Limitless 2011

The film opens with Edward “Eddie” Morra (Bradley Cooper) poised on the ledge of his opulent penthouse, in a moment fraught with desperation as he prepares to leap. Three months prior, Eddie found himself a struggling author in New York City, grappling with a severe case of writer’s block while the pressure of an impending deadline loomed over him. His situation is further complicated by the recent end of his relationship with Lindy (Abbie Cornish).

One fateful day, Eddie encounters Vernon Gant (Johnny Whitworth), the brother of his ex-wife, Melissa Gant (Anna Friel). Vernon, who is entangled in drug dealing, presents Eddie with a mysterious nootropic drug called NZT-48, claiming it unlocks the full potential of the human brain, a wild contrast to the mere 20% typically utilized. Intrigued yet skeptical, Eddie gives in and takes the drug, finding its effects astonishing; he marvels as he assists his landlord’s young wife with her law report, recalling details he thought long forgotten.

As Eddie returns home, he manages to churn out an impressive 90 pages of his manuscript, impressing his publisher but also growing increasingly alarmed by the foggy memories associated with the drug’s influence. Soon, he discovers Vernon has been murdered in his apartment, but amidst the chaos, Eddie seizes the opportunity to take a stash of NZT-48, cash, and a mysterious address book just before the police arrive.

With NZT-48 in hand, Eddie harnesses his newfound sharpness to excel in stock trading, remarkably multiplying a $100,000 loan from a menacing Russian mobster, Gennady (Andrew Howard), into $2 million within days. Quick success allows him to rekindle his relationship with Lindy as his life spirals upwards. Eddie’s remarkable rise catches the attention of Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), a powerful businessman eager for Eddie’s insight on an upcoming merger.

However, as Eddie indulges in excess fueled by NZT, he faces harrowing consequences. The next day, a sense of foreboding washes over him when he learns the woman he spent the night with is found dead, prompting him to seek counsel from Melissa, who warns him of the severe withdrawal symptoms linked to NZT. She advises him to taper off gradually, revealing her own struggles post-drug. After a tense encounter with Gennady, who forces him to deliver more NZT, Eddie’s tension escalates with the unwanted presence of the mysterious man in the tan coat who seems to be stalking him.

As the plot thickens, Eddie’s fortune continues growing; however, the consequences of his choices weigh heavily on him. Following a chaotic series of events involving a potential merger, a police lineup, and a theft of his NZT stash, Eddie is thrust into further chaos as he battles withdrawal and the relentless pursuit of those affected by his rising success. He discovers Gennady’s ruthlessness when the gangster injects himself with a makeshift form of NZT, igniting a deadly standoff between the two.

Through sheer will, Eddie defeats Gennady and his henchmen, resorting to shocking measures to reclaim his enhanced faculties. Meanwhile, Eddie builds alliances while trying to evade suspicion in a murder investigation that’s tightening around him.

Fast forward a year, and Eddie has ascended to great heights—a prosperous author and a candidate for the United States Senate. Just when he thinks he’s escaped the clutches of his past, Van Loon returns, revealing he has secured the production of NZT, offering an unlimited supply in exchange for political favors. In a surprising turn of events, Eddie reveals he has outsmarted Van Loon, having prepared for his manipulation by independently working on a supply of NZT, while successfully weaning off the drug’s intense reliance.

In a final poignant scene, Eddie reunites with Lindy, demonstrating his profound growth as he converses with a waiter in Mandarin, eliciting a quizzical stare from her. “What?” he asks, as the credits roll, leaving viewers with a lingering question about the price of genius and the nature of dependency.