Shutter Island (2010)
Martin Scorsese's unsettling psychological thriller traps a U.S. Marshal inside a storm-battered island asylum where nothing — and no one — is what it seems.
Shutter Island — Movie Information
- Original Title: Shutter Island
- Release Year: 2010
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Thriller, Mystery
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 2h 18m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English, German
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 14, 2010 (Spain — 12), February 19, 2010 (United States — R), February 19, 2010 (Canada — 14A), March 12, 2010 (United Kingdom — 15), February 25, 2010 (Germany — 16), February 24, 2010 (France — 12), February 25, 2010 (New Zealand — R16), February 18, 2010 (Australia — MA 15+), March 12, 2010 (Brazil — 16), March 5, 2010 (Italy — VM14), March 18, 2010 (South Korea — 15)
- Alternative Titles: Востраў праклятых (BY), Đảo Kinh Hoàng (VN), Το νησί των καταραμένων (GR), Ilha do Medo (PT), A ilha do Medo (BR), Zindan Adası (TR), Otok Shutter (HR), Островот Шатер (MK)
- Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, Phoenix Pictures, Sikelia Productions, Appian Way
- Production Countries: United States of America
Shutter Island — Plot
World War II soldier-turned-U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels investigates the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane, but his efforts are compromised by troubling visions and a mysterious doctor.
Shutter Island — Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the island’s dread unfold:
Someone is missing.
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Shutter Island — Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Martin Scorsese
Main Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Mark Ruffalo
- Ben Kingsley
- Max von Sydow
- Michelle Williams
- Emily Mortimer
- Patricia Clarkson
- Jackie Earle Haley
- Ted Levine
- John Carroll Lynch
Writers
- Laeta Kalogridis
Producers
- Bradley J. Fischer
- Arnold Messer
- Martin Scorsese
- Mike Medavoy
Shutter Island — FAQs
What is the ending of Shutter Island explained?
The ending reveals that Teddy Daniels is actually Andrew Laeddis, a patient at Ashecliffe who murdered his wife after she drowned their children. The entire investigation was an elaborate role-play therapy designed to help him confront his trauma. His final line suggests he may be choosing lobotomy over living with the truth.
Is Shutter Island based on a true story?
Shutter Island is not based on a true story. It is adapted from Dennis Lehane’s 2003 novel of the same name. However, the film draws on real historical context, including post-World War II trauma, 1950s psychiatric practices, and the use of experimental treatments like lobotomy in American mental institutions.
Where can you stream or watch Shutter Island?
Shutter Island is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It can also be rented via Spectrum On Demand and JustWatch TV, and streamed for free through Kanopy. Availability may vary by region.
Does Shutter Island have a post-credits scene?
Shutter Island does not have a post-credits scene. The film ends with a deliberately ambiguous final moment between Teddy and Chuck on the hospital steps, leaving audiences to debate whether Teddy’s last words indicate genuine madness or a conscious choice to escape an unbearable reality.
Who are the main actors in Shutter Island?
Shutter Island stars Leonardo DiCaprio as U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, alongside Mark Ruffalo as his partner Chuck Aule, Ben Kingsley as Dr. Cawley, Max von Sydow as Dr. Naehring, Michelle Williams as Dolores, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer, and Jackie Earle Haley.
What is the age rating for Shutter Island?
Shutter Island is rated R in the United States. The rating reflects the film’s intense and disturbing psychological content, scenes of violence, graphic imagery related to war and trauma, and mature themes surrounding mental illness, grief, and murder. It is not recommended for younger audiences.
How long is Shutter Island?
Shutter Island has a runtime of 2 hours and 18 minutes (138 minutes). Director Martin Scorsese uses this extended running time to build an immersive atmosphere of dread and psychological disorientation, carefully layering clues and misdirections throughout the film’s slow-burn narrative structure.
Did Shutter Island win any awards?
Shutter Island received several nominations, including a Saturn Award nomination for Best Horror or Thriller Film. Cinematographer Robert Richardson and editor Thelma Schoonmaker were widely praised. The film was a major commercial success, grossing nearly $295 million worldwide against an $80 million budget.
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