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Scanners (1981) | Ranked Top 25% · CriticCrunch

Scanners backdrop

Scanners

Movie1981·103 min

Scanners

Directed by David Cronenberg

Science Fiction Horror

A science fiction horror film directed by David Cronenberg.

◈ CrunchScore

Top 25%

of all movies · weighted by audience size & source agreement

★ TMDB Audience Rating

6.7/10

1K ratings

About Scanners

A scientist trains a man with an advanced telepathic ability called 'scanning' to stop a dangerous Scanner with extraordinary psychic powers from waging war against non-Scanners.

Pacing: Measured (4 of 9)
Tone: Dark (2 of 9)
Intensity: Intense (7 of 9)
Complexity: Approachable (4 of 9)
Humor: Serious (1 of 9)
Scale: Broad (6 of 9)
Spirit: Haunting (3 of 9)
Texture: Unsettling, Stylized
Story Tags: ambition hubris, corruption power, medicine science, urban, rivals, outsider misfit, villain protagonist, conspiracy, cat and mouse, undercover infiltration, drug trade, superpowers, body horror

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Details

Director: David Cronenberg
Language: English

Cast

Stephen Lack, Jennifer O'Neill, Michael Ironside

⬡Explore cast & crew→

Where to Watch Scanners

Checked 2 days ago

3 streaming · 2 rent/buy

Stream

Cinemax

Included with subscriptionhd

Max

Included with subscription

The Criterion Channel

Included with subscription

Not on:NetflixHuluDisney+Prime VideoPeacock

Also available

Prime Videohd

$3.99Rent

Prime Videohd

$19.99Buy

Availability may change. Verify with the streaming service.

How Scanners Ranks

All movies

Top 25%

1980s movies

Top 26%

Science Fiction movies

Top 29%

1980s Science Fiction movies

Top 30%

David Cronenberg films#9 of 22

Top 25% All movies.

the vibe

Scanners Vibe

What it feels like

measureddarkintenseapproachableseriousbroadhaunting

unsettling

stylized

What it's about

conspiracycat & mouseundercover infiltrationambition hubriscorruption poweroutsider misfitvillain protagonistrivalsmedicine sciencedrug tradesuperpowersbody horrorurban

pacing

measured 4/9measured 4/9

tone

dark 2/9dark 2/9

intensity

intense 7/9intense 7/9

complexity

approachable 4/9clear 4/9

humor

serious 1/9serious 1/9

scale

broad 6/9broad 6/9

spirit

haunting 3/9haunting 3/9

texture

unsettlinguneasy