Compliance

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Compliance

R

Released Aug 17, 2012

1h 30m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

89%

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141 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A fast-food worker (Dreama Walker) who's accused of theft is put through the wringer as her boss (Ann Dowd), at the direction of a phone caller who says he's a cop, subjects her to increasingly harsh forms of interrogation.

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Critics Consensus

Anchored by smart, sensitive direction and strong performances, Complicance is a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that's equal parts gripping and disturbing.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

It took me places I did not want to go, got me in a mindset so infuriating I was angry at myself for thinking the thoughts I was.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 2, 2020

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

It's not an easy watch, which is kind of the point, and I'm not even sure what genre it is. Psychological horror? Thriller? But it will haunt and resonate.

Sep 4, 2018

Full Review

Steve Erickson

Village Voice

Compliance's underlying humanism and political conscience lift it beyond being a macho endurance test.

Feb 22, 2018

Full Review

Jordan M. Smith

IONCINEMA.com

Rife with the downfalls of human subservience, Compliance is a luminous, pulsating Milgram experiment come to life, and you won't be able to turn your gaze from the results.

Nov 16, 2020

Full Review

David Harris

Spectrum Culture

Writer-director Craig Zobel puts both his characters and his audience through 90 minutes of squirmy hell.

Rated: 2.4/5

Nov 11, 2019

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

A complex and unnerving psychological thriller that is unmistakably the work of a promising and daring new talent.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 6, 2019

Full Review

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Darin O

An expose on what might possibly be the dumbest human beings to ever come together to deal with what should have been a three minute conversation, where anyone with a single fold in their brain would’ve called BS. The stupidity of the characters is so laughably and my numbingly absurd you want to bash yourself over the head with your remote to end it all. if this is in fact, based on a true story and it actually played out the way it does in the movie. I think it’s time to get on my rocket ship and leave this planet. I’m not giving this one star because the acting is perfectly fine. That said, I would like my time back. Sigh.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/23/25

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brooklynn r

So bad please do not watch it. i wasnt even interested i was just like wtf how could you be so dumb. Absolutely terrible. the actors are fine the plot is horrible.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/18/25

Full Review

Stoner J

Great, simple cerebral suspense setup. But, I cannot believe this is a mostly true story, I mean, are all Kentuckian fast food staff REALLY this stupid to go along with this telephone ‘cop’ barking perverted instructions for hours and they just comply with it? Unreal. If it all is 100% fact based as is supposedly is, boy I’m glad to not be a Kentuckian. Overall, a very interesting cerebral thriller

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

Full Review

Rich C

Weird film. Worth the watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

Full Review

michael f

I refuse to believe people are this dumb. Then again...Maury, Jerry, etc.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

Full Review

Helene S

it's an interesting idea, but the execution lets it down. too awkward and a bit unbelievable for it to be happening, maybe if they had more of a message to drive home it would have been worthwhile, but it was not focused enough.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

Full Review

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Craig Zobel

Director

Ann Dowd

Sandra

Dreama Walker

Becky

Pat Healy

Officer Daniels

Bill Camp

Van

Philip Ettinger

Kevin

Compliance: Official Clip - In the Weeds

2:20

Compliance: Official Clip - Phone Card

2:30

Compliance: Official Clip - Spanking

2:57

Compliance: Official Clip - I Did What I Was Told to Do

3:00

Compliance: Official Clip - Find the Money

2:09

Compliance: Official Clip - In Trouble Here

2:55

Compliance: Official Clip - Strip Search

3:01

Compliance: Official Clip - I Need You to Inspect Her

2:37

Compliance: Official Clip - Take the Apron Off

2:57

Compliance: Official Clip - The Truth Comes Out

2:13

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Synopsis

A fast-food worker (Dreama Walker) who's accused of theft is put through the wringer as her boss (Ann Dowd), at the direction of a phone caller who says he's a cop, subjects her to increasingly harsh forms of interrogation.

Director: Craig Zobel
Producer: Tyler Davidson, Sophia Lin, Lisa Muskat, Theo Sena, Craig Zobel
Screenwriter: Craig Zobel
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Muskat Filmed Properties, Dogfish Pictures
Rating: R (Sexual Content/Nudity|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 17, 2012, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $311.9K
Runtime: 1h 30m

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