According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of cell array blocks and a control circuit. The control circuit sets a selected bit line to have 0 volt, applies a first electric potential which is higher than 0 volt to a selected word line, applies a second electric potential which is higher than 0 volt and lower than the first electric potential to non-selected word lines other than the selected word line, applies a third electric potential which is 0 volt or more and lower than the second electric potential to a non-selected bit line adjacent to the selected bit line in an adjacent cell array block, applies the second electric potential to non-selected bit lines other than the non-selected bit line to which the third electric potential is applied, and changes a resistance status of the resistance variable film of the selected memory cell.