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Act One

Play trailer Act One 2026 1h 44m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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Hannah Packer, an innocent and sheltered seventeen-year-old, lives for the stage. But when she's not cast in her high school play, her dreams of becoming an actress seem impossible. Until she discovers Act One Studios. Melanie Saunders, the studio's magnetic founder, sees something special in Hannah. A former actress herself, Melanie promises to unlock Hannah's true potential. She welcomes Hannah into The Group, an elite collective of fiercely loyal actors preparing for a major showcase that Melanie promises will change their lives. There, Hannah meets Henry, a charming older student who becomes her scene partner -- and maybe something more. With opening night approaching, Melanie's training grows increasingly intense and her demands of The Group include giving up anyone and anything that stands in the way of her methods. As the line between performance and reality blurs, Hannah discovers how far she's willing to go and what she's willing to sacrifice to become the artist Melanie promised she could be.

Critics Reviews

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Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net 1d
script is where this film shines as I was enthralled to see what was going to happen to Hannah next and if she would get out of this maddening spiral. Go to Full Review Joey Magidson Awards Radar 2d
3/4
Act One turns an actor’s process into a psychological thriller. Go to Full Review Ema Sasic Next Best Picture 4d
7/10
Sophia Takal delivers a bold and twisted psychosexual drama. The trio of performers all deliver as they give themselves over to this mad journey. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Sophia Takal

Director

Ella Beatty

Actor

Ari Graynor

Actor

Nate Mann

Actor

Elizabeth Reaser

Actor

Sinclair Daniel

Actor
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Act One

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Movie Info

Synopsis Hannah Packer, an innocent and sheltered seventeen-year-old, lives for the stage. But when she's not cast in her high school play, her dreams of becoming an actress seem impossible. Until she discovers Act One Studios. Melanie Saunders, the studio's magnetic founder, sees something special in Hannah. A former actress herself, Melanie promises to unlock Hannah's true potential. She welcomes Hannah into The Group, an elite collective of fiercely loyal actors preparing for a major showcase that Melanie promises will change their lives. There, Hannah meets Henry, a charming older student who becomes her scene partner -- and maybe something more. With opening night approaching, Melanie's training grows increasingly intense and her demands of The Group include giving up anyone and anything that stands in the way of her methods. As the line between performance and reality blurs, Hannah discovers how far she's willing to go and what she's willing to sacrifice to become the artist Melanie promised she could be.
Director
Sophia Takal
Producer
Allison Rose Carter, Stephanie Roush, Julie Waters, Julie Christeas, Jon Read, Sophia Takal
Screenwriter
Sophia Takal
Production Co
Foxglove Films
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 44m