First Time Caller

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First Time Caller

2022

1h 15m

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

Drama

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Brent Ziff is an internet shock-jock at the top of his game. Fans and followers tune in from coast to coast to be insulted and enlightened by their favorite online provocateur. But on one very unusual night, Brent's world is rocked by a long-time listener who calls in with a grave message.

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Meredith Jill Brown

Dread Central

Jul 16, 2025

4/5

‘First Time Caller’ is tense, smart, and shocking.

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Aaron Murray

Loud and Clear Reviews

Aug 4, 2024

4/5

At a time when many high-budget films can fail to impress, First Time Caller is a fun and unique breath of fresh air.

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Sonny Bunch

The Bulwark

Jan 19, 2024

3/4

Definitely “talky”—virtually every moment involves Ziff and Shorty’s banter; please don’t complain to me if you watch and get annoyed by movies where people talk a lot—but at a brisk 75 minutes, the duo does not outstay their welcome.

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Olga Artemyeva

ScreenAnarchy

Jan 10, 2024

Manages to pack a lot in 75 minutes. It starts with the commentary on the Internet culture and then unfolds as an actual apocalypse movie – even though it happens off screen, that doesn’t make its horror any less tangible.

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Josh Bell

Crooked Marquee

Jan 10, 2024

C+

A podcast can convey the scope of a global catastrophe with just audio, but as a movie, First Time Caller mainly showcases its limitations.

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Alan Ng

Film Threat

Dec 14, 2023

8/10

There is not a lot of glitz and glamour in First Time Caller. But its hard-edge conversation and broader questions about this very divided world are worth giving a chance.

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Bisquiteen T

@RT65021124 Sep 1, 2026

It's pretty rare that a film can be equally effective as a thriller and a comedy, but First Time Caller pulls it off. The dialogue is hilarious, the premise itself is hilarious (HALF SPOILER: it's about a guy who predicts apocalyptic events through colon cramps), but the tightly constructed thriller aspects in the script keep you just as seated as the riotously funny components. The story is also able to seamlessly blend in the nature of a 24/7 news cycle and how societal anxiety increases as a result. Aside from the excellent writing, the leads are great as an obnoxious radio host and a bowel-movement Nostradamus. The director keeps the film just claustrophobic enough that you can appreciate the humor while feeling the tension. The ending is a bit abrupt for a film with so much buildup, but I think it actually does work here.

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D C

@RT34833697 Dec 28, 2025

Novel concept. Engaging dialogue. It should be on netflix - instead I found it for free on Youtube. Well done

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B P

@Bradster69 Jan 18, 2024

‘First Time Caller' is tense, smart, and shocking.

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J.D. Brynn

Director

Abe Goldfarb

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Synopsis

Brent Ziff is an internet shock-jock at the top of his game. Fans and followers tune in from coast to coast to be insulted and enlightened by their favorite online provocateur. But on one very unusual night, Brent's world is rocked by a long-time listener who calls in with a grave message.

Director: J.D. Brynn, Abe Goldfarb
Producer: Patrick Terry
Screenwriter: Mac Rogers
Distributor: Buffalo 8
Production Co: Cinedata
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 12, 2024
Runtime: 1h 15m

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