True Story

Play trailer

2:32

True Story

R

Released Apr 17, 2015

1h 44m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

167 Reviews

38%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

New York Times journalist Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill) loses his job when it's revealed that he was not entirely truthful in a cover story he wrote on contemporary slave trading in Africa. His world collapses even further when he learns he's a victim of identity theft; a man named Christian Longo (James Franco) assumed Finkel's name and stood accused of murdering his own family. Seeing a way to rebuild his shattered reputation, Finkel meets with Longo to hear his story.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

James Franco and Jonah Hill make a watchable pair, but True Story loses their performances -- and the viewer's interest -- in a muddled movie that bungles its fact-based tale.

Read Critics Reviews

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

... True Story just never feels like it gets anywhere.

Rated: D

Sep 1, 2017

Full Review

David Sims

The Atlantic

Franco and Hill's early scenes together maintains intrigue for a while, but True Story never quite indicates that it has something compelling going on beneath the surface.

Oct 14, 2015

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

The result is disappointingly televisual, the verdict wholly predictable.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 19, 2015

Full Review

David Bax

Battleship Pretension

Unfortunately, all the fine work being done by Hill and Franco is, in effect, bulldozed by Goold and David Kajganich's screenplay...

Jan 20, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Mind games, poetic symbolism, moving observations, and humorous notes compose an utterly mesmerizing script.

Rated: 8/10

Dec 4, 2020

Full Review

Chris McCoy

Memphis Flyer

It's a worthy addition to the true crime genre -- even if it leaves viewers questioning the meaning of "true."

Jan 9, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Ok, the acting is really good, as you'd expect, but like the other reviewers agree- it just doesn't really grab you. Why the dude did it seems an afterthought and that they use this kind of machiavellian vibe doesn't ring true to the character. It trys to be a few things but manages not to be any of them and it's not a very great watch. This is going to be one of the few 3 1/2 star movies I don't keep. I'm glad I seen it but it's not going to be something I'm going to want to watch again nor is anything special enough about it to keep for memorabilias sake. (Jonah is really fun to watch though, an actors, actor.)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

Full Review

Rich S

Jonah Hill is a great choice to play this part. He is nothing if not a rube for Franco to play with -- both on screen and off it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/27/25

Full Review

Frans B

Jonah & Franco very convincing in character. I think this movie deserves a thumbs up. Great story, well choreographed and filmed. Very good cinematography. Twists and turns that will keep you entertained and excited. Lots of detail in the works and meticulous editing. Covers such a wide range of emotions. Touching to say the least. One man can make a difference, contrary to popular believe. Remember, it is a movie dramatized and all that, so just keep an open mind, you will probably enjoy it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/25

Full Review

Leopold S

A real smug, self important bore with point, no focus, no real reason ton have been made. The director/writer reeks of being from the "theahtah" and clearly though he was creating a masterpieces.... Zzzzzz

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/08/24

Full Review

Jacques B

Underrated and a hidden gem for some. Critics will say this movie didn’t get anywhere, but it does a lot of things very well. As a fan of the cast (Jonah and Franco) this was a refreshing and intriguing film for sure, it’s not perfect but a good watch nonetheless.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/10/24

Full Review

donnie m

i can't get past how James Franco talks-his tounge hits the roof of his mouth and he's WAY too dramatic in a bad way

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/06/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Rupert Goold

Director

Jonah Hill

Michael Finkel

James Franco

Christian Longo

Felicity Jones

Jill Barker

Robert John Burke

Greg Ganley

Gretchen Mol

Karen

Runner Runner

8%

33%

Runner Runner

Watchlist

Broken City

26%

40%

Broken City

Watchlist

Trance

68%

62%

Trance

Watchlist

Out of the Furnace

53%

52%

Out of the Furnace

Watchlist

Prisoners

81%

87%

Prisoners

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Insurgent, Far from the Madding Crowd, and More Available on DVD This Week

Now Streaming: The Water Diviner, The Terminator, Rocky I-V, and More

Critics Consensus: Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Is Criminally Unfunny

True Story: Trailer 1

2:32

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

New York Times journalist Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill) loses his job when it's revealed that he was not entirely truthful in a cover story he wrote on contemporary slave trading in Africa. His world collapses even further when he learns he's a victim of identity theft; a man named Christian Longo (James Franco) assumed Finkel's name and stood accused of murdering his own family. Seeing a way to rebuild his shattered reputation, Finkel meets with Longo to hear his story.

Director: Rupert Goold
Producer: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Anthony Katagas
Screenwriter: Rupert Goold, David Kajganich
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: New Regency Pictures, Plan B Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Disturbing Material|Language)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 17, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 15, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.7M
Runtime: 1h 44m

Most Popular at Home Now