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The Truman Show

  • 19981998
  • PGPG
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
1M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
377
89
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998)
Theatrical Trailer from Paramount
Play trailer2:32
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

An insurance salesman discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show.An insurance salesman discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show.An insurance salesman discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show.

IMDb RATING
8.2/10
1M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
377
89
  • Director
    • Peter Weir
  • Writer
    • Andrew Niccol
  • Stars
    • Jim Carrey
    • Ed Harris
    • Laura Linney
Top credits
  • Director
    • Peter Weir
  • Writer
    • Andrew Niccol
  • Stars
    • Jim Carrey
    • Ed Harris
    • Laura Linney
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.3KUser reviews
    • 251Critic reviews
    • 90Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #144
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 40 wins & 69 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Truman Show
    Trailer 2:32
    The Truman Show
    Dates in Movie & TV History: Jan 29, 1967 - "The Truman Show" Begins
    Video 2:49
    Dates in Movie & TV History: Jan 29, 1967 - "The Truman Show" Begins

    Photos188

    Noah Emmerich in The Truman Show (1998)
    Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998)
    Ed Harris and Paul Giamatti in The Truman Show (1998)
    Jim Carrey and Laura Linney in The Truman Show (1998)
    Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998)
    Ed Harris in The Truman Show (1998)
    Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, and Holland Taylor in The Truman Show (1998)
    Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998)
    Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998)
    Ed Harris in The Truman Show (1998)
    Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998)
    Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jim Carrey
    Jim Carrey
    • Truman Burbankas Truman Burbank
    Ed Harris
    Ed Harris
    • Christofas Christof
    Laura Linney
    Laura Linney
    • Meryl Burbankas Meryl Burbank…
    Noah Emmerich
    Noah Emmerich
    • Marlonas Marlon
    Natascha McElhone
    Natascha McElhone
    • Laurenas Lauren…
    Holland Taylor
    Holland Taylor
    • Truman's Motheras Truman's Mother
    Brian Delate
    Brian Delate
    • Truman's Fatheras Truman's Father
    Blair Slater
    • Young Trumanas Young Truman
    Peter Krause
    Peter Krause
    • Lawrenceas Lawrence
    Heidi Schanz
    Heidi Schanz
    • Vivienas Vivien
    Ron Taylor
    • Ronas Ron
    Don Taylor
    • Donas Don
    Ted Raymond
    Ted Raymond
    • Spenceras Spencer
    Judy Clayton
    Judy Clayton
    • Travel Agentas Travel Agent
    Fritz Dominique
    • Truman's Neighboras Truman's Neighbor
    Angel Schmiedt
    Angel Schmiedt
    • Truman's Neighboras Truman's Neighbor
    Nastassja Schmiedt
    • Truman's Neighboras Truman's Neighbor
    Muriel Moore
    • Teacheras Teacher
    • Director
      • Peter Weir
    • Writer
      • Andrew Niccol
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Since birth, a big fat lie defines the well-organised but humdrum life of the kind-hearted insurance salesman and ambitious explorer, Truman Burbank. Utterly unaware of the thousands of cleverly hidden cameras watching his every move, for nearly three decades, Truman's entire existence pivots around the will and the wild imagination of the ruthlessly manipulative television producer, Christof--the all-powerful TV-God of an extreme 24/7 reality show: The Truman Show. As a result, Truman's picturesque neighbourhood with the manicured lawns and the uncannily perfect residents is nothing but an elaborate state-of-the-art set, and the only truth he knows is what the worldwide television network and its deep financial interests dictate. Do lab rats know they are forever imprisoned? —Nick Riganas
    • hidden camera
    • simulated reality
    • fictional reality show
    • controlled environment
    • deception
    • 127 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • All the world's a stage...
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for thematic elements and mild language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ed Harris and Jim Carrey never met during filming.
    • Goofs
      It is an enduring myth that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from space. The wall is narrower than the average highway and is visible only in low orbit from where all manner of other man-made objects can also be seen.
    • Quotes

      Truman: [repeated line; frequently in the show] Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are for the "real" Truman Show, with lines like "starring Truman Burbank as himself" and "created and directed by Christof".
    • Alternate versions
      A lot more pseudo-documentary footage on the making of the fictional Truman Show was shot but not used in the theatrical version. Only some short segments have been included in the released film, in the pre-credits sequence. Segments of this outtake footage, featuring Meryl Burbank and Marlon being interviewed and talking about their roles on the show and their personal lives, have been included in some airline versions, presumably to pad the running times.
    • Connections
      Edited into Spisok korabley (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major (K. 331) (300), Third Movement: Alla Turca
      by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performed by Wilhelm Kempff, piano

      Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft mbH., Hamburg

      by arrangement with PolyGram Film and TV Music

    User reviews1.3K

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Ambitious and Entertaining Treatise on the Reality Media Creates for Us
    It's not often a Hollywood film arrives with such lofty ambitions as this. On one hand this is a high concept comedy in the vein of "Groundhog Day" about an unwitting man whose entire life has been a TV show. This is also a Jim Carrey vehicle designed to display his charms. On the other hand this a very satirical look at the way the media manipulates our reality. The film also wants to take a philosophical look at free will vs. a higher power and reality vs. fantasy. It doesn't always work as the satire often keeps you from thinking too deeply about the underlying themes and the philosophical stuff keeps the satire from biting as well as it could. Credit engaging performances and solid and thoughtful direction from Weir for keeping things afloat and entertaining. There are some great cinematic moments here. I loved the "stolen kiss on the beach at night" and "Cue the sun!"

    In the end this film is closer in spirit to psychological dramas and sci-fi movies where a person suddenly realizes they are the pawn in some grand experiment or a prisoner in an alien world than it is to anything in our current "reality TV" obsessed culture. Eventually it touches on a very basic conflict all humans must face (most people do so in childhood, some I fear never do). The universe does not revolve around us. In the closing moments we are excited for Truman because he finally realizes there is a whole new world out there to explore, but also slightly saddened because we know all to well that he will never be able to return to that idyllic "childhood" existence. How's it going to end? Who knows...but things will never be the same.
    helpful•118
    35
    • WriterDave
    • Mar 20, 2003

    FAQ1

    • Why isn't Truman angry at last at all? After all, he has been cheated for such a long time?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 5, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Buổi Diễn Của Truman
    • Filming locations
      • Seaside, Florida, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Scott Rudin Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $60,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $125,618,201
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $31,542,121
      • Jun 7, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $264,118,201
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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