Instinct (1999): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Instinct is a 1999 drama thriller directed by Jon Turteltaub, starring Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Ethan Powell, Maura Tierney and Louanne Stephens. It is inspired by Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. It runs 2 hours 4 minutes and earned $34.1 million worldwide on a $80 million budget.
- worldwide gross
- $34.1M
- budget
- $80M
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 4m (124 min)
- Director
- Jon Turteltaub
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Spyglass Entertainment
- Budget
- $80M
- Inspired by
- Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Instinct About?
The premise of Instinct without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Nothing is more savage than civilization. In a high‑security prison for the criminally insane, deranged anthropologist Ethan Powell becomes the subject of a study by ambitious young psychiatrist Theo Caulder. Fueled by a thirst for truth, Caulder throws caution to the wind, risking his career and even his life in a desperate bid to decipher Powell’s bizarre, violent behavior.
Instinct Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- based on novel
- car
- german car
- bmw car
- bmw motor vehicle
- bmw 3
- bmw 3 series
- wise quote
- young
- animal
- psychological thriller
- anthropologist
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- psychiatrist
- murder
- africa
- poacher
- jungle
- gorilla
- prison
- ape
- mother daughter relationship
- criminally insane
- two way mirror
- psychiatric evaluation
- female psychiatric patient
- airport
- crying man
- headlock
- prisoner transport
- scene during opening credits
- lecture theatre
- white board
- binoculars
- machete
- baton
- hit with a baton
- revolver
- shot in the leg
- park ranger
- watching sports on tv
- watching tv
- animal in a cage
- baby gorilla
- hit with a club
- submachine gun
- interview
- sadistic prison guard
- silver back gorilla
- taser
- female photographer
Instinct Cast & Characters
Anthony Hopkins leads the cast as Dr. Ethan Powell, with Maura Tierney as Lynn Powell and Louanne Stephens as Marjorie Powell. Directed by Jon Turteltaub; 50 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Jon Turteltaub
-
Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Ethan Powell -
Maura Tierney as Lynn Powell - Louanne Stephens as Marjorie Powell
-
Cuba Gooding Jr. as Dr. Theo Caulder
Also Starring in Instinct
· 46 more- Donald Sutherland Ben Hillard
- Kevin McNally Prisoners
- George Dzundza Dr. John Murray
- John Ashton Guard Dacks
- Marc Macaulay Foley
- Rex Linn Gurad Alan
- Paul Bates Bluto
- Paul Collins Tom Hanley
- Pat McNamara Dr. Josephson
- Verne Troyer Gorilla Performers
- Jim Grimshaw Boaz
- Jim R. Coleman Guard #2
- John Aylward Warden Keefer
- Linda Harmon Singer (uncredited)
- Tory Kittles Prisoner
- Tracey Ellis Annie
Show all 50 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Ivonne Coll Dr. Marzuez
- Roger Floyd Gilbert
- Misty Rosas Gorilla Performers
- Gary Bristow Federal Marshall
- Rod McLachlan Guard Anderson
- John Travis Bartender Mike
- Dave Anthony Gorilla Performers
- Kurt Smildsin Guard #1
- Vivienne Sendaydiego Catherine
- John Munro Cameron Gorilla Performers
- Ajgie Kirkland Captain Kagona
- Alex Kalognomos Prisoners
- Darren T. Knaus Gorilla Vocals (uncredited)
- Kevin-Michael Moore Prisoners
- Jay Caputo Gorilla Performers
- Doug Spinuzza Nicko
- Thomas Q. Morris Pete
- Kim Ingram Lester Rodman
- Chike Kani Omo David
- Tyrone C. Wiggins Soldier (uncredited)
- David Deever Man in Car
- Tim Goodwin Helmet Man
- Jimmy Dipisa Prisoners
- Manwell Hendrix Prisoners
- Joe Tacke Prisoners
- Bertram Wallace Prisoners
- Garon Michael Gorilla Performers
- David St. Pierre Gorilla Performers
- Rico Paisley Uniform Cop
- M.J. D'Bella Nurse
More from Jon Turteltaub
More films directed by Jon Turteltaub, best-rated first: The Meg, While You Were Sleeping, Cool Runnings and Last Vegas.
Instinct Plot Summary
What happens in Instinct from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film centers on the mind of anthropologist Ethan Powell, who has been missing for years and is found living among the mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. He is condemned for killing and wounding several wilderness rangers, a crime that lands him in a harsh prison. A perceptive young psychiatrist, Theo Caulder, is assigned to unravel the truth behind the killings, and what begins as a standard case soon ripples into a broader meditation on human history, civilization, and our struggle with the natural world. Caulder questions whether civilization has progressively severed people from the wild and whether a new compass for living might emerge from an honest look at that history.
Full summary
The whole story of Instinct, scene by scene
Instinct Box Office & Budget
Instinct grossed $34.1 million worldwide on a $80 million budget, 43% of what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$34.1M
43% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $34.1M
- Budget
- $80M
Instinct Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Instinct.
How Well Do You Know Instinct?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Ethan Powell's profession?
Cars in Instinct
8 cars on screen, including the 1994 BMW 3 E36 and the 1983 Ford Econoline.
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1994 BMW 3 E36 Important role -
1983 Ford Econoline Minor role -
Land-Rover 109'' Series III Minor role -
1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass S Minor role
Instinct Also Known As
17 alternative titles, including “Instinct - Istinto primordiale” and “Instinto”.
- Also known as
-
- Instinct - Istinto primordiale
- Instinto
- Oszton
- 인스팅트
- 沉默的本能
- Instinkt
- Ösztön
- Инстинкт
- İçgüdü
- אינסטינקט
- 本能反应
- Instynkt
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- 本能反應
- Інстинкт
- ハーモニーベイの夜明け
- บุรุษสัญชาตญาณดิบ
- Instint
Seen Instinct?
Movies Like Instinct
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Instinct, Instinct to Kill and Animal Instincts.
Instinct FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Instinct, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Instinct?
Instinct runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).
When was Instinct released?
Instinct was released on June 4, 1999.
Who directed Instinct?
Instinct was directed by Jon Turteltaub.
More films by Jon Turteltaub Who is in the cast of Instinct?
Instinct stars Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Ethan Powell, Maura Tierney as Lynn Powell and Louanne Stephens as Marjorie Powell, among 50 credited actors.
How much did Instinct make at the box office?
Instinct grossed $34.1 million worldwide on a budget of $80 million.
Does Instinct have a post-credit scene?
No. Instinct has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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