Just Play Dead

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Just Play Dead

R

Aug 2026

1h 36m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

9%

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11 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Wealthy criminal mastermind Jack Wolfe (Samuel L. Jackson) is cornered by the Feds, but you can't arrest a dead man. His plan? Fake his death, claim a $30 million insurance payout with his grieving wife Nora (Eva Green), and frame her surfer lover Chad. But Nora, suffocated by Jack's ruthless control, has her own scheme: kill Jack for real, frame Chad, and keep the fortune for herself. Jack, always a step ahead, sets a deadly trap, turning the unsuspecting lovers against each other.

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Phil Hoad

Guardian

Sep 28, 2026

3/5

Lacking much mordant snap in the dialogue, and dependent on a trio of over-familiar stereotypes, it’s never quite as funny or sharp as it thinks it is. It has its moments, though.

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Craig D. Lindsey

RogerEbert.com

Aug 28, 2026

1/4

At least it looks like Jackson had some fun both enjoying and chewing the scenery whenever he could. Too bad he’s the only one.

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Todd Gilchrist

Variety

Aug 27, 2026

Even with Samuel L. Jackson among his lead actors and journeyman director Martin Campbell at the helm, "Just Play Dead" feels more like a tax shelter (especially given its Canary Islands production backdrop) than a proper crime yarn.

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Andrew Murray

The Upcoming

Oct 5, 2026

2/5

Despite a charismatic turn from Jackson, this deadly cat-and-mouse affair from Casino Royale director Martin Campbell isn’t funny enough to work as a comedy and is too convoluted to generate satisfying thrills.

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Michael Cook

KLRT-TV

Sep 25, 2026

3/10

This movie is so bad I think they deliberately made it bad to get a tax write-off. That's the only explanation why this movie is so horrible.

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

Sep 4, 2026

D+

"Just Play Dead" has lovely locations and a lot of sun, but there’s little happening here that commands attention.

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Sol R

@RT62593935 3 days ago

OH LORD, SOME OF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO WATCH MOVIES!!! "Too much dialogue"? It's NEO-NOIR, darling! Beautiful people drinking, lying and murdering. THE TALKING IS THE POINT! 😂 After years of AI mermaids marrying billionaire vampires, apparently following a plot requires a PhD and life support. Martin Campbell gave us Casino Royale, and now we're offended his characters TALK?! WITH THEIR MOUTHS?! CALL THE POLICE! Eva Green could make a grocery receipt sound like a criminal conspiracy, and Samuel L. Jackson could bully a parking meter into confessing. FABULOUS! Murder, fraud, betrayal… Ahhhh, marriage! 💍 Perfect? NO. Entertaining? ABSOLUTELY! Yes, Campbell made Green Lantern. Some marry idiots. Some get botched haircuts. LET THE MAN LIVE! 😂 VERDICT: LOVED IT! Too complicated? Try Peppa Pig. Baby steps, darling. Wouldn't want your last neuron to resign.

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Arya B

@BlueArya 4 days ago

Eva Green's still got it but this movie was a mess

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Georgia B

@RT31109700 5 days ago

Not a film critic but I’m just here to tell you, don’t bother. It’s not worth anyone’s time.

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ARNEZ C

@Arny6tearz 6 days ago

I'm indifferent about this movie I like Sam Jackson but I really I do think he shines in here but I don't think it really was his movie not like normally I understood what was going on but yeah

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Harrison H

@RT59861771 Oct 22, 2026

It was the best movie ever it should me n1

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Ken B

@MrBelmont Sep 22, 2026

Ahahahahaaaaahhaaaaa!! Do enjoy this 1980’s flick…that was released in 2026! LMFAO!

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Martin Campbell

Director

Samuel L. Jackson

Jack Wolfe

Eva Green

Nora Wolfe

Eoin Macken

Dani

Lee Boardman

Miguel

María Pedraza

Bianca

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Synopsis

Wealthy criminal mastermind Jack Wolfe (Samuel L. Jackson) is cornered by the Feds, but you can't arrest a dead man. His plan? Fake his death, claim a $30 million insurance payout with his grieving wife Nora (Eva Green), and frame her surfer lover Chad. But Nora, suffocated by Jack's ruthless control, has her own scheme: kill Jack for real, frame Chad, and keep the fortune for herself. Jack, always a step ahead, sets a deadly trap, turning the unsuspecting lovers against each other.

Director: Martin Campbell
Producer: Phil Hunt, Valentin Dimitrov, Sagiv Diamant, Phil Hunt, Mario Reinach, Moshe Diamant
Screenwriter: Dan Gordon
Distributor: Vertical
Production Co: Mendips Film, Atelier11, Head Gear Films, Vacancy Films, Safe Place Films, Metrol Technology, Gemstone Films
Rating: R (Rape|Language|Drug Use|Sexual Content|Some Violent Content)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 28, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2026
Runtime: 1h 36m

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