7.5/10
152,885
594 user 138 critic

Pi (1998)

A paranoid mathematician searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature.

Director:

Reviews
Popularity
2,106 ( 627)
8 wins & 12 nominations. See more awards »
Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 

The Fountain (2006)
Drama | Sci-Fi
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

As a modern-day scientist, Tommy is struggling with mortality, desperately searching for the medical breakthrough that will save the life of his cancer-stricken wife, Izzi.

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Sean Patrick Thomas
The Wrestler (2008)
Drama | Sport
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9/10 X  

A faded professional wrestler must retire, but finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle.

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.3/10 X  

The drug-induced utopias of four Coney Island people are shattered when their addictions run deep.

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly
Black Swan (2010)
Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8/10 X  

A committed dancer wins the lead role in a production of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" only to find herself struggling to maintain her sanity.

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
Noah (2014)
Action | Adventure | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5.8/10 X  

Noah is chosen by God to undertake a momentous mission before an apocalyptic flood cleanses the world.

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins
Eraserhead (1977)
Horror
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.4/10 X  

Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.

Director: David Lynch
Stars: Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph
The Machinist (2004)
Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

An industrial worker who hasn't slept in a year begins to doubt his own sanity.

Director: Brad Anderson
Stars: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón
Comedy | Drama | Fantasy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.8/10 X  

A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.

Director: Spike Jonze
Stars: John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener
Blue Velvet (1986)
Certificate: 18 Drama | Mystery | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.8/10 X  

The discovery of a severed human ear found in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped her child.

Director: David Lynch
Stars: Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Pamela Hart ...
Stephen Pearlman ...
Samia Shoaib ...
Devi
...
Farrouhk
Kristyn Mae-Anne Lao ...
Espher Lao Nieves ...
Jenna's Mom
Joanne Gordon ...
Mrs. Ovadia
...
Jenny Robeson
...
Moustacheless Man (as Stanley Herman)
...
Photographer
Tom Tumminello ...
Ephraim
Henri Falconi ...
Kaballah Scholar
Edit

Storyline

Max is a genius mathematician who's built a supercomputer at home that provides something that can be understood as a key for understanding all existence. Representatives both from a Hasidic cabalistic sect and high-powered Wall Street firm hear of that secret and attempt to seduce him. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

faith in chaos See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some disturbing images | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
Edit

Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

10 July 1998 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

3.14159265358  »

Edit

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,069, 12 July 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,216,970, 29 November 1998
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Show more on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bought by Artisan for $1,000,000. See more »

Goofs

Max indicates that he medicates himself with "Promazine 'HCI'." The proper name of the drug is "Promazine HCl," where the HCl stands for hydrogen chloride. The error likely occurred when either Max or a filmmaker mistook a lowercase "L" for a capital "I" on a bottle or prescription. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Maximillian Cohen: 9:13, Personal note: When I was a little kid my mother told me not to stare into the sun. So once when I was six I did. The doctors didn't know if my eyes would ever heal. I was terrified, alone in that darkness. Slowly, daylight crept in through the bandages, and I could see. But something else had changed inside of me. That day I had my first headache.
See more »

Crazy Credits

End credits shown over bugs crawling on Max's papers. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Black Swan (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

Bucephalus Bouncing Ball
(uncredited)
Written and Produced by Aphex Twin (as Richard James)
Performed by Aphex Twin
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

 
Finding God through the ancient language of Mathematics
9 November 1999 | by – See all my reviews

Pi is the oddest, hippest, most chilling account of the descent into the abyss.

Following mathematical clues derived from an analysis of the stock market, Maximillian Cohen begins his descent into madness as he attempts to discover the nature of everything through the peculiar numerical entity known as Pi.

Thrilling enough, but then combine with generous amounts of Kaballistic mysticism, black and white footage and a soundtrack like an audible fractal, and you have a sensory snare which drags you along for the ride into Max's impending breakdown.

Obsession has never been so exciting.

Pi is an utterly gut-wrenching, mind expanding phenomema. If you have ever wondered about the universe, God or the nature of insanity, Pi will take you where you don't want to go.


204 of 271 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?
Review this title | See all 594 user reviews »

Contribute to This Page

Steven Spielberg's Most Mind-Blowing Easter Eggs

"The IMDb Show" takes a look at the new trailer for Ready Player One and breaks down director Steven Spielberg's five greatest Easter eggs of all time. Plus, we connect the dots between IMDb's Top 10 Stars of 2017.

Watch now