Reality

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2:08

Reality

2023

1h 23m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

104 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

On a Saturday afternoon, in June 2017, Reality Winner, a 25-year-old in cut-off jeans, is confronted at her Georgia home by the FBI. A cryptic conversation begins and Reality's life quickly begins to unravel.

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Critics Consensus

Reality's narrow scope and gripping fact-based story add up to a riveting showcase for Sydney Sweeney in the title role.

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Christina Newland

iNews.co.uk

Sweeney's complex tricky performance – mixed with the emotional stakes – makes this intriguing drama completely absorbing.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 18, 2024

Full Review

David Stratton

The Australian

It’s a troubling, unsettling and beautifully made production, all the more notable for being a debut feature that rigidly adheres to the actual recording that the FBI men made on the day that a brave young woman lost her freedom.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 3, 2023

Full Review

Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

Reality is a bizarre blend of the gripping and the banal -- a film in which politeness is used as a weapon and guile is disguised as embarrassment.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 29, 2023

Full Review

Samantha Schuster

Cinéfilo Serial

It takes a true story and presents it in an original and creative way, preserving a documentary tone. Thanks to strong performances and a meticulously crafted script, it manages to explore American political maneuvering. [Full Review in Spanish]

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 25, 2025

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Marta Medina

mundoCine

[Reality] is Sweeney's tour de force. [Full Review in Spanish]

Rated: 3/5

Jul 22, 2025

Full Review

John Daniel Tangalin

The Cinema Spot

Tina Satter’s Reality is sufficiently compelling as a psychological drama. Her production team and cast hold the depiction of the investigation together, however, it could not work without Sydney Sweeney’s involvement.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 18, 2025

Full Review

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Michael C

Decent piece of film making. A bit slow but it shows an aspect of the 'free country' that America doesn't often let loose. Pretty well acted.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/04/25

Full Review

Brian D

58%. 8/24/25. Super boring film. The one detective is super awkward and strange asking about where she wants the questions to go down and if she wants to sit and stupid stuff like that. The setting is entirely at her house. It's kind of cool since it's based off the actual recordings from the FBI that day. It is interesting the conundrum she was in in terms of wanting the American public to know the truth (we think about the Russian influence of the 2016 election, but the beep out the specifics) while also knowing she's committing a crime in leaking sensitive information. I respect her sacrifice and she deserves praise, just thought the film was pretty dry. No reason to rewatch 0/5 rewatch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/25/25

Full Review

Alain E

An excellent film with a phenomenal performance by Sydney Sweeney. This should silence all her current critics about her political affiliation or her jeans ad. Bravely, she appears and is photographed in a way that she looks plain and quite unattractive. I suspect, intentionally her figure is made invisible. Our attention is directed to the presentation of the young woman who attempted naively to fight the system. The parents of the actual Reality must have had since then second and third thoughts about the first name they assigned to her. One thing that the script does not make clear is what the leak was about. Nothing to do with Afghanistan. This is very well photographed, Oscar worthy acting!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Enjoyed the movie. On what had to be a very low budget, the movie was well made. The gripping story is well played by Sydney Sweeney.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

Full Review

Enzo O

i mean like it was slow af but like good message fo da red white and blue

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

Full Review

Eye C

A matter of ethics and patriotism. Great performances, intriguing movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/16/25

Full Review

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Tina Satter

Director

Sydney Sweeney

Reality Winner

Josh Hamilton

Garrick

Marchánt Davis

Taylor

John Way

FBI Agent

Benny Elledge

Joe

Tòkunbò

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Tòkunbò

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Reality: Featurette - Recreating Reality

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Synopsis

On a Saturday afternoon, in June 2017, Reality Winner, a 25-year-old in cut-off jeans, is confronted at her Georgia home by the FBI. A cryptic conversation begins and Reality's life quickly begins to unravel.

Director: Tina Satter
Producer: Brad Becker-Parton, Riva Marker, Greg Nobile, Noah Stahl
Screenwriter: James Paul Dallas, Tina Satter
Distributor: HBO
Production Co: Seaview Productions, 2 Sq Ft, Cinereach, Tanbark Pictures, In the Cut Productions, Fit Via Vi Film Productions, Burn These Words
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 29, 2023
Runtime: 1h 23m

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