K-PAX (2001) on Netflix
A man who calls himself prot is committed to a psychiatric institute, saying he is from K-PAX, a planet a thousand light years away. Dr. Mark Powell takes the case.
- Netflix3.4/5
- IMDb7.4/10204,163 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes42%
Trailer
Plot summary
At the Psychiatric Institute of Manhattan, a new patient gives his name as prot and states that he has traveled to Earth from K-PAX, a planet in the Lyra constellation roughly a thousand light years away. Dr. Mark Powell begins treating him, working on the assumption that the claim is a delusion. prot answers every question about himself and his home world without hesitation, and a medical examination finds that he can see ultraviolet light and that Thorazine has no effect on him. Powell brings him before a group of astrophysicists, who are baffled by his detailed account of a star system. The institute's other patients come to accept his story and ask him to take them with him when he returns.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about K-PAX (2001)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Argentinian director Eliseo Subiela claimed K-Pax plagiarized his 1986 film Man Facing Southeast, saying "it's a copy, but a good quality one"; Gene Brewer and others connected with the film were sued in November 2001, but the complaint was withdrawn because Subiela lacked the funds to continue.
- K-PAX grossed $17.5 million and ranked number 1 in its opening weekend, ahead of Thirteen Ghosts and From Hell, then plunged to fourth place when Monsters, Inc. arrived in its second weekend; it ended up a box-office disappointment with $65 million worldwide against a $68 million budget.
- Will Smith was offered the role of prot and Robert Porter, and Kevin Spacey was originally offered the role of Dr. Mark Powell but instead landed the role of prot.
