Problemista

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2:29

Problemista

R

2024

1h 38m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

136 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

Alejandro (Julio Torres) is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. As time on his work visa runs out, a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast (Tilda Swinton) becomes his only hope to stay in the country and realize his dream. From writer/director Julio Torres comes a surreal adventure through the equally treacherous worlds of New York City and the U.S. Immigration system.

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Critics Consensus

With Problemista, Julio Torres' utterly unique sensibilities prove a perfectly cracked lens through which to find the surreal humor in bleak aspects of the human experience.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Against all expectations, an odd-couple friendship develops. Or so this needy, Kaufmanesque indie would have us believe. In practice, however, Swinton is massively overblown and Torres too wispy and diffident to balance things out.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 8, 2024

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Jonathan Romney

Financial Times

Problemista is undeniably inventive, but it’s also rather joyless and ultimately infuriating. Like a Slinky that refuses to walk down stairs.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 5, 2024

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

It’s full of implausible cod-adorable happy-sad touches, the filmic equivalent of a decaf oat latte with a sprinkling of vegan gummy bears.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 3, 2024

Full Review

Ridge Harripersad

CGMagazine

Problemista had just enough bite and humour to stick the oddity landing, edging Everything Everywhere All at Once territory at some parts.

Rated: 7.5

Sep 4, 2025

Full Review

Gavin Spoors

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

Charming and affecting, it feels like a film only Torres could make, yet this modern fairytale isn’t without faults.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 4, 2025

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Sammie Purcell

Rough Draft Atlanta

“Problemista” blooms with inventiveness, using magical realism with a clever, modern sensibility to tell the story of how Alejandro comes into his own.

Jul 22, 2025

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stella

Creative, beautiful, funny love it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/10/24

Full Review

Lisa M

Hilarious and superb acting!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

Full Review

Susie

I liked the many messages of hope this film gave my family and I. I took my mom and brothers to see it because I knew it mentioned El Salvador. It is so important we support our talent. We are rooting for our bichito, Julio!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

Full Review

TheNannyNamedShan

This was the best movie I've seen in months. It was a genre-defying piece created with incredible dexterity. I was laughing throughout, and I'm happy to say that the audience in my showing was just as pleased with the humor as I was. And yet, I also felt such acute fear, distaste, unease, sweetness and hatred, often flying between extremes, in the best possible way that only a film of this caliber could achieve. Tilda Swinton better make room on her mantle for the awards this will surely bring her. And Julio Torres is a new directorial force to be reckoned with if Frida Kahlo and Spike Jonze co-directed a film, it would be this one. I loved it, and I will see it again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Sara

Wonderfully unique movie! It was hilarious and worth watching!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

Rachel

Standard Hollywood fare, this thankfully is not. Brilliant social commentary with hard laughs. Thank you AMC for now showing the types of films I used to have to go to "art house" theaters to view. I will definitely be coming back more often.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/24

Full Review

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Julio Torres

Director

Julio Torres

Alejandro

Tilda Swinton

Elizabeth

RZA

Bobby

Isabella Rossellini

Narrator

Larry Owens

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Problemista: Teaser

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Problemista: Trailer 2

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Problemista: Trailer 1

2:29

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Synopsis

Alejandro (Julio Torres) is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. As time on his work visa runs out, a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast (Tilda Swinton) becomes his only hope to stay in the country and realize his dream. From writer/director Julio Torres comes a surreal adventure through the equally treacherous worlds of New York City and the U.S. Immigration system.

Director: Julio Torres
Producer: Emma Stone, Dave McCary, Ali Herting
Screenwriter: Julio Torres
Distributor: A24
Production Co: A24, Fruit Tree, Exile Content Studio
Rating: R (Some Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 22, 2024, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.1M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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