The Actor

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2:19

The Actor

Released Mar 14

1h 38m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Based on the novel Memory by Donald E. Westlake, The Actor finds Paul Cole (André Holland) stranded in a mysterious small town with no memory of who he is or how he got there. Without a sense of identity or purpose, he starts from scratch and begins courting a local costume designer Edna (Gemma Chan). As bits and pieces of his past slowly emerge, he attempts to find his way home, but time is slippery, appearances can't be trusted, and it's unclear which of his identities is real.

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Zachary Barnes

Wall Street Journal

While Mr. Holland is a clear talent with a screen presence at once natural and vivid, his character is passive to the point of emptiness.

Mar 15, 2025

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

An undeniably haunting piece of work, a story that’s out of place and time in a world that’s like our own but not quite. Rod Serling would have dug it.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 14, 2025

Full Review

Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

Scenes snap off, as if the thread of events between has evaporated, and this sense of being unmoored pervades Holland’s beautifully controlled performance.

Mar 13, 2025

Full Review

Christian Craig

In Review Online

It’s a risky gambit, one certain to alienate the percentage of The Actor’s audience bent on unspooling a cogent narrative from the movie’s tangled ambitions, but the strength of Holland’s performance offers firm footing.

May 7, 2025

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

There is plenty to be found here with Paul and his deep fear of losing his identity. And his desperation to find it, even when you only have the ability to see yourself through the eyes of other people.

Rated: B-

Apr 18, 2025

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Common Sense Media

This is an unusual, fascinating movie, taking the main character's iffy memory as a visual theme and creating an unreal atmosphere in which, despite moments of peace, things seem to be a bit off.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 4, 2025

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Kay J

A quirky, moody, dreamlike cinematography.. that was sooo good…

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/21/25

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SAW

Beautifully directed and acted. It’s a great spin on noir films. I thought the movie had great charm. Andre Holland gives another great performance.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

Full Review

Gregg P

A great film homaging the Hollywood movies of old.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

Full Review

Cliff M

Poor acting from the lead and his roommate. The lead feels really stiff; he can do surprised, disgusted, and strong emotions, but he's pretty bad at doing the subtle stuff. The roommate is overacting and doesn’t come across as a fun, nice, or cool guy, even though I think he's supposed to. I shut it off after the first half hour.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/09/25

Full Review

DANBABA T

I'm short of words for this master piece,the story line the scenes,I just can't enough of it.This is my perfect movie type.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/25

Full Review

Arbhy Azra M

yes. absolute unit of a movie. real good really great left in awe

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

Full Review

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Duke Johnson

Director

Gemma Chan

Edna

Simon McBurney

Actor

Joe Cole

Actor

Toby Jones

Actor

Tanya Reynolds

Actor

The Actor: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Based on the novel Memory by Donald E. Westlake, The Actor finds Paul Cole (André Holland) stranded in a mysterious small town with no memory of who he is or how he got there. Without a sense of identity or purpose, he starts from scratch and begins courting a local costume designer Edna (Gemma Chan). As bits and pieces of his past slowly emerge, he attempts to find his way home, but time is slippery, appearances can't be trusted, and it's unclear which of his identities is real.

Director: Duke Johnson
Producer: Duke Johnson, Ken Kao, Abigail Spencer, Paul Young
Screenwriter: Duke Johnson, Steve Cooney
Distributor: NEON
Production Co: Waypoint Entertainment, Three Point Capital (TPC), Proton Cinema
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $39.2K
Runtime: 1h 38m

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