Limitless (2011)
What if a pill could make you rich and powerful?
The life of an unsuccessful writer is transformed by a top-secret 'smart drug' that allows him to use 100% of his brain and become a perfect version of himself. His enhanced abilities soon attract shadowy forces that threaten his new life.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 17 March 2011 |
| Genre | Thriller, Mystery, Science Fiction |
| Director | Neil Burger |
| Starring | Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro and Abbie Cornish |
| Runtime | 106 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6.4/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 68% · Metacritic 59/100 · TMDB users 7.2/10 |
| Budget | $27 million |
Where to watch Limitless
We could not find Limitless on any of the subscription services we track in the US right now. That changes often; open it in Binge Boss and we will show you where it lands.
Rent or buy
You can rent Limitless on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and JustWatch TV Store. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch Limitless in 48 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Andorra | Prime Video |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Netflix about , Max |
| Argentina | Netflix $8999 ARS, Prime Video $5199 ARS, Max $9590 ARS |
| Australia | Prime Video $12.99 AUD |
| Austria | Canal+ |
| Bahamas | Netflix about , Max |
| Barbados | Netflix about , Max |
| Belize | Netflix about , Prime Video, Max |
| Bermuda | Netflix about |
| Bolivia | Netflix about , Prime Video, Max |
| Brazil | Netflix R$51.90, Prime Video R$19.90, Max R$34.90 |
| Chile | Netflix $7190 CLP, Prime Video $6490 CLP, Max $9590 CLP |
| Colombia | Netflix $18900 COP, Prime Video $24900 COP, Max $24900 COP |
| Costa Rica | Netflix about , Prime Video, Max |
| Cuba | Netflix about , Prime Video |
| Denmark | Prime Video 69 kr DKK |
| Dominican Republic | Netflix about , Prime Video, Max |
| Ecuador | Netflix $5.99, Prime Video $5.99, Max $8.29 |
| El Salvador | Netflix , Prime Video, Max |
| Finland | Prime Video €6.99 |
| France | Prime Video €6.99 |
| French Guiana | Netflix , Prime Video |
| French Polynesia | Prime Video |
| Guatemala | Netflix about , Prime Video, Max |
| Guyana | Max |
| Honduras | Netflix about , Prime Video, Max |
| India | Prime Video ₹299, Jiohotstar |
| Italy | Prime Video €4.99 |
| Jamaica | Netflix about , Max |
| Japan | U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Mexico | Netflix $269 MXN, Prime Video $99 MXN, Max $149 MXN |
| Monaco | Prime Video |
| New Zealand | Prime Video $8.99 NZD |
| Nicaragua | Netflix about , Prime Video, Max |
| Norway | Prime Video 79 kr NOK |
| Panama | Netflix $5.99, Prime Video $5.99, Max $8.29 |
| Paraguay | Netflix about , Prime Video, Max |
| Peru | Netflix S/28.90, Prime Video S/25.90, Max S/35.90 |
| Poland | Prime Video 25.99 zł |
| San Marino | Prime Video |
| South Korea | Tving ₩10900 |
| St. Lucia | Netflix about , Max |
| Sweden | Prime Video 69 kr SEK |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Netflix about , Max |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | Netflix , Max |
| Uruguay | Netflix about $U481, Prime Video $U249, Max $U399 |
| Vatican City | Prime Video |
| Venezuela | Netflix about , Prime Video, Max |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Limitless is a 106-minute thriller that leans hard into the absurd. It asks what happens when a writer takes a pill and suddenly understands everything. The answer is immediate wealth and immediate danger. The film runs on a single, improbable premise. It treats the "smart drug" not as a metaphor, but as a mechanical upgrade. This creates a tense, high-stakes race against people who want what he has.
What the critics said
The reception lands in the middle, which is rarely a comfortable place for a blockbuster. Rotten Tomatoes shows a 68% approval rating as of October 2024, while Metacritic sits at 59 out of 100 as of August 2025. Critics praised the visual flair and Bradley Cooper’s charisma, though they questioned the script. Roger Ebert called it "not terrifically good, but the premise is intriguing." Robert Koehler of Variety saw a "propulsive, unexpectedly funny thriller." The film won Best Thriller at the 2011 Scream Awards. It also appeared on Bill Simmons’ list of the 50 most rewatchable movies of the 21st century.
How it did with audiences
The budget was $27 million, but it pulled in $162 million. That gap is wide enough to make a studio accountant smile, or at least stop frowning. On TMDB, users rate it 7.2 out of 10. It is the kind of number that suggests people liked the ride, even if they argue about where it landed. Money talks, and in this case, it spoke clearly.
What came next for the cast
Bradley Cooper traded hangover comedies for later work, while Robert De Niro kept stacking classics until the credits looked like a filmography. Abbie Cornish jumped from period pieces to later work. The timing is suggestive, not causal. Sometimes a single role clears the fog, letting the rest of the career resolve itself.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Limitless.
Sources
- Limitless on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q753517 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Limitless (film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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