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One Hour Photo

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One Hour Photo

R

Released Sep 6, 2002

1h 35m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

195 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Casual shoppers stocking up at the local SavMart may not pay much attention to the man at the photo counter. In fact, they may not even see him. Sy Parrish (Robin Williams), a lonely technician, is a store fixture who develops an unsettling obsession with the Yorkin family, long-time customers.

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Critics Consensus

Robin Williams is very effective in this creepy, well-shot thriller.

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

One Hour Photo is a very well-made thriller. It shows us Robin Williams extending his acting range into unusual and disturbing material. And as well as causing acute anxiety in its last reels, it delivers a more moral message than most of its kind.

Dec 14, 2017

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Intensely scary thriller; not for every teen.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 26, 2010

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Todd McCarthy

Variety

This immaculately made first feature from noted musicvid and commercials director Mark Romanek provides Robin Williams with one of his creepiest, atypical roles, and the comic star responds with an unusually restrained performance...

Mar 27, 2009

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Such a figure demands serious treatment (think what Kieslowski might’ve done with it), not the artsy audience-tweaking schlock this fundamentally is.

Rated: D

Sep 17, 2022

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Not a pretty picture, but you won't be able to take your eyes off it.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 11, 2020

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Felicia Feaster

Creative Loafing

While honoring the suspense-building engine of a thriller, One Hour Photo creates a nightmare portrait of American life.

Feb 3, 2020

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Audience Member

Creepy and Cringy . Although I enjoyed the movie, his acting is phenomenal. But the character was very cringe for me and just very sad and psychological. Somehow I felt like Robin Williams was meant for this part.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

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Oaklee D

An underrated psychological thriller that I don't see people talk about enough.The late Robin Williams really lost himself in the role of Sy and in my opinion had one of if not his best performance as a result. This film is a must watch.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/08/25

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Stephen L

Robin Williams delivers a chilling, quietly heartbreaking performance in a film that’s as restrained as it is unnerving. One Hour Photo doesn’t rely on twists or gore — its power comes from atmosphere, detail, and a growing sense of dread that creeps in like fluorescent light. Mark Romanek directs with eerie elegance, turning a strip-mall photo lab into a stage for obsession, loneliness, and spiritual decay. It’s a slow burn, but an unforgettable one.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

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Kelly N

Robin Williams plays creepy extremely well in this. I always have enjoyed him when he wants to flex his dramatic muscle. A good watch

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

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The H

Decent movie, nothing too crazy or special about it in my opinion, but wasn't boring or bad, had most of my attention throughout & learned some things about how photos used to be developed, interesting movie overall.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

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alessandra p

Robin Williams was of course brilliant. He had me seriously cringing at some of the conversations as I could just feel the awkwardness & desperation. He was less creepy and more just sad honestly. This movie made me feel sad for him more than anything else. The ending wasn’t too shocking either so I’d hardly say it was all the “thrilling” more so a drama in my mind. If it wasn’t Robin Williams I don’t think it would have been half as good. But I did love the cinematography and the colour scheme. Great story idea, I just think the ending was a slight let down.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/28/25

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Mark Romanek

Director

Robin Williams

Seymour "Sy" Parrish

Connie Nielsen

Nina Yorkin

Michael Vartan

Will Yorkin

Gary Cole

Bill Owens

Dylan Smith

Jakob Yorkin

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Synopsis

Casual shoppers stocking up at the local SavMart may not pay much attention to the man at the photo counter. In fact, they may not even see him. Sy Parrish (Robin Williams), a lonely technician, is a store fixture who develops an unsettling obsession with the Yorkin family, long-time customers.

Director: Mark Romanek
Producer: Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Stan Wlodkowski
Screenwriter: Mark Romanek
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Killer Films
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 6, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.6M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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