The Vanishing of Sidney Hall

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2:24

The Vanishing of Sidney Hall

R

2018

1h 59m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Popcornmeter

12%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

An enigmatic detective embarks on a cross-country search for a once-prominent author who's mysteriously disappeared after a string of dangerous arsons have targeted his celebrated but controversial first novel.

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Critics Consensus

There's no mystery here: The Vanishing of Sydney Hall may be nicely shot, but it is ultimately vapid and forgettable.

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Glenn Kenny

RogerEbert.com

In the unlikely event that you've ever been truly curious as to how much M.F.A.-style toxic masculinity can be packed into one motion picture, you ought to check out The Vanishing of Sidney Hall.

Rated: 0/4

Mar 2, 2018

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

The most passable lens through which to watch writer-director Shawn Christensen's risible indie drama "The Vanishing of Sidney Hall" is by counting the many ways it grates as both an agonized-artist pity party and a male fantasy of envied power.

Mar 1, 2018

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Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

A tortured mystery dripping with pretentiousness.

Mar 1, 2018

Full Review

Dominic Griffin

Spectrum Culture

There's a lot of mysteries to solve here, but the most important one is whether or not anyone will find a worse film released in 2018.

Rated: 1/5

Jul 17, 2019

Full Review

Brent Hankins

The Lamplight Review

Directed by Shawn Christensen from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jason Dolan, The Vanishing of Sidney Hall meanders its way through an excruciating two hours, and seeing the film through to completion is like an exercise in self-flaggelation.

Rated: 3/10

Apr 9, 2019

Full Review

Sean Mulvihill

FanboyNation.com

As hard as it tries - and, oh boy, does it try - The Vanishing of Sidney Hall is a film of artistic flourishes looking for a story it has no real clue how to tell.

Rated: 1/5

Oct 30, 2018

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Colleen R

Beautiful and haunting, a well-acted cathartic tragedy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/14/25

Full Review

Akash B

An aggregate ghost story, and a haunting ode to the "other" films, that the Hollywood doesn't make anymore!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/22/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I can't fathom the reason for the "hate on" that critics got for this movie. Reading their comments it's like they're talking about some other movie they confused for this one. Clearly audience scores are far more reliable when deciding what movie to watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

Full Review

OMz R

I've been pondering for a while on how to convey my feelings for this movie, months really. but now I finally believe I know what to say. The Vanishing of Sidney Hall is a novel that explores themes of time, memory, and the passage of life. The story follows the enigmatic Sidney Hall, a young man who seems to disappear from the world, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. And this novel.. is beautifully written. But the adaption, is beautifully directed. The characters, complex and nuanced, resonate deeply. Sidney Hall, the enigmatic figure at the heart of the story, leaves an indelible mark. His absence echoes through the narrative, a constant reminder of the impermanence of life. This movie adapted novel is a testament to the power of media to transport, to challenge, and to inspire. It’s a work of art that will forever alter the way I perceive cinema, literature, and the world around me.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

Full Review

The Great John A

My favourite a24 film (so far) The Vanishing Of Sidney Hall was.... Hard to watch but the way it all connected reminds me that of magnolia. Magnum Opus of young adult films I cannot recommend this film enough to a24 fans. I could not give it 5 stars due to a cliché father figure. How this has got 11% is a sin. Rank: A+

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/20/23

Full Review

Shelli

I liked the movie. I thought the story was well told. I typically lose interest in these types of( jumpy from year to year) movies, but this one- I wanted to know what was next. I loved the restaurant scene ( big fan of Kyle Chandler) they connected so perfect! Loved the realization of the fake badge, loved that he was not just a detective looking for Sidney, and I loved the chemistry they shared. I believed they were both writers, you could feel the connection and respect. Highly recommend watching it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/23

Full Review

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Shawn Christensen

Director

Kyle Chandler

The Searcher

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Sidney Hall

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The Vanishing of Sidney Hall: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

An enigmatic detective embarks on a cross-country search for a once-prominent author who's mysteriously disappeared after a string of dangerous arsons have targeted his celebrated but controversial first novel.

Director: Shawn Christensen
Producer: Jonathan Schwartz
Screenwriter: Shawn Christensen, Jason Dolan
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Super Crispy Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Sexual References|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 2, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 2, 2018
Runtime: 1h 59m

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