Synopsis

Las Vegas magician Cris Johnson can see roughly two minutes into the future, allowing him to evade danger and survive through small-time gambling. When an FBI agent discovers his ability, she tries to recruit him to prevent terrorists from detonating a nuclear weapon in Los Angeles. Cris's search for a woman who appears in his visions complicates his attempt to stay hidden.

Factoids & Trivia

• Next is a very loose adaptation of Philip K. Dick's 1954 science-fiction short story "The Golden Man." Beyond the protagonist's name and precognitive ability, the film changes the story's characters, setting, tone, and central conflict considerably.

• The character's Las Vegas magician profession was developed at Nicolas Cage's suggestion. The screenplay also gave Liz a job connected to a Native American reservation near the Grand Canyon, another idea attributed to Cage.

• Cris's recurring gold-colored jacket is a visual reference to "The Golden Man," whose title character has a distinctive golden appearance.

• Most of the film was shot in high definition with Panavision Genesis cameras. A portion was filmed on 35mm because extreme desert temperatures raised concerns that the relatively new digital camera system could overheat.

• The Golden Nugget casino on Fremont Street in Las Vegas stands in for the fictional Mystique Casino.

• The film was released in the United States on April 27, 2007. Paramount Pictures lists its genre as action, adventure, and science fiction, with a 96-minute running time and a PG-13 rating.

• The film's Russian release title translates as "The Prophet," emphasizing Cris's ability to foresee events.