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Lurker

Play trailer 2:18 Poster for Lurker R Now Playing 1h 40m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 88 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 50+ Verified Ratings
A screw-turning psychological thriller made for the moment, LURKER is the razor-sharp directorial debut from The Bear and Beef writer-producer Alex Russell. When twenty-something Los Angeles retail clerk and loner Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) encounters rising pop star Oliver (Saltburn’s Archie Madekwe), he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But staying there isn't easy. With an entire entourage (Bottoms' Havana Rose Liu, Abbott Elementary's Zack Fox, Y2K's Daniel Zolghadri, mid90s' Sunny Suljic) vying for attention, Matthew must prove himself to Oliver as more than just a follower. As their bond grows strained and mainstream fame appears within reach, access and proximity become a matter of life and death. Online fixation meets reality in this parasocial, paranoid cat-and-mouse film driven by star-making performances. With an incisive view to contemporary culture and a brilliant score from Kenny Beats (known for his work with Vince Staples), LURKER presents an exhilarating take on the music industry, the blurred line between friend and fan, and our universal search for validation.
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Lurker

Lurker

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Critics Consensus

Devilishly examining the intersection of fame and obsession to thrilling effect, Alex Russell's directorial debut delivers on all fronts.

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Critics Reviews

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Ty Burr Washington Post The American Dream of being seen curdled into a nightmarish hall of mirrors. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Coleman Spilde Salon.com Lurker feels less like a narrative thriller and more like a chilling, genuine document of how easy it’s become to manipulate those around us in a hyper-digital world, where the mere proximity to celebrity can be as powerful as celebrity itself. Aug 29, 2025 Full Review Alison Willmore New York Magazine/Vulture It may be a sad reflection of an existence, but what Lurker wryly suggests is that Oliver himself couldn’t exist without people like Matthew around him, believing in his importance, proving themselves willing to say or do anything to stay nearby. Aug 25, 2025 Full Review Chuck Bowen Style Weekly (Richmond, VA) The film’s cynicism is creepy, then moving and wickedly amusing. Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Rob Thomas Not That Rob Thomas (Substack) The fact that Russell clearly knows his way around the Los Angeles music scene, and the insulated ecosystem that both supports and feeds off a celebrity, gives “Lurker” a rich texture and absorbing tension. Rated: 4/4 Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Puts an intriguing new spin on an old formula about ambition and fame, a tweak that reflects the celebrity culture of our social-media driven age. Rated: B+ Sep 4, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Marvin An uncomfortable but also a clever and thrilling experience Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/12/25 Full Review Juandi This film is an interesting ride. It does a good job at making you feel you’re experiencing the events in real time. I do feel there were several unanswered questions & missed opportunities. Overall, the story lacked & didn’t fully land for me. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/12/25 Full Review Film Buff Tense, clever, and well-paced. A fantastic thriller! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/11/25 Full Review Just Here for the Popcorn It was ok. Popcorn review: Dry. But the Coke Zero had some bang to it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/10/25 Full Review Mr. Hollywood Couldve been better even though it was better than I thought it would be. Couldve been great but they didnt stick the landing. Cop out ending, lazy. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/10/25 Full Review Steve K The cringey power dynamic between the two lead characters almost made me walk out in the first 15 minutes but I'm glad I stayed. It was a fascinating study of neediness and power and control. It had a very satisfying payoff. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/08/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Alex Russell

Director

Théodore Pellerin

Matthew

Archie Madekwe

Oliver

Sunny Suljic

Jamie

Cam Hicks

Sebastian

Chaize Macklin

The Fan

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Lurker

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Movie Info

Synopsis A screw-turning psychological thriller made for the moment, LURKER is the razor-sharp directorial debut from The Bear and Beef writer-producer Alex Russell. When twenty-something Los Angeles retail clerk and loner Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) encounters rising pop star Oliver (Saltburn’s Archie Madekwe), he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But staying there isn't easy. With an entire entourage (Bottoms' Havana Rose Liu, Abbott Elementary's Zack Fox, Y2K's Daniel Zolghadri, mid90s' Sunny Suljic) vying for attention, Matthew must prove himself to Oliver as more than just a follower. As their bond grows strained and mainstream fame appears within reach, access and proximity become a matter of life and death. Online fixation meets reality in this parasocial, paranoid cat-and-mouse film driven by star-making performances. With an incisive view to contemporary culture and a brilliant score from Kenny Beats (known for his work with Vince Staples), LURKER presents an exhilarating take on the music industry, the blurred line between friend and fan, and our universal search for validation.
Director
Alex Russell
Producer
Alex Orlovsky, Duncan Montgomery, Galen Core, Charlie McDowell, Archie Madekwe, Olmo Schnabel, Marc Marrie, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Jack Selby
Screenwriter
Alex Russell
Distributor
MUBI
Production Co
Va Bene Productions, MeMo Films, Case Study Films, High Frequency Entertainment, Arts and Sciences Department
Rating
R (Language Throughout|Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 22, 2025, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$455.6K
Runtime
1h 40m
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