Daniel Isn't Real

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Daniel Isn't Real

Released Dec 6, 2019

1h 36m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

81 Reviews

56%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

A troubled college freshman resurrects his imaginary friend to help him cope with a violent trauma.

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Critics Consensus

Daniel Isn't Real, but the smart, stylish fun waiting for genre lovers in this well-acted suspense thriller is completely genuine.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Adam Egypt Mortimer's second feature ... offers a novel convergence of mental health issues, toxic masculinity and occultish vibes.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 13, 2020

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

The end goes a little off-piste, with much of the sweaty creepiness replaced by silly creature effects. There's enough before that, though, to elevate Adam Egypt Mortimer's film above the bog-standard psychological horror.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 10, 2020

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

This schizophrenic buddy pic is the real deal.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 7, 2020

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Rachel Bellwoar

Vague Visages

With Daniel Isn’t Real, Mortimer stands by his choices and doesn’t wobble. The result is a film that’s harmonious and undiluted, if prickly and divisive.

Mar 26, 2024

Full Review

Dallas King

Flick Feast

Slowly morphing from a character study of a man coping with trauma and mental illness into a dark and twisted horror... Adam Egypt Mortimer’s thrilling film and Patrick Schwarzenegger’s performance are the real deal.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 11, 2022

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Laura Potier

Outtake Mag

Daniel Isn't Real is entertaining throughout and features very solid performances from its young cast, but it doesn't quite pack the punch it thinks it does.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 16, 2021

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Kitty S

Loved this! Miles Robbins is amazing, I didn’t see the end coming or have that “this again..” feeling. Unique and well executed. I’d buy it to rewatch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/16/25

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Bisquiteen T

This writer has definitely never met a schizophrenic person, or even looked up the meaning on Mayo Clinic or similar.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/31/25

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Audience Member

What a waste of time. No story, no tension, no suspense, no intrigue, a jumbled mess of a story that doesn’t tie up any loose ends, uses mediocre special effects and left me bored and thankful that I didn’t pay to watch it.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

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Jonah K

Horror undermining mental illness. Mental illness undermining horror. The cycle continues.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/31/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Pretty good movie overall. Luke’s Psychiatrist is a worthless brainless wonder of a doctor; anyone that stupid deserves to die. “Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!” Daniel is about to take over Luke’s body. Scream “Oh my god!” Three more times and do nothing. Then, when he’s in Luke’s body, dumbass decides to pick up the knife as if it wasn’t too late half-way through his annoying screams.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/28/23

Full Review

French C

Amazing horror film. 10/10. Impossible to predict and consistently engaging, Daniel Isn't Real is now in my Top 10 Horror Movies.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/05/23

Full Review

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Adam Egypt Mortimer

Director

Patrick Schwarzenegger

Daniel

Miles Robbins

Luke

Sasha Lane

Cassie

Hannah Marks

Sophie

Mary Stuart Masterson

Claire

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49%

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59%

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Daniel Isn't Real: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A troubled college freshman resurrects his imaginary friend to help him cope with a violent trauma.

Director: Adam Egypt Mortimer
Producer: Josh C. Waller, Elijah Wood, Lisa Whalen, Daniel Noah
Screenwriter: Brian DeLeeuw
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: ACE Pictures Entertainment, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Ace Pictures (II), SpectreVision, Company 3
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 11, 2019
Runtime: 1h 36m

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