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The Actor

Play trailer 2:19 Poster for The Actor R 2025 1h 38m Drama Comedy Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 82% 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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The Actor

The Actor

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Critics Consensus

Blending classical storytelling with a bold, experimental style, The Actor offers an intellectually rich exploration of identity and memory for those open to its enigmatic, artful rhythm.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Rainer FilmWeek (LAist) May 13, 2025
The theatricality of this movie... worked pretty well. Go to Full Review Zachary Barnes Wall Street Journal Mar 15, 2025
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. Go to Full Review Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Mar 14, 2025
2.5/4
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. Go to Full Review John Serba Decider Sep 2, 2025
It’s easy to appreciate The Actor’s ambition – on paper. In reality, the film never finds its rhythm or dramatic momentum. Go to Full Review John Stark Mac the Movie Guy Aug 7, 2025
77/100
Andre Holland is The Actor, and Duke Johnson is The Director, and these two come together to create the cinematic equivalent of a Jackson Pollock painting. You might not get it, but some people will be blown away by it. Art is in the eye of the beholder. Go to Full Review Maxance Vincent FilmSpeak.net Jul 11, 2025
B-
As a technical exercise and demonstration of Holland’s acting prowess, The Actor more than shines. As a surreal thriller, it has the striking images but none of the execution to warrant Lynchian comparisons. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kay J Mar 21, 2025 A quirky, moody, dreamlike cinematography.. that was sooo good… See more SAW Mar 16, 2025 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. See more Gregg P Mar 15, 2025 A great film homaging the Hollywood movies of old. See more Norman B. @KunNeki May 22, 2026 The main character had amnesia. After watching this movie, I developed amnesia See more L J @Cracky Feb 26, 2026 Weird, chaotic, and intriguing. See more TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch Dec 4, 2025 The Actor seemed like a promising film at first, especially with Gemma Chan leading the cast, but the excitement faded almost immediately once the movie began. Despite Chan’s usual ability to elevate unconventional roles, the screenplay never supported her, constantly pulling back instead of pushing the story forward. The film never found its footing, drifting aimlessly as if unsure of what it wanted to be, and it failed to capture any emotional or narrative momentum. As a viewer, it’s hard to connect when the story feels like it’s sliding off a cliff, and that lack of engagement points directly to weak writing. The direction didn’t help either, offering little sense of focus, character development, or world-building. At times it looked like a period piece, but even that felt unclear and underdeveloped. Ultimately, The Actor collapses under its own confusion, becoming a lost, unfocused film that never justifies its potential. See more Read all reviews
The Actor

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Cast & Crew

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Duke Johnson

Director

Gemma Chan

Edna

Simon McBurney

Actor

Joe Cole

Actor

Toby Jones

Actor

Tanya Reynolds

Actor

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The Actor

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The Actor

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Movie Info

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
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Drama, Comedy, Mystery & Thriller
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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