Rotten Tomatoes
Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Poolman

Play trailer 2:28 Poster for Poolman R 2024 1h 40m Comedy Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
24% Tomatometer 59 Reviews 20% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings
In Chris Pine's feature directorial debut, Poolman tells the story of Darren Barrenman (Pine), a native Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live. When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself. The film also stars Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, John Ortiz and Ray Wise.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Poolman

Poolman

What to Know

Critics Consensus

First-time director Chris Pine has clearly watched and loved numerous classic L.A.-based neo-noir comedies; unfortunately, Poolman suggests he'd have been better off not trying to add his own entry to the genre.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Steve Rose Guardian 06/26/2024
1/5
Chris Pine is usually a likable screen presence but he’s let down here by a flimsy script and over-indulgent direction -- which could have something to do with the co-screenwriter (Chris Pine) and the first-time director (er, Chris Pine). Go to Full Review Emily Zemler Observer 05/15/2024
1/4
I’m sure Pine meant well. He probably had a good idea and couldn’t execute it. An incredibly stoned person wouldn’t be able to decipher Poolman—and neither can a general audience. Go to Full Review Claudia Puig FilmWeek (LAist) 05/15/2024
It's fun! Yes, I was almost pushed to the edge a few times, but it's fun if you don't expect too much. Go to Full Review Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht 12/12/2024
Very much in the Long Goodbye/Big Lebowski/Inherent Vice tradition of stoned L.A. mystery-solving. Go to Full Review Katie Hogan FILMHOUNDS Magazine 11/13/2024
Poolman hits the story beats found in any crime mystery with a few added random surprises. Go to Full Review John Serba Decider 11/12/2024
Pine tries Atlmanesque overlapping dialogue, surreal-dream indulgences, love-letter shots of L.A., bleached noir strokes... and madcap Coen Bros. homages that are such comedic failures you’ll want to rename the movie Burn After Watching. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
ALR 05/19/2024 God awful movie, I had to walk out after 45 minutes See more Peggy 05/12/2024 I didnt k ow what it really was going in but love the cast. Its different but I like the craziness and lightness to it. A little confused on the way out but left with a smile. See more eileen r 05/11/2024 Terrible...no cohesion between characters and plot. Hard to follow plot. See more ME R @RT35434415 05/11/2024 The characters are fantastic in this movie. They needed a better plot, but it is worth seeing for Darren, Jack and Diane alone. See more vxf111 05/10/2024 I'm lowkey upset that I put myself through this. See more Curt A. @SmoresDad Dec 26 Poolman was fairly decent b-rate movie. The quirky characters with all of their chaos was pretty likable. With a Dude like protagonists it fits into the realm of Lebowski. Of the lead character living life than caught up in a dilemma brought on by their own philosophy towards life. However it does miss the mark of being toe to toe with Lebowski. Won’t go out of my way to see it again but I wouldn’t turn the channel either. See more Read all reviews
Poolman

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Chris Pine

Director

Chris Pine

Darren Barrenman

Danny DeVito

Jack

Annette Bening

Diane

Ray Wise

Van Patterson

Juliet Mills

Mrs Van Patterson

Movie Clips

View All

Poolman

Poolman: Exclusive Movie Clip - Packing the Car Poolman: Exclusive Movie Clip - Packing the Car 1:49 View more videos

More Like This

View All
Promising Young Woman 90% 87% Promising Young Woman Watchlist TRAILER for Promising Young Woman Confess, Fletch 86% 74% Confess, Fletch Watchlist TRAILER for Confess, Fletch The Guard 94% 81% The Guard Watchlist A Simple Favor 84% 72% A Simple Favor Watchlist TRAILER for A Simple Favor Inherent Vice 73% 53% Inherent Vice Watchlist TRAILER for Inherent Vice Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Poolman

Poolman: Trailer 1 Poolman: Trailer 1 2:28 Poolman: Teaser Trailer Poolman: Teaser Trailer 1:51 View more videos
View All

Poolman

View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In Chris Pine's feature directorial debut, Poolman tells the story of Darren Barrenman (Pine), a native Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live. When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself. The film also stars Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, John Ortiz and Ray Wise.
Director
Chris Pine
Producer
Ian Gotler, Patty Jenkins, Chris Pine, Stacey Sher
Screenwriter
Ian Gotler, Chris Pine
Distributor
Vertical
Production Co
Shiny Penny, Catchlight Studios, Brickell & Broadbridge International (BBI), Barry Linen Motion Pictures, Wicious Pictures
Rating
R (Some Language|Brief Sexuality)
Genre
Comedy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 10, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 31, 2024
Runtime
1h 40m