Pi (1998)

Kernel Score: 80% · 2,434 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Mystery, Drama, Thriller

Released: 1998-07-10

Runtime: 84 minutes

Is Pi worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A paranoid math genius hunts for a pattern in numbers while others chase him. It's short, shot in stark black and white, and tense in a feverish way. It's rough and cryptic, and it won't suit everyone.

Watch it if you

  • like psychological thrillers with a cold, obsessive tone
  • enjoy rough, low-budget indie energy
  • are curious about Aronofsky's early work

Skip it if you

  • want clear explanations and a tidy plot
  • dislike intense, noisy, paranoid filmmaking

Best for: Late-night solo watch

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

Where to watch Pi

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

A mathematical genius discovers a link between numbers and reality, and thus believes he can predict the future.

Pi parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that Pi is an R-rated psychological thriller about a mathematician's descent into paranoia and delusion while chasing a numerical theory of reality.

  • Violence & scariness: Some — The protagonist's mental unraveling includes self-harm-adjacent imagery like severe migraines and paranoid delusion, in a dark, intense atmosphere.

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

Movies like Pi

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

  • Requiem for a Dream (2000) — 89%: Aronofsky's relentless, hallucinatory spiral into obsession.
  • Black Swan (2010) — 86%: Aronofsky again, with a mind coming apart under pressure.
  • Shutter Island (2010) — 91%: Twisty psychological thriller about a mind that can't be trusted.
  • A Beautiful Mind (2001) — 93%: Brilliant mathematician haunted by what he sees in numbers.
  • The Conversation (1974) — 87%: Paranoid surveillance thriller about an obsessive loner.
  • mother! (2017) — 78%: Aronofsky's intense, symbolic nightmare about obsession.

Director

Darren Aronofsky

Cast

  • Sean Gullette as Maximillian Cohen
  • Mark Margolis as Sol Robeson
  • Ben Shenkman as Lenny Meyer
  • Pamela Hart as Marcy Dawson
  • Stephen Pearlman as Rabbi Cohen
  • Samia Shoaib as Devi
  • Ajay Naidu as Farroukh
  • Kristyn Mae-Anne Lao as Jenna
  • Espher Lao Nieves as Jenna's Mom
  • Joanne Gordon as Mrs. Ovadia

Pi FAQ

Is Pi worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A paranoid math genius hunts for a pattern in numbers while others chase him. It's short, shot in stark black and white, and tense in a feverish way. It's rough and cryptic, and it won't suit everyone.

Where can I watch Pi?

In the US you can stream Pi on Prime Video, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fandango at Home, YouTube Free and Xumo Play and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Pi OK for kids?

Pi is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Pi is an R-rated psychological thriller about a mathematician's descent into paranoia and delusion while chasing a numerical theory of reality.

What movies are like Pi?

If you liked Pi, try Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan, Shutter Island and A Beautiful Mind.