Opening

87% Star Trek Into Darkness May 16
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—— Populaire May 17
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Coming Soon

—— The Hangover Part III May 23
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94% Before Midnight May 24

The Truman Show (1998)

tomatometer

95

Average Rating: 8.2/10
Reviews Counted: 99
Fresh: 94 | Rotten: 5

A funny, tender, and thought-provoking film, The Truman Show is all the more noteworthy for its remarkably prescient vision of runaway celebrity culture and a nation with an insatiable thirst for the private details of ordinary lives.

90

Average Rating: 7.9/10
Critic Reviews: 21
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 2

A funny, tender, and thought-provoking film, The Truman Show is all the more noteworthy for its remarkably prescient vision of runaway celebrity culture and a nation with an insatiable thirst for the private details of ordinary lives.

audience

82

liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 497,768

My Rating

Movie Info

Peter Weir directed this comedy-drama, a commentary on all-pervasive media manipulation. Scripted by Andrew M. Niccol (Gattaca), the film plays like a combination of the British TV series The Prisoner and Paul Bartel's The Secret Cinema. Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is unaware that his entire life is a hugely popular 24-hour-a-day TV series. In this real-time documentary, every moment of Truman's existence is captured by concealed cameras and telecast to a giant global audience. His friends and

PG,

Drama, Comedy

Andrew Niccol

Jan 26, 1999

Paramount Pictures

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Cast

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All Critics (100) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (101) | Rotten (5) | DVD (40)

A good, intelligent, insightful movie...

April 27, 2007 Full Review Source: New York Observer
New York Observer
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One movie you can pronounce a modern classic with absolute confidence.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
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This is a profound movie for people who don't like to think, or perhaps for people who are in the media and of the media, and can't imagine any life outside it.

August 7, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Magazine | Comments (22)
New York Magazine
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The result is a rarity on any screen: intelligent fun.

July 12, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail
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Adventurous, provocative, even daring

February 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
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A gemlike picture crafted with rare and immaculate precision...

February 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Thought-provoking story; outstanding performances.

December 29, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

The issues it tackles are just as relevant now (if not more so) than they were when the film was first released theatrically back in 1997.

January 24, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Views

...benefits substantially from Jim Carrey's unexpectedly layered (and flat-out moving) performance.

January 17, 2009 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews
Reel Film Reviews

A hilarious and breathtakingly conceived satire which also allows Carrey to edge away from broad comedy.

December 14, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4
Film4

Extras on the disc include a substantial documentary, one sufficiently lengthy to have been split into two parts.

December 12, 2008 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide
Apollo Guide

Some of us may go out wishing for something meatier, edgier.

August 5, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comments (11)
eFilmCritic.com

Isn't it amazing what you can do if you take the time to FINISH your script?

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat
Film Threat

Carrey doesn't break off into outrageous physical comedy bits as fans might hope, and the film does take a while to find its legs, but there is something rewarding in its quirky demeanor.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comments (2)
Film Threat

A deceptively simple fairy tale; a hilariously subversive satire… and finally an elegant parable about truth and happiness with evocative religious resonances.

October 17, 2005 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide
Decent Films Guide

The amazing predecessor to reality TV...

September 23, 2005 Full Review
International Press Academy

A far, far more prescient-looking movie now than it was then.

September 13, 2005 Full Review Source: Now Playing Magazine

The movie and its themes have held up. For better or worse, we're a nation consumed by television, a country roped in by spectacle. Weir sees through it.

September 11, 2005
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

Rewards also surface in Paramount's new special edition DVD, which is not a double-dip at all.

August 28, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat
Film Threat

With the reality TV boom, it brings forth more thoughts as to whether our society could ever be this extreme, and with each viewing, its themes deepen.

August 28, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat
Film Threat

"The Movie of the Decade." What else is on?

August 24, 2005 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine

Audience Reviews for The Truman Show

One of the few times i could stand Jim Carrey. This movie was much better than i expected considering my dislike for Carrey
June 29, 2008
jmanard52

Super Reviewer

Peter Weir's The Truman Show was a film so ahead of it's time when it came out back in the late nineties. It's ideas about reality television and how it could turned out somewhere near future were right on a spot and ironically today we have television shows like Big Brother which resemeble the show where film's title character Truman Burbank is living without knowing at.
In my opinion Peter Weir and writer Andrew Niccol created a film that is timeless and is actually even more effective today, as an satire with it's themes and ideas about entertainment in television, than it was when released back in 1998.
One of the riskiest moves for Weir as an director must have been casting a actor Jim Carrey as an Truman Burbank. This standup comedian, whose films are almost always based on a physical comedy, is obviously not the first actor that comes to my mind when i think role like Truman but Carrey outdoes himself and turns this role as one of his career best performances. His dedication, charm and ability to be more serious when needed came as a huge surprise to me when i first time saw this film. The Truman Show marks the first and most important step to more serious acting for Carrey in his career. This is a film that relies on his performance and Carrey delivers very well.
Among Carrey and his performance there is also standout actors like Ed Harris, Natasha McElhone and Laura Linney in a supporting roles. All of them give fantastic turns in their roles and especially Harris is delicious in a role that is demanding as it's complex.
Many people might consider this film as a pure entertainment from the surface but here is actually a film which has content and message. Niccol's screenplay is not preaching or not for an single moment it does not forget to be entertaining also. It is one of those rare examples of a screenplay that actually manages to mix comedy, satire, sci-fi, drama and thriller into one succesfull whole. It has brialliant concept and many genius ideas that amazes me everytime i watch it. Since this film there have been numerous similar kind of films which have tried to recycle the brilliant idea it has, but none of them have reached the heights that Peter Weir and his team did with this film.
As an director Peter Weir is without a doubt one talented man. His films like Picnic at the Hanging Rock, The Last Wave or Fearless are perfect examples of his ability to tell fascinating stories with more artistic touches. Even as a hired director, like in here, he always can add his personal signature to his films and make them something of his own. For me The Truman Show is Weir's most impressive work so far. With fantastic support from cinematographer Peter Biziou and composer Burkhard Dallwitz, Weir has created a entertaining film with great idea. The Truman Show is thrilling, heartfelt and philosophical adventure that should be seen by everyone. It is not only a film about ideas, it is most importantly a film about heart and freedom of individual.
January 7, 2012
emilkakko

Super Reviewer

    1. Truman Burbank: Who are you?
    2. Christof: I am the Creator - of a television show that gives hope and joy and inspiration to millions.
    3. Truman Burbank: Then who am I?
    4. Christof: You're the star.
    – Submitted by Rider F (2 months ago)
    1. Lauren/Sylvia: Look at what you've done to him!
    2. Christof: I have given Truman the chance to lead a normal life. The world, the place you live in, is the sick place.
    – Submitted by Nick S (4 months ago)
    1. Truman Burbank: You're going to the top of the mountain, broken legs and all.
    – Submitted by Forrest E (4 months ago)
    1. Truman Burbank: In case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening and goodnight.
    – Submitted by Kerrod G (6 months ago)
    1. Meryl: Let me get you some help Truman, you're not well!
    – Submitted by Jason G (6 months ago)
    1. Christof: It's no accident that I wear this goofy little beanie.
    – Submitted by Jesse K (7 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Die Truman-Show (DE)
  • El show de Truman (ES)
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