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The Visitor

Play trailer Poster for The Visitor PG-13 2008 1h 43m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 120 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) travels to New York for a lecture, he's stunned to find illegal immigrants Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira) living in his apartment. It comes out that it was rented to them by a swindler, and Vale feels sufficiently sorry for them that he invites them to stay. They get on well until Tarek is accused of jumping a subway turnstile and lands in a detention center. He risks being deported, and Vale does everything he can to prevent it.
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The Visitor

The Visitor

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Critics Consensus

The Visitor is a heartfelt, humanistic drama that deftly explores identity, immigration, and other major post-9/11 issues.

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Critics Reviews

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Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness 11/23/2008
C+
A character study drowning in liberal guilt. Go to Full Review Paul Byrnes Sydney Morning Herald 08/29/2008
4/4
A beautiful, quiet, measured movie about the death of some American values since September 11, 2001. Go to Full Review Anna Smith Empire Magazine Australasia 08/18/2008
4/5
The tension dips occasionally but stick with it and you'll be richly rewarded. Go to Full Review James Croot The Post NZ 04/06/2021
4/5
While newcomers like Sleiman and Gurira are impressive, it's the veterans Abbass (Paradise Now) and Jenkins (TV's Six Feet Under) who deserve the plaudits. Go to Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site 02/13/2021
The Visitor ... is a generous, humane response to the US government's war on the Middle East and on immigrants in America. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 11/28/2020
7/10
Richard Jenkins' acting is phenomenal, even though his role demands that he remove a wide array of emotions from his weathered face. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mary C. @swede55 Jun 17 Deep, riveting, characters you care about. ICE portrayal to a "T" Hated the ending :( See more Brian H @TheMrBrianH May 27 If you have the capacity to empathize with other humans, and the struggles they face, this movie is a delight. If you are bigoted against immigrants, you will not be able to see the Forrest for the trees, and will get mired in your hatred for people you see as lesser than you. The acting is very understated but extremely impactful. While it was produced in 2007, it is just impactful or more 19 years later. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jan 1 The worldwide gross is $18,213,880.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more John L @Jlungs 07/01/2025 Political pablum from far left Hollywood. I’m sick of Hollywood, which by all accounts is a morally bereft community, lecturing the rest of us about what’s decent. Hard pass See more thiago s @Thiagostone 03/06/2025 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são ruins, e o elenco é fraco e não ajuda em porra nenhuma no filme, a história é fraca e desinteressante e os personagens são ruins. See more LillikoiSeed T @RT65330625 06/25/2024 Excellent film with a well-rounded and empathetic cast. Grab a glass of wine and a tissue. See more Read all reviews
The Visitor

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Cast & Crew

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Tom McCarthy

Director

Richard Jenkins

Walter Vale

Hiam Abbass

Mouna

Haaz Sleiman

Tarek

Danai Gurira

Zainab

Maggie Moore

Karen

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The Visitor

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Movie Info

Synopsis When professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) travels to New York for a lecture, he's stunned to find illegal immigrants Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira) living in his apartment. It comes out that it was rented to them by a swindler, and Vale feels sufficiently sorry for them that he invites them to stay. They get on well until Tarek is accused of jumping a subway turnstile and lands in a detention center. He risks being deported, and Vale does everything he can to prevent it.
Director
Tom McCarthy
Producer
Mary Jane Skalski, Michael London, Omar Amanat
Screenwriter
Tom McCarthy
Distributor
Overture Films
Production Co
Participant Prods.
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 11, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.4M
Runtime
1h 43m