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The Guilty

Play trailer 2:03 Poster for The Guilty R Released Sep 24, 2021 1h 31m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 192 Reviews 51% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
The film takes place over the course of a single morning in a 911 dispatch call center. Call operator Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) tries to save a caller in grave danger-but he soon discovers that nothing is as it seems, and facing the truth is the only way out.
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The Guilty

The Guilty

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Critics Consensus

The Guilty is another Americanized remake overshadowed by the original, but its premise is still sturdy enough to support a tense, well-acted thriller.

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Audience Says

Jake Gyllenhaal is great -- but not great enough to carry The Guilty through its frustratingly static story.

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Critics Reviews

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Wenlei Ma News.com.au Does just enough to keep you engaged but nothing more. Rated: 3/5 Nov 2, 2021 Full Review Matthew Monagle Austin Chronicle Gyllenhaal works hard to make Baylor a more conflicted character. Yet in humanizing him the film also reduces an institutional failing into an individual one. Rated: 2.5/5 Oct 15, 2021 Full Review Linda Marric The Jewish Chronicle Gyllenhaal's best performance since his phenomenal turn in Nightcrawler. The adaption itself does however fail to make a convincing argument for its existence. Rated: 3/5 Oct 8, 2021 Full Review Louis Skye (Ronita Roy Mohan) Women Write About Comics I understand that the story remained faithful to the original film, which is commendable. But the beats of this story are so obvious that it’s frustrating. I kept hoping for something different, but at every possible twist I knew what to expect. Aug 21, 2025 Full Review Hector A. Gonzalez The Movie Buff Antione Fuqua’s remake of The Guilty has some thrilling moments, thanks to Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance; however, it lacks the impact of the original and doesn’t have the purpose of being. Rated: C- Sep 8, 2024 Full Review Amy Smith InSession Film Jake Gyllenhaal continues to show that he is one of the best actors working in the industry right now, and even with the tonal issues and the blunders at the end, there is plenty of things to enjoy and to keep yourself invested for a short runtime. Rated: B Mar 1, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Thomas S I couldn't understand much of the dialog so I did jot know what was going on with any precision. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/25/21 Full Review SteevJ B Ive signed up for RT to leave this review. Never heard of this film, but loved the filmmakers ability to create such a riveting film so minimally. Truly an inspiration. An anxiety overload but amazing film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/23/25 Full Review Beau H Jake Gyllenhaal does an amazing performance throughout the entire film. Unexpected plot twist. Wasn't biggest fan of the ending and feel like the whole Jess and his child subplot could've been expanded on so we can have a lot more empathy for Joe and understand him deeper. 6.5/10 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/15/25 Full Review Penelope Y From the outset, The Guilty pulls you into a riveting and unusual storyline, with the spotlight fixed almost entirely on its protagonist, Joe. Midway through, it becomes clear that this is a character-driven piece, relying on a tense and mysterious phone call to keep you hooked. While the suspense dips slightly toward the final act, the plot ultimately unravels in a wholly unexpected way. There’s no violence, no flashy action- just sharp dialogue, compelling performances, and a single, claustrophobic setting that heightens the drama. Jake Gyllenhaal delivers an exceptional performance, carrying the film almost entirely on his own while sparking the audience’s imagination. If you appreciate films that keep you guessing and perched on the edge of your seat, this one is well worth your time. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/10/25 Full Review Ralph R The Guilty is basically a one-man show, and Jake Gyllenhaal is the reason to watch. The movie is set almost entirely in a call center, so the directing and cinematography are pretty much nonexistent, everything feels flat and uninspired, like they just turned the camera on and left it running. There's barely any visual tension, and it's obvious the production was working with a tight budget or just not trying. But Jake delivers, and honestly, he carries the whole thing. His performance keeps you locked in, and he really makes you feel the stress and panic as things spiral out of control. The script itself isn't bad, and there are some decent moments, but without Jake, this would have been a forgettable experience. If you're a fan of strong acting and don't mind simple setups, it's worth a watch just for him. Otherwise, it's pretty average. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review Jonathan K Jake Gyllenhaal is solid, per usual, and since he’s basically the whole movie, it’s a good thing he is. It’s not quite as strong as the original, but most remakes aren’t. I’m not sure why the reviews are tepid, but I would wager it's because people preferred the original and weren't stoked to see a Gyllenhaal Hollywood rehash. But this version gets a lot right, and it sticks super close to the original. One new element is that it roots itself in early 2020s Los Angeles, with fires in the air and protests on the ground. That backdrop adds some weight as backdrop to the intense character drama. What really makes this story succeed is that it centers on a character who seems like the protagonist -- albeit a flawed one -- but slowly reveals himself as the problem. The shift in perspective lands. It’s a tight, tense watch, and the character arc really works. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/13/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Guilty

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Movie Info

Synopsis The film takes place over the course of a single morning in a 911 dispatch call center. Call operator Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) tries to save a caller in grave danger-but he soon discovers that nothing is as it seems, and facing the truth is the only way out.
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Producer
Antoine Fuqua, Scott Greenberg, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Haring, David Litvak, Michel Litvak, Riva Marker, Svetlana Metkina, Kat Samick, Gary Michael Walters
Screenwriter
Nic Pizzolatto
Distributor
Netflix
Production Co
Amet Entertainment, Bold Films, Nine Stories Productions, Fuqua Films
Rating
R (Language Throughout)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 24, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 1, 2021
Runtime
1h 31m
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