The Actor

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The Actor

R

2025

1h 38m

Drama

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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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Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (LAist)

May 13, 2025

The theatricality of this movie... worked pretty well.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Kay J

Mar 21, 2025

A quirky, moody, dreamlike cinematography.. that was sooo good…

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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.

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Gregg P

Mar 15, 2025

A great film homaging the Hollywood movies of old.

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Norman B.

@KunNeki May 22, 2026

The main character had amnesia. After watching this movie, I developed amnesia

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L J

@Cracky Feb 26, 2026

Weird, chaotic, and intriguing.

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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.

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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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