Scanners

Name: Scanners
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror
Released: 1981-01-14
Duration: 1 h 43 min
Rating: 6.7
Cast: Stephen Lack, Jennifer O'Neill, Michael Ironside, Patrick McGoohan, Lawrence Dane

1981·Movie·R·103 min·★ 6.7(1,362)

Science Fiction Horror More English titles

“10 Seconds: The Pain Begins. 15 Seconds: You Can’t Breathe. 20 Seconds: You Explode.”

A scientist trains a man with an advanced telepathic ability called 'scanning' to stop a dangerous Scanner with extraordinary psychic powers from waging war against non-Scanners.

▶ Watch trailer

Where to watch Scanners in United States

Stream

HBO Max Amazon Channel

YouTube TV

Criterion Channel

Cinemax Amazon Channel

HBO Max

Cinemax Apple TV Channel

Rent

Buy

Click a service to open Scanners there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.

Where is Scanners streaming around the world?

Country	Streaming on	Rent / Buy
United States	HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel	Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
United Kingdom	Amazon Prime Video, Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads	Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store
Canada	Criterion Channel, Hollywood Suite, Hollywood Suite Amazon Channel, Crave Amazon Channel	Apple TV Store
Australia	—	Apple TV Store
Germany	Galactic Stream Amazon Channel, MIDNIGHT FACTORY Amazon Channel	Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
France	Sooner, Shadowz, Molotov TV, Shadowz Amazon Channel	Sooner, Canal VOD
Spain	Filmin, Acontra Plus, Acontra Plus Amazon Channel, AMC Channels Amazon Channel	Acontra Plus
Brazil	Filmicca	—

About Scanners

Scanners is a 1981 English-language science fiction and horror film directed by David Cronenberg. The cast is led by Stephen Lack, Jennifer O'Neill, Michael Ironside. It has a runtime of 1h 43m. Viewers rate it 6.7/10 across 1400 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel.

Scanners was produced by Filmplan International, Canadian Film Development Corporation, and Montreal Trust Company of Canada and made in Canada. It was released on January 14, 1981, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $4 million, it went on to gross $14 million worldwide.

Director: David Cronenberg
Writers: David Cronenberg
Release date: January 14, 1981
Original language: English
Age rating: R
Status: Released
Country: Canada
Budget: $4 million
Box office: $14 million
Production: Filmplan International, Canadian Film Development Corporation, Montreal Trust Company of Canada

#mind control#telepathy#paranormal phenomena#telekinesis#murder#psychic power#mind reading#scientist#exploding head#drugs#body horror

Scanners cast & crew

Scanners was directed by David Cronenberg and written by David Cronenberg.

The cast features Stephen Lack as Cameron Vale, Jennifer O'Neill as Kim Obrist, Michael Ironside as Darryl Revok, Patrick McGoohan as Dr. Paul Ruth, Lawrence Dane as Braedon Keller, and Robert A. Silverman as Benjamin Pierce.

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Howard Shore, cinematography is by Mark Irwin, and it was produced by Victor Solnicki and Pierre David.

Is Scanners worth watching?

Scanners holds an audience score of 6.7/10 from 1,362 ratings, a solidly received science fiction films.

At 1h 43m, it's a standard feature-length watch.

If you enjoy science fiction and horror, Scanners is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch Scanners

In United States, you can stream Scanners on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, and HBO Max, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. Click any service above to open it directly.

Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.