Columbia Pictures

Stonebridge Entertainment

Not part of a collection.

Flatliners

Name: Flatliners
Released: 1990-08-10T00:00:00.000000Z
Rating: 6.5

Some lines shouldn't be crossed.

1990 • 115 min • ★ 6.5 (1,784) • Released

Drama Horror Science Fiction

Five medical students experiment with "near death" experiences, until the dark consequences of past tragedies begin to jeopardize their lives.

IMDb ↗

Original title: Flatliners
Language: EN
Country: US
Budget: $26,000,000
Revenue: $61,489,265

Reviews & Ratings 4

kevin2019

Feb 13, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 6.0

"Flatliners" makes for incredibly atmospheric viewing and it has a superb central idea, but like so many other films with superb central ideas it struggles with the challenge of doing something innovative or significant with it. After all, death is the last great mystery which we must all face. What actually happens after you die? This film takes that fascinating conundrum and it follows the familiar religious dictum which tells us after we die we must each atone for our many misdemeanors committed during the course of our lifetime and then be punished accordingly. This is the only consequential achievement of the entire disappointing film and by the time the end credits begin to roll you are left with a feeling that the possiblity of redemption is perhaps the best the afterlife has to offer.

Alunauwie

Sep 30, 2025 · via TMDB

★ 9.0

Flatliners presents a compelling concept about exploring life after death through risky medical experiments conducted by five ambitious students. The film unfolds with a strong character build-up and escalating tension as supernatural consequences begin haunting them. Emotional depth is explored through personal guilt and unresolved trauma, making each character's journey unique. With impressive acting, effective use of visuals, and a strong moral message, the film remains engaging and thought-provoking. Despite its age, Flatliners delivers a powerful reminder that death—and guilt—should never be taken lightly. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)

GenerationofSwine

Jan 12, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

Stop for a minute and contemplate the fact that Joel Schumacher made this when he was channeling Joel Schumacher and it actually turned out to be a good, compelling, and frightening film. How the heck did that happen? I mean, sure, the story was good for a horror flick and it was pretty compelling. And, to be fair, it did have a great case and the acting was beyond par. So you know, there was a lot working for it despite it being Joel Schumacher in the 90s being Joel Schumacher in the 90s. I guess what I am saying is that you should give it a shot, despite the director.

John Chard

Nov 23, 2014 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

The arrogance of medicinally inclined youth! I remember coming out the theatre after having seen Flatliners in 1990 and being really annoyed. The premise of the story is so superb and was ripe for a terrifying horror film, but Flatliners then, and now, is not terrifying, but that actually doesn't matter. In 1990 some of the more bright young acting prospects were off making Memphis Belle, the other half that was made up of potential Brat Packers like Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, William Baldwin, Oliver Platt and Kevin Bacon, were joining director Joel Schumacher for this delve into life after death experiments. The tyro medical students, led by a darkly egotistical Sutherland, begin inducing their own deaths to see what awaits once the flatline has been reached. Seems great at first, but as the students push the time limits of being dead still further, what comes into their real worlds is actually not welcome. Pic is never close to being frightening, but the thematics involved are chilling and the big message at its heart is loud and clear. At times it's an uneasy blend of supernatural dalliances and medical science, but the breezy cast hold engagement, while cinematographer Jan de Bont's misty lenses are perfectly in the realm of the ethereal. 7/10

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 7

afterlife college student haunted by the past life and death medical experiment medical student near-death experience

Buy

Amazon Video

Apple TV Store

Google Play Movies

YouTube

Fandango At Home

Streaming

fuboTV

Philo

Rent

Amazon Video

Apple TV Store

Google Play Movies

YouTube

Fandango At Home

Cast 27

Kiefer Sutherland

Nelson Wright

Julia Roberts

Rachel Mannus

Kevin Bacon

David Labraccio

William Baldwin

Joe Hurley

Oliver Platt

Randy Steckle

Kimberly Scott

Winnie Hicks

Joshua Rudoy

Billy Mahoney

Benjamin Mouton

Rachel's Father

Aeryk Egan

Young Nelson

Kesha Reed

Young Winnie

Hope Davis

Anne Coldren

Jim Ortlieb

Uncle Dave

Sanna Vraa

Bridget

Beth Grant

Housewife

Marilyn Dodds Frank

Bag Lady

Patricia Belcher

Edna

Julie Warner

One of Joe's Woman

Angela Paton

Doctor

Baadja-Lyne Odums

Nurse

John Fink

Doctor

Ingrid Oliu

Latin Wife

Anne James

Beth

K.K. Dodds

Jill

Natsuko Ohama

Professor

Marie-Alise Recasner

Girl at the Bottom of Stairs (uncredited)

Shauna O'Brien

One of Joe's Women (uncredited)

Ted Otis

Medical Student (uncredited)

Crew 11

Jan de Bont

Director of Photography

Ve Neill

Makeup Artist

Rick LeFevour

Stunt Double

Joel Schumacher

Director

Scott Rudin

Executive Producer

Michael Douglas

Producer

Stephen McEveety

Unit Production Manager

John Roesch

Foley Artist

James Newton Howard

Original Music Composer

Anna Behlmer

Sound Recordist

Charles L. Campbell

Supervising Sound Editor

Gallery

Videos

Similar Movies

Ce qu'il reste d'elle

Memento Mori

In Between

Tiempo

Cinema Paradiso

Once Upon a Time in America

Clouds

The Wages of Fear

Voyage of the Heart

The Sixth Sense

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring

Batman Begins

Dreams

Harold and Maude

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

★ 7.5 2007

Thesis

★ 7.5 1996

Memories

★ 7.5 1995

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Meet Joe Black

Meeting Mr Samuel

The In Between

21 Grams

Coda

The Adversary

The Chalk Garden

The Poseidon Adventure

Swan Song

Shiva Baby

Remember Me

The Bothersome Man

Soldier of Orange

The Lovely Bones

Re-Animator

No End

Wristcutters: A Love Story

★ 7.0 2007

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

After the War

Dominick and Eugene

City of Angels

Force Majeure

Dreams, Life, Death of Filip Filipović

★ 6.8 1980

The Cabin in the Woods

Happy Death Day

The Eye

Duckweed

Ghost Town

Ahlan Singapore

Happythankyoumoreplease

★ 6.5 2011

Wrong Turn

★ 6.4 2003

Kabir Singh

★ 6.4 2019

Dead Like Me: Life After Death

Old

Chasing Ghosts

Hannibal Rising

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey

★ 6.3 1991

Nurses on the Line: The Crash of Flight 7

Always

Hereafter

The Corruptor

Todo el llanto del mundo

★ 6.0 2022

Ne 45000

★ 6.0 1933

Spirit World

★ 5.9 2025

The Legend of Paul and Paula

Unrest

Let There Be Light

Unnatural

White Noise 2: The Light

Gudang Merica

Trapped

Repeat

Ratter

Revival

Before Granny Gets Us

★ 5.0 2026

Graves & Bones

★ 4.7 2014

Candyman: Day of the Dead

The Raking

Drift

Chariot

I Know Who Killed Me

Sugar and Salt

The Caregiver

Catalina

Scar

Three Mirrors Creature's Flashes of Flesh

The Holy Trinity

Skeleton

Wildwood Nights

The Confession

Separator

Mercy

Lives After Death

Violet Prevails

Two Places at Once

She Came Back

Atardeceres

Thai Nilam

Nexte Haltestelle

Black Lodge

Recommended

Frankenstein

Seconds

Videodrome

Midsommar

Swan Song

Backrooms

10 Cloverfield Lane

The Jacket

The Return

The Quiet Earth

The Last Man on Earth

The Faculty

Event Horizon

Life

Frankenstein Created Woman

Resurrected

The Endless

The Resurrected

I Saw the TV Glow

Double Blind

Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell

The Kindred

Black Friday

Doctor X

Omni Loop

Victor Frankenstein

Come True

Splice

US Release Dates 1

Aug 10, 1990

R Theatrical