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Instinct

Play trailer Poster for Instinct R 1999 2h 3m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
27% Tomatometer 63 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Years after he goes missing in the jungles of Africa, anthropologist Ethan Powell (Anthony Hopkins) resurfaces when it's discovered that he has murdered two poachers who were killing the gorillas he was studying. After spending an extended time living with the primates and without any human contact, Powell seems to be unhinged, and psychiatrist Theo Caulder (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is called in to try to get through to the withdrawn and angry man -- who may be wiser and saner than he appears.

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Instinct

Instinct

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A convoluted and predictable plot overshadows the performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
1.5/4
If there's anything worse than a movie hammered together out of pieces of bad screenplays, it's a movie made from the scraps of good ones. Go to Full Review Bob Graham San Francisco Chronicle 01/01/2000
2/4
Instinct is the second one in a row that Gooding lifts out of mediocrity by the sheer force of his talent, intelligence and personality. Go to Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly 01/01/2000
D
Instinct" is a marketing hook attempting to pass itself off as a movie. Go to Full Review Joe Lozito Big Picture Big Sound 12/27/2007
2/4
Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault 09/24/2007
F
Yet another spiritual weepie that decries human follies and yet puts a happy face on it all. Go to Full Review Film Threat 12/06/2005
1.5/5
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Audience Reviews

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Daniel L @Hotchopeppa Aug 27 Amazing movie. Another classic from the best era of movies. Do yourself a favour and just watch it. See more Genghisruns amok T @Lopez11 Apr 2 Predictable feel good movie with ridiculous soaring music throughout. See more Joan F. @Twinkletoes Mar 5 Loved it, but hey Cuba and Anthony? Why ever not? See more Rita E @RT30678761 06/16/2025 I liked this movie. The acting is superb. It’s thought provoking. Some moments had me laughing while others had me in tears. See more AJ T @RT11228652 01/12/2025 Fantastic and very suspenseful movie!! I loved this movie!! See more Tomaz B @TheBizii 01/03/2025 A good movie that gave me some food for thought about the way we perceive life, society and the world around us. Anthony Hopkins did a great acting job as Dr. Ethan Powell and I admit he's the reason I kept watching the movie. I felt like this movie was rather slow at times and I expected it to be more on the thriller/horror side of the movies, but it is good nonetheless. I'll probably forget about the movie as it wasn't that memorable, but I still had a good time watching it. See more Read all reviews
Instinct

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Cast & Crew

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Jon Turteltaub

Director

Anthony Hopkins

Ethan Powell

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Theo Caulder

Donald Sutherland

Ben Hillard

Maura Tierney

Lynn Powell

George Dzundza

Dr. John Murray

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Instinct

Instinct (1999) Instinct (1999) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Years after he goes missing in the jungles of Africa, anthropologist Ethan Powell (Anthony Hopkins) resurfaces when it's discovered that he has murdered two poachers who were killing the gorillas he was studying. After spending an extended time living with the primates and without any human contact, Powell seems to be unhinged, and psychiatrist Theo Caulder (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is called in to try to get through to the withdrawn and angry man -- who may be wiser and saner than he appears.
Director
Jon Turteltaub
Producer
Barbara Boyle, Michael Taylor, Hunt Lowry
Screenwriter
Gerald Di Pego, Gerald Di Pego
Distributor
Buena Vista International [us], Toho Company Ltd., Filmes Lusomundo, Aurum Producciones S.A. [es], Gaumont [fr], Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 4, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 27, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA)
$34.1M
Runtime
2h 3m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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