Irreversible (2002)

Kernel Score: 80% · 3,212 ratings · Rated NR

Genres: Drama, Thriller, Crime

Released: 2002-05-22

Runtime: 93 minutes

Is Irreversible worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A revenge story told backwards, with some of the most disturbing violence and sexual violence in mainstream cinema. It's technically daring and unforgettable, but it's an ordeal many viewers will not want to sit through.

Watch it if you

  • can handle extreme, confrontational cinema
  • are interested in formal experiments with time

Skip it if you

  • are sensitive to graphic sexual violence
  • want any comfort or light relief

Best for: Not for casual viewing

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Overview

A woman’s lover and her ex-boyfriend take justice into their own hands after she becomes the victim of a rapist. Because some acts can’t be undone. Because man is an animal. Because the desire for vengeance is a natural impulse. Because most crimes remain unpunished.

Irreversible parents' guide: ages 16+

Parents need to know that Irreversible is an unrated extremely graphic thriller centered on a brutal rape and violent revenge.

  • Violence & scariness: Intense — Contains extreme graphic violence including a brutal assault and revenge killing, per keywords like 'gore' and 'knife'.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Intense — Centers on an explicit, graphic rape scene, per keywords 'rape' and 'assault'.
  • Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — Keywords reference heroin use within the story.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Irreversible

If you liked Irreversible, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Enter the Void (2010) — 84%: Same director, same disorienting, immersive style
  • Martyrs (2008) — 83%: Extreme, punishing French film for a strong stomach
  • Climax (2018) — 77%: Another aggressive, hypnotic film from the same director
  • The Tenant (1976) — 87%: Unsettling psychological descent into paranoia
  • The Silence of the Lambs (1991) — 89%: Dark crime thriller with controlled, serious intensity
  • Memories of Murder (2003) — 89%: Bleak crime story about a brutal killing

Director

Gaspar Noé

Cast

  • Monica Bellucci as Alex
  • Vincent Cassel as Marcus
  • Albert Dupontel as Pierre
  • Jo Prestia as The Tapeworm
  • Philippe Nahon as Man
  • Stéphane Drouot as Stéphane
  • Jean-Louis Costes as Fistman
  • Mick Gondouin as Mick
  • Mourad Khima as Mourad
  • Layde Hellal as Layde

Irreversible FAQ

Is Irreversible worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A revenge story told backwards, with some of the most disturbing violence and sexual violence in mainstream cinema. It's technically daring and unforgettable, but it's an ordeal many viewers will not want to sit through.

Is Irreversible OK for kids?

Irreversible is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 16+. Parents need to know that Irreversible is an unrated extremely graphic thriller centered on a brutal rape and violent revenge.

What movies are like Irreversible?

If you liked Irreversible, try Enter the Void, Martyrs, Climax and The Tenant.