Lurker

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2:18

Lurker

R

2025

1h 40m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

120 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

A screw-turning psychological thriller made for the moment, LURKER is the razor-sharp directorial debut from The Bear and Beef writer-producer Alex Russell. When twenty-something Los Angeles retail clerk and loner Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) encounters rising pop star Oliver (Saltburn’s Archie Madekwe), he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But staying there isn't easy. With an entire entourage (Bottoms' Havana Rose Liu, Abbott Elementary's Zack Fox, Y2K's Daniel Zolghadri, mid90s' Sunny Suljic) vying for attention, Matthew must prove himself to Oliver as more than just a follower. As their bond grows strained and mainstream fame appears within reach, access and proximity become a matter of life and death. Online fixation meets reality in this parasocial, paranoid cat-and-mouse film driven by star-making performances. With an incisive view to contemporary culture and a brilliant score from Kenny Beats (known for his work with Vince Staples), LURKER presents an exhilarating take on the music industry, the blurred line between friend and fan, and our universal search for validation.

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Critics Consensus

Devilishly examining the intersection of fame and obsession to thrilling effect, Alex Russell's directorial debut delivers on all fronts.

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Wendy Ide

Guardian

Dec 12, 2025

The film is so acerbic that watching it at times feels like being attached to a drip-feed of pure venom. And while it may not sound like it, that’s high praise indeed.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

Dec 12, 2025

It's all very believably done.

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Linda Marric

HeyUGuys

Dec 11, 2025

4/5

This is a confident, quietly unnerving debut, bolstered by restrained performances and a purposeful lo-fi aesthetic.

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Lexi Amoriello

Movie Recs by Lex

Jul 11, 2026

Lurker is one of the best directorial debuts of the year. It’s funny, unsettling, and a thought-provoking look at obsession, friendship, fame, parasocial relationships, power dynamics, and the desire for acceptance and validation.

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John Paul King

Washington Blade

May 26, 2026

There are occasionally twists that feel a bit too convenient to be believable, but all in all, it’s a solid piece of cinematic workmanship.

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John Serba

Decider

May 18, 2026

Lurker is a tense, fascinating character study.

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Ben W

Oct 27, 2025

Very good. Love the commentary on groupies and transactional relationships.

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John L

Sep 17, 2025

Although compared to Saltbourne, it doesn't come close. Disjointed story line and character development.

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Marvin

Sep 12, 2025

An uncomfortable but also a clever and thrilling experience

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Juandi

Sep 12, 2025

This film is an interesting ride. It does a good job at making you feel you’re experiencing the events in real time. I do feel there were several unanswered questions & missed opportunities. Overall, the story lacked & didn’t fully land for me.

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Film Buff

Sep 11, 2025

Tense, clever, and well-paced. A fantastic thriller!

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Just Here for the Popcorn

Sep 10, 2025

It was ok. Popcorn review: Dry. But the Coke Zero had some bang to it.

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Alex Russell

Director

Théodore Pellerin

Matthew

Archie Madekwe

Oliver

Sunny Suljic

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Cam Hicks

Sebastian

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Lurker: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A screw-turning psychological thriller made for the moment, LURKER is the razor-sharp directorial debut from The Bear and Beef writer-producer Alex Russell. When twenty-something Los Angeles retail clerk and loner Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) encounters rising pop star Oliver (Saltburn’s Archie Madekwe), he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But staying there isn't easy. With an entire entourage (Bottoms' Havana Rose Liu, Abbott Elementary's Zack Fox, Y2K's Daniel Zolghadri, mid90s' Sunny Suljic) vying for attention, Matthew must prove himself to Oliver as more than just a follower. As their bond grows strained and mainstream fame appears within reach, access and proximity become a matter of life and death. Online fixation meets reality in this parasocial, paranoid cat-and-mouse film driven by star-making performances. With an incisive view to contemporary culture and a brilliant score from Kenny Beats (known for his work with Vince Staples), LURKER presents an exhilarating take on the music industry, the blurred line between friend and fan, and our universal search for validation.

Director: Alex Russell
Producer: Alex Orlovsky, Duncan Montgomery, Galen Core, Charlie McDowell, Archie Madekwe, Olmo Schnabel, Marc Marrie, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Jack Selby
Screenwriter: Alex Russell
Distributor: MUBI
Production Co: Va Bene Productions, MeMo Films, Case Study Films, High Frequency Entertainment, Arts and Sciences Department
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language Throughout)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 22, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 10, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $631.6K
Runtime: 1h 40m

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