The Stanford Prison Experiment (film)

The Stanford Prison Experiment
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKyle Patrick Alvarez
Written byTim Talbott
Based onThe Lucifer Effect
by Philip Zimbardo
Produced by
  • Lauren Bratman
  • Brent Emery
  • Lizzie Friedman
  • Karen Lauder
  • Greg Little
Starring
CinematographyJas Shelton
Edited byFernando Collins
Music byAndrew Hewitt
Production
companies
  • Abandon Pictures
  • Coup d'Etat Films
  • Sandbar Pictures
Distributed byIFC Films
Release dates
  • January 26, 2015 (2015-01-26) (Sundance)
  • July 17, 2015 (2015-07-17) (United States)
Running time
122 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office
  • $660,561 (U.S.)[2]
  • $18,860 (worldwide)[3]

The Stanford Prison Experiment is a 2015 American docudrama psychological thriller film directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, written by Tim Talbott, and starring Billy Crudup, Michael Angarano, Ezra Miller, Tye Sheridan, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Thirlby, and Nelsan Ellis. The plot concerns the 1971 Stanford prison experiment, conducted at Stanford University under the supervision of psychology professor Philip Zimbardo, in which students played the role of either a prisoner or correctional officer.[4]

The project was announced in 2002 and remained in development for twelve years, with filming beginning on August 19, 2014, in Los Angeles. The film was financed and produced by Sandbar Pictures and Abandon Pictures, and premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, before beginning a limited theatrical release on July 17, 2015. The film received positive reviews from critics.

  1. ^ "The Stanford Prison Experiment (15)". British Board of Film Classification. May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  2. ^ "The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015)". Box Office Mojo. July 19, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015)". The Numbers. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Philip G. Zimbardo (January 17, 2013). "Philip G. Zimbardo". Social Psychology Network. Retrieved October 24, 2014.