It’s been 30 years since David Fincher’s psychological thriller Se7en hit theaters, and it remains one of the most influential sleeper hits Hollywood has ever seen. With a dark narrative involving Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman trying to track down a serial killer inspired by the seven ᴅᴇᴀᴅly sins, the sinister undertones of this story gave it a unique edge.

As Fincher’s first movie after the critical failure of Alien 3, Se7en showcased him as a filmmaker to watch and laid the groundwork for more era-defining films, like Fight Club, in the years to come. Although three decades have pᴀssed since its release, going back and rewatching Se7en today confirms the thriller remains as unnerving, unsettling, and effective as ever.

Se7en Wasn’t An Immediate Success In 1995, But Got There Eventually

Considering its reputation as a true classic of the 1990s with influence felt in everything from Saw to True Detective, many might be surprised to learn Se7en wasn’t an immediate hit. With a challenging premise, it was word of mouth that slowly turned it into a box office hit and ensured the film’s lasting relevance.

New Line Cinema had low expectations for Se7en, and the way its marketing campaign focused heavily on the seven ᴅᴇᴀᴅly sins made it look more like a typical jump scare horror than a prestige psychological thriller. With Fincher’s public reputation already damaged by Alien 3, the presence of Pitt and Freeman at least gave Se7en some star power.

When Se7en premiered on September 22, 1995, it grossed $14 million on its opening weekend. However, it was only after its wide re-release in the lead-up to the Academy Awards that it was able to surpᴀss the $100 million mark. In the end, Se7en grossed an estimated $327.3 million and became one of the most profitable films of 1995.

30 Years Later, Se7en Still Hits Just As Hard

While lots of old thrillers can feel dated, there’s something about the rain-soaked, grimy atmosphere of Se7en that feels totally timeless. With David Mills (Pitt) as an impulsive, newly transferred homicide detective and William Somerset (Freeman) as his world-weary and disillusioned partner, the juxtaposition between these diametrically opposed characters adds intensity to their pursuit.

Se7en doesn’t try to soften its cynical worldview as we’re quickly thrust into the heart of the investigation after horrific murders are revealed in the opening minutes. The way that Fincher balances themes of sin, morality, and human nature within a procedural narrative makes for intense viewing, and countless filmmakers have tried to emulate Se7en‘s style since.

It’s impossible to mention the power of Se7en without speaking about Kevin Spacey’s outstanding performance as the killer John Doe. With an eerie characterization, everything about this methodical and troubled psychopath feels horrifyingly plausible, as he represents the essence of evil lurking not in supernatural monsters but in real people with twisted convictions.

30 years later, time hasn’t dulled Se7en‘s edge even slightly. Whether watching for the first time or the seventh, Fincher wrings every last drop of suspense from Andrew Kevin Walker’s narrative, and the Pitt-Freeman partnership is as easy to invest in now as it was in 1995. Knowing how the story unfolds does absolutely nothing to ease the blanket of tension Se7en lays over the viewer from the opening minutes.

Se7en Had A Huge Impact On The Careers Of David Fincher & Brad Pitt

The impact of Se7en was most prominently felt on the careers of Fincher and Pitt, who both benefited greatly from its surprise success. As a filmmaker, Fincher proved himself as a major new voice in Hollywood, having overcome his past failures and gained the clout needed to get ambitious movies like The Game, Fight Club, and Panic Room made.

Prior to Se7en, Pitt had earned a reputation as a young heartthrob, and it would have been easy for him to lean into this with romance roles and less challenging releases. However, the impact of Se7en and his committed performance as David Mills forced audiences and critics to view Pitt in a more serious light.

Fincher and Pitt clearly found an affinity for each other while making Se7en, and they would continue to collaborate over the years. With their first reunion coming in 1999’s Fight Club, the era-defining appeal of this movie turned Pitt into a global superstar, as the iconic imagery of Tyler Durden was burned permanently into pop culture.

Pitt would gain an Oscar nomination in 2008 for The Curious Case of Benjamin ʙuттon, an F. Scott Fitzgerald adaptation he made with Fincher. There’s another reunion on the horizon too, as Pitt is set to star in Fincher’s The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

THAT Ending Turned Se7en From A Great Movie Into A Classic

All of these points come to a head in Se7en’s shocking finale, as Pitt’s harrowing desire to know “what’s in the box?” remains one of cinema’s most horrifying twists. With the realization that Doe was one step ahead of Mills and Somerset the whole time, this sadistic game of cat and mouse reveals that the cops were always the prey.

With a slowly unfolding setup, audiences are well aware that something bad is about to happen when Doe willingly gives himself up to the police. Having lured Mills and Somerset to a remote location with the promise of more bodies, the arrival of a delivery truck driver with a mysterious box becomes the final piece of Doe’s puzzle.

Having only enacted five of the seven ᴅᴇᴀᴅly sins, Doe’s final action sees him murder Mills’ wife out of envy for his life while encouraging the impulsive cop to kill him out of wrath. By forcing Mills to finish his master plan for him, Se7en ends on a shockingly dismal note with no sense of hope.

Unlike most psychological thrillers, there’s no sense of justice to Se7en, and audiences are forced to confront the most harrowing aspects of existence as the credits roll. It has now been 30 years since Fincher reflected the darkest depths of human nature on screen, and the legacy of Se7en remains so powerful partly due to that visceral and uncompromising conclusion.