The Actor

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The Actor

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75%

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24 Reviews

96%

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50+ 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

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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

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Surreal thriller that relates identity to memory.

Rated: B-

Mar 27, 2025

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Siddhant Adlakha

Mashable

Like [its lead character], the movie lacks a distinct sense of self. All the lighting cues in the world can’t make up for a story about a person granted no personhood by the camera.

Mar 24, 2025

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Will Bjarnar

InSession Film

While no one in The Actor is exactly playing against type, that’s specifically because its titular character struggles to know what his “type” is meant to be.

Rated: B

Mar 20, 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

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Gregg P

A great film homaging the Hollywood movies of old.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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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

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Sarah n

The Actor is a mesmerizing film with a powerful performance at its core. The storytelling is engaging, and the direction is top-notch. A must-watch for those who appreciate deep, character-driven narratives!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

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Dan P

This was great visual story telling. The cinematography and set design were really stunning. I loved it. Highly recommended!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

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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: Proton Cinema, Waypoint Entertainment, Three Point Capital (TPC)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 2025, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $39.2K