A rare combination of relentlessly entertaining thriller and thought-provoking drama, Limitless has proven an unprecedented success, laying claim to the title of the #1 movie in America, despite stiff competition from extraterrestrial invaders, animated chameleons, and morally fraught lawyers.

The number one showing on its opening weekend exceeded industry expectations and projections. The film’s success was built largely on positive critical reception and almost unanimous praise from audiences. Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers described Limitless as “mind-bending,” and Claudia Puig of USA Today says the film is “mesmerizing.”I probably don’t need to point out that these adjectives could very well be used to describe the effects of NZT.

Not only is Limitless “a popcorn thriller that really pops,” says Travers, but it is also, “a potent provocation for the Age of Adderall.”  The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Steven Rea asserts that the film functions as, “a cautionary tale about the pharmaceuticalization of our culture,” as well as “the overarching quest for wealth and material goods in our society.”

Among films that limit themselves to narrow genre definitions, Limitless is defiantly unpredictable, taking its story in wholly unexpected directions.  Writer Leslie Dixon says that during the film’s test screening process, “On not a single preview card did we get the word, ‘predictable.’”  It’s the mixture of a rollicking action and intellectually challenging think piece that has inspired a cultural conversation around Limitless. 

The talk around the film often begins with the simple question, “What would you do on NZT?”  Don’t be left out of that conversation; check out Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, and Robert DeNiro.  It’s your brains on drugs, without the side effects.  Cheaper, too.