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Crimes of the Future

Crimes of the Future is a 2022 science fiction body horror drama film written and directed by David Cronenberg.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Crimes of the Future is a 2022 science fiction body horror drama film written and directed by David Cronenberg. It stars Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, and Kristen Stewart, and is set in a future where human bodies develop new organs and surgery becomes a form of performance art.

Plot

The film centres on Saul Tenser and Caprice, who publicly perform surgeries that showcase Saul’s changing body and newly developing organs. Their work draws the attention of Timlin and a group interested in the implications of human evolution.

Production

Crimes of the Future was written and directed by David Cronenberg and produced as an international co-production. It marks Cronenberg’s return to feature filmmaking after an eight-year gap.

Release and reception

The film premiered at Cannes in 2022 and received attention for its graphic body-horror imagery and themes of post-pain human evolution. Reviews described it as a provocative continuation of Cronenberg’s long-standing interest in bodily transformation.

Relation to Cronenberg’s earlier work

Cronenberg previously made a 1970 film also titled Crimes of the Future. The 2022 film shares the title but not the story of the earlier work.

Key facts

  • Crimes of the Future is a 2022 science fiction body horror drama directed by David Cronenberg.
  • The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, and Kristen Stewart.
  • It follows performance artists who stage live surgical performances in a future of bodily mutation.
  • The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022.
  • It is Cronenberg’s first feature film in eight years and is not a remake of his 1970 short film.
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Canadian context

The film was directed and written by Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg, and the title also connects to his earlier 1970 Canadian film of the same name.[1][3]

Frequently asked questions

Is Crimes of the Future a remake?
No. The 2022 film shares its title with Cronenberg’s 1970 film, but the two works are not story remakes of each other.
Who directed Crimes of the Future?
David Cronenberg directed and wrote the 2022 film.
Who stars in the film?
The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, and Kristen Stewart.
What genre is it?
It is generally described as science fiction, body horror, and drama.
What is the film about?
It follows performance artists who publicly perform surgery in a future where bodies mutate and surgery has become a form of art.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimes_of_the_Future_(2022_film)
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, basic plot, international co-production details.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/crimes_of_the_future_2022
    Supports: Genre, runtime, release date, synopsis, director, cast.
  3. NPR — https://www.npr.org/2022/06/03/1102634107/crimes-of-the-future-david-cronenberg-review
    Supports: Plot description, themes, surgery as performance, principal characters.
  4. The Atlantic — https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/06/crimes-of-the-future-movie-review-david-cronenberg/661170/
    Supports: Return after eight years, dystopian setting, organ growth, surgical performance art.
  5. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/crimes-of-the-future-movie-review-2022
    Supports: Distinction from the 1970 film and thematic description.
  6. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimes_of_the_Future_(1970_film)
    Supports: Existence of the 1970 Cronenberg film and its Canadian origin.