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Secret Mall Apartment

Play trailer 2:14 Poster for Secret Mall Apartment 2025 1h 31m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 58 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
In 2003, eight Rhode Islanders created a secret apartment inside the busy Providence Place Mall and kept it going for four years, filming everything along the way. Far more than just a wild prank, the secret mall apartment became an incredibly meaningful act for all the participants, at once an act of defiance against local gentrification, a boundary-pushing work of public/private art, and a 750 square foot space that sticks it to the man.
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Secret Mall Apartment

Secret Mall Apartment

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Critics Consensus

Secret Mall Apartment unspools a wild story full of relatable wish fulfillment and social commentary, making for a highly entertaining treatise on artistic expression.

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Critics Reviews

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Ann Hornaday Washington Post May 9
3/4
Thanks to its thoughtful protagonists and filmmaker Jeremy Workman, what starts out as a quirky human interest story becomes a profoundly humane portrait of creativity and community. Go to Full Review
Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune Apr 17
3.5/4
It’s consistently, thoughtfully engaging. And, yes, often very funny in its open-hearted embrace of the DIY spirit, legal or otherwise. Go to Full Review
Kimber Myers Crooked Marquee Apr 11
B+
For all its big ideas, Secret Mall Apartment is full of charm and wonder. This is a breezy 91 minutes to spend with this idealistic group of people, and it’s easy to see why they kept coming back to the space they created, despite its dangers. Go to Full Review
Raquel Stecher Quelle Movies Dec 14
fascinating documentary [that] captures a unique time in the city’s history but more importantly contemplates the purpose of art and the importance of human connection. Go to Full Review
Kenneth R. Morefield 1More Film Blog Dec 9
4/4
Gradually develops into an all-time great art documentary. Go to Full Review
John Serba Decider Oct 7
Secret Mall Apartment is one of the year’s best documentaries. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Kathy L May 17 Use of shifting timeline. Especially appreciated final updaftes See more barbara Apr 20 What a great story not only of the apartment but the great art work that is done. Following @tapeart on instagram to see all they are doing. See more Jeannette Apr 19 Loved the history of how Providence looked back then and now. Love seeing old footage and its amazing the story content. Incredible story about all the artists. See more erika Apr 13 Fabulous, life affirming in the spirit of art from the heart. See more Evelyn Mar 27 Great documentary! I was tuned in from start to finish. Also had some good laughs. Heard this story growing up but to see actual footage was great. Love the representation of Providence See more Dave W Mar 26 Very well done documentary that brought you into the movie. Informative and entertaining at the same. And if you live near Providence like I do seeing it in the building it took place adds to the experience. See more Read all reviews
Secret Mall Apartment

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 2003, eight Rhode Islanders created a secret apartment inside the busy Providence Place Mall and kept it going for four years, filming everything along the way. Far more than just a wild prank, the secret mall apartment became an incredibly meaningful act for all the participants, at once an act of defiance against local gentrification, a boundary-pushing work of public/private art, and a 750 square foot space that sticks it to the man.
Director
Jeremy Workman
Producer
Jeremy Workman
Distributor
Wheelhouse Creative
Production Co
Wheelhouse Creative, Wildbrush Media, Wrong Turn Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 21, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA)
$42.5K
Runtime
1h 31m
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