Kalifornia

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Kalifornia

R

1993

1h 57m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) is a writer, and his girlfriend, Carrie Laughlin (Michelle Forbes), is a photographer. They're working on a book about serial killers, and planning a trip across the country to document the sites of famous serial murders. To cut costs, they set up a ride-share with strangers, Early Grayce (Brad Pitt) and his girlfriend, Adele Corners (Juliette Lewis). But what they don't know is that Early is a violent sociopath in the middle of his own serial killing spree.

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Critics Consensus

Visually strong and featuring a potently feral performance from Brad Pitt, Kalifornia is a tonally uneven thriller marked by all-too-obvious themes.

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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

May 30, 2019

2/4

Pitt and Lewis have made an unfortunate choice for their first big-screen collaboration. In fact, the flashes of acting brilliance that they show in this messy, often-pretentious production are its only real points of interest.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 12, 2017

B+

The movie is a road trip that takes a bad turn to hell. Check it out.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

4/4

[Kalifornia is] terrifying and horrifying, yes, but also unflinchingly honest, and so well acted that for most of the film I abandoned any detachment and just watched it as if I were observing the lives of real people.

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Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

Aug 13, 2024

3.5/5

It is an exciting...action film based on an interesting script with good performances (especially from Pitt and Lewis).

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Jun 24, 2020

3.5/5

Sena has a nifty knack for playing out major twists in a minor key.

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Tyler Smith

Battleship Pretension

Apr 18, 2019

It is pulpy trash masquerading as an art film, ultimately failing to be either.

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Stoner J

@Stoner Sep 5, 2026

An underrated and underknown gem early 90s thriller/drama. Pitt homes his acting chops before Seven. Great film. The ending is eerily like 1408, practically identical, which is a great ending.

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Luff V

@Aubambambam Jul 8, 2026

a psycho killer has been let loose in Bagdad Cafe. Michelle Forbes is magnificent. Juliette Lewis is rehearsing her Natural Born Killers part with all her heart and talent and Pitt has never been further away from his sex symbol GQ gloss. James Dean playing leatherface. Unmissable.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Feb 14, 2026

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Jan 27, 2026

Lewis and Pitt have some acting chops early on - but Kalifornia is a little all over the place. Pitt turns out not to be such a great friend, but a serial killer on a ride with a writer studying his type.

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Joy B.

@9mr_0 Jan 3, 2026

فلم حلو القصة حلوه ومتماسكة وايقاع الفلم كان هادىء المخرج قدم الشخصيات بشكل جيد لكن دور براد بيت طغى على الادوار الاخرى الفلم بدا ان ما يتقدم الا بشيء يقوم به برادبيت و الشخصيات الاخرى كانها موجوده فقط لتعاني مما فعله او سيفعلة او انها يقوم بضربهم او اهانتهم المخرج احسن في بعض الاحيان و اخفق في الاخرى يحسب للمخرج ان جعل الفلم يجمع بين افلام القاتل المتسلسل و افلام الطريق و الافلام النفسية بدا بصورة جيدة الى ان جتمعت الشخصيات الاربعة كان برادبيت قاللهم انتوا اجلسوا انا اكمل الفلم و هذا اخفاق للمخرج بجعل شخصية واحده محور لفلم تحسب للمخرج التصوير كان رائع و متوازن و الموسيقى كانت جيدة في بعض الاحيان و مزعجة في احيان اخرى لتتناسب مع المشهد

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Moira K

@M.Buff Nov 27, 2025

Thought it was brilliant. Excellent performances by Pitt and Lewis, but never saw a problem with the film as a whole - just a case of different social classes and/or different upbringings. Have watched it many times and still will. Can see nothing "pretentious" about it. They're two different couples from very different backgrounds. Pitt's character is certainly not stupid!

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Dominic Sena

Director

Brad Pitt

Early Grayce

Juliette Lewis

Adele Corners

David Duchovny

Brian Kessler

Michelle Forbes

Carrie Laughlin

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Synopsis

Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) is a writer, and his girlfriend, Carrie Laughlin (Michelle Forbes), is a photographer. They're working on a book about serial killers, and planning a trip across the country to document the sites of famous serial murders. To cut costs, they set up a ride-share with strangers, Early Grayce (Brad Pitt) and his girlfriend, Adele Corners (Juliette Lewis). But what they don't know is that Early is a violent sociopath in the middle of his own serial killing spree.

Director: Dominic Sena
Producer: Steve Golin, Aristides McGarry, Sigurjon Sighvatsson
Screenwriter: Tim Metcalfe
Production Co: Propaganda Films, Viacom Productions, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.8M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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