- Season 2 of Netflix’s most-watched 2023 show is dropping much sooner than we thought
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
