The Player

R

Released Apr 3, 1992

2h 3m

Comedy

List

97%

Tomatometer

68 Reviews

84%

Audience Score

10,000+ Ratings

Certain that the anonymous threats he's been receiving are the work of David Kahane (Vincent D'Onofrio), producer Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins) tries to fix things over cocktails. Instead, Griffin ends up murdering the screenwriter and courting the dead man's girlfriend (Greta Scacchi). As police investigate, Griffin concentrates on a prestigious film that might reinvigorate his career. But he soon learns that David's demise hasn't been forgotten by everyone in Hollywood.

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Critics Consensus

Bitingly cynical without succumbing to bitterness, The Player is one of the all-time great Hollywood satires -- and an ensemble-driven highlight of the Altman oeuvre.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A

Nov 6, 2009

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

Hilarious and deadly, this may be Altman's most completely realized film since his glory days in the '70s.

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

Deliciously meta... simply masterful.

Aug 18, 2023

Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Part satire of Hollywood and its ever molting presence of dealmakers and sycophants, The Player is also a suspense film wickedly sure of its targets.

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Zita Short

InSession Film

I think that The Player fails when it comes to achieving its main objective, pillorying the industry, and that does end up counting for a lot.

Rated: C-

Feb 7, 2023

Full Review

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Farah R

Although it's a slow film, The Player is a brilliant Hollywood satire that exposes the industry's darker side. Flaunting a cast of talented actors and a few astounding cameos, the film combines humor and suspense to tell its riveting story. If one can muster the patience to sit through its awful pace, it's well worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/24

Full Review

helder f

A satirical movie about Hollywood, studios and movies. What makes a good movie? And who gets to decide it? This kind of satire will feel differently to Hollywood insiders than outsiders, but it's relevant to everyone. Besides the satire, it has some comedic value, and unrealistic moments. It is a bit flat and repetitive. How many conversations about scripts are enough? How many threatening postcards should a producer receive?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/13/24

Full Review

Bryce G

Very solid movie definitely worth a watch

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

Full Review

Daniel V

I forgot how good this movie is. I saw it in High School and liked it but I didn't appreciate it until I started working in Hollywood. Then I really got it. This Hollywood satire may be director Robert Altman's finest film and that's saying a lot from such an accomplished filmmaker. Same can be said about Tim Robbins, who has turned in many stellar performances but none better than the slimy Hollywood executive he plays here. I haven't watched in years but this latest viewing has it vaulting up my list to the perfect 10s. The amount of A-List cameos alone is worth a watch. I wish I had seen in it theaters because that opening, one shot scene was cinematic brilliance at every level.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

Alec C

This is one savage satire of the ruthless side of Hollywood and the lengths people go to get made! Movies, madness and murder ensue as the lines between morality begin to fade as the curse of show business encampens the entire cast. No one is worth rooting for in this world as likable heroes only exist in the realm of film!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/23

Full Review

Marcus B

I don't know if I missed something but this movie did nothing for me. Even though it was made years before the Big Lebowski something about it wishes it was the Big Lebowski. It just doesn't land in any way shape or form. I would love to know how this movie got good reviews.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/12/23

Full Review

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Robert Altman

Director

Tim Robbins

Griffin Mill

Greta Scacchi

June Gudmundsdottir

Fred Ward

Walter Stuckel

Whoopi Goldberg

Detective Susan Avery

Peter Gallagher

Larry Levy

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Synopsis

Certain that the anonymous threats he's been receiving are the work of David Kahane (Vincent D'Onofrio), producer Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins) tries to fix things over cocktails. Instead, Griffin ends up murdering the screenwriter and courting the dead man's girlfriend (Greta Scacchi). As police investigate, Griffin concentrates on a prestigious film that might reinvigorate his career. But he soon learns that David's demise hasn't been forgotten by everyone in Hollywood.

Director: Robert Altman
Producer: Michael Tolkin, David Brown, Nick Wechsler
Screenwriter: Michael Tolkin
Distributor: Fine Line Features, Criterion Collection
Production Co: Avenue Pictures Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 3, 1992, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 24, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.7M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Surround

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