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An underrated cult sci-fi thriller movie is airing on TV tonight

Published 16:38 24 Jul 2025 BST

Updated 18:45 25 Jul 2025 BST

Stephen Porzio
An underrated cult sci-fi thriller movie is airing on TV tonight

Homenews

While it received poor reviews upon release, the film has gone on to be seen as a cult classic.

Our TV movie pick for tonight (Thursday, 24 July) is The Butterfly Effect, the 2004 cult sci-fi thriller.

An against-type Ashton Kutcher (That '70s Show) stars as Evan, a college student who suffered a traumatic childhood and is now afflicted with headaches so painful that he frequently blacks out.

While unconscious, however, he discovers he has the ability to travel back in time to alter the past for himself and his friends (including Amy Smart, Crank).

"But changing the past can drastically alter the present, and Evan finds himself in nightmarish alternate realities, including one where he's locked away in prison," the plot synopsis reads.

While it received predominantly negative reviews upon release, The Butterfly Effect was a box office hit upon release and was well-received by audiences, currently holding an 81% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.6 score on IMDB.

In the intervening years, meanwhile, certain critics have argued for its merit - praising its interesting sci-fi premise, its quite dark story and its performances.

The movie even got two direct-to-DVD sequels in 2006 and 2009.

The original Butterfly Effect is airing on TV tonight/tomorrow morning on the channel Legend at 1am.

It is also currently streaming for free on Plex and Rakuten TV.

Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight:

Ticket to Paradise - Film4 - 9pm

George Clooney and Julia Roberts reunited for this rom-com playing a divorced couple trying to stop their daughter (Kaitlyn Dever) from getting married in Bali to a man she has only known for weeks.

Dragon Blade - Legend Xtra - 9pm

A Chinese historical action flick with Jackie Chan, John Cusack and recent Oscar-winner Adrien Brody.

Gosford Park / The Good Liar - BBC Four - 9.15pm / 11.30pm

It's a Helen Mirren double bill.

Mechanic: Resurrection / Death Race - ITV4 - 10pm / 11.55pm

There's a Jason Statham double bill as well.

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut - Comedy Central - 10.30pm

The big screen version of the hit adult animated sitcom South Park.

Yesterday - BBC One - 10.40pm (in England)

This fun rom-com from director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) and writer Richard Curtis (Love Actually) asks: 'What if only one man (played by Himesh Patel) remembered The Beatles?'

Family Business - Legend - 10.50pm

Dustin Hoffman, Matthew Broderick and Sean Connery are members of a family with criminal ties in this ’80s caper directed by Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon, Network).

White House Down - Film4 - 11.05pm

In this fun action film, Channing Tatum must protect the president (Jamie Foxx) when terrorists take over the White House.