The Truman Show
An insurance salesman begins to suspect that his whole life is actually some sort of reality TV show.
Directed by Peter Weir · Comedy · Drama · 103 min · 1998
Trailer
Director
Peter Weir
Writer
Andrew Niccol
Studio
Scott Rudin Productions
Release
05 Jun 1998
Runtime
103 min
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Full Plot
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?
Cast & Characters
Truman Burbank
Jim Carrey
Hannah Gill, who plays Meryl, Truman's wife
Laura Linney
young Truman
Blair Slater
Louis Coltrane, who plays Marlon, Truman's best friend
Noah Emmerich
Lauren/Sylvia; Sylvia met Truman while playing Lauren, Truman's college schoolmate, who was originally just a background character, but whom Truman fell for
Natascha McElhone
Truman's mother, as portrayed by an in-universe actress
Holland Taylor
Truman's father, as portrayed by an in-universe actor
Brian Delate
Chloe, Christof's control room assistant
Una Damon
network executives
Philip Baker Hall and John Pleshette
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $60.0M, The Truman Show has grossed $264.1M worldwide — about 4.4x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
The Truman Show grossed $125.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Andrew Niccol completed a one-page film treatment titled The Malcolm Show in May 1991.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
The Truman Show holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (1,356,843 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 90/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 2, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.2/10 on IMDb (1,356,843 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 90/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Truman Show's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
The Truman Show holds a 94% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is The Truman Show's IMDb rating?+
The Truman Show has a 8.2/10 rating on IMDb from 1,356,843 votes.
What is The Truman Show's Metacritic score?+
The Truman Show has a Metascore of 90/100 on Metacritic.
Is The Truman Show good? What are critics saying?+
The Truman Show holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (1,356,843 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 90/100 on Metacritic.
How long is The Truman Show?+
The Truman Show has a runtime of 103 min.
Who directed The Truman Show?+
The Truman Show was directed by Peter Weir.
Where can I watch The Truman Show?+
The Truman Show is available to stream, rent, or buy on MGM Plus, JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex, Paramount Plus, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Basic with Ads, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, Netflix, Zee5.
Fan & Critic Buzz
Reviewers praise the film's originality, complexity, and philosophical depth, with some noting that it can evoke frustration and claustrophobia in viewers who relate to Truman's situation. The tone is generally positive, with many reviewers expressing admiration for the plot, acting, and direction. Some also appreciate the movie's commentary on reality TV and social media.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
**"The Truman Show"** dares to question the reality. It's original, complex, and philosophical. It manages to make you feel truly frustrated and **claustrophobic**. Perhaps many of us can relate to Truman as we live in a time of routines. We often live our lives without giving a…
Evan Zuqenshi · 8/10Truman...One of my favourite films. It's just hilarious. The whole concept that this man thinks he is living in the real world. Very well done to the Director and Writers!
On the surface, The Truman Show is about a man who has lived his life trapped inside of a bubble. He tries the entire movie to pop the bubble, and he eventually does. Under that layer, though, is a complex theme. Does Truman really enjoy his cell? He seemed to for years. At the s…
Dsnake1 · 9/10In a world experimenting with big brother reality shows and questioning what is real in a mtrix kind of way, The Truman Show is a splendid and well executed movie about a man owned by a corporation from birth, who lives on the set while not being aware of the fact that everything…
aardwark69 · 8/10Such a well executed plot. So much fun to watch. Jim Carrey, an actor I always enjoying watching, is terrific in the lead as Truman - he kills every moment, very much the perfect person to play this role. Laura Linney (Hannah), Ed Harris (Christof) and Noah Emmerich (Louis) are t…
r96sk · 9/10Seen this one numerous times, including in the theater, and still holds up so well, and is engrossing from beginning to end. It was the first time seeing how versatile Jim Carrey was. Just a great all around movie. **4.5/5**
JPV852 · 9/10How the heck did they make so much money off advertisements?!
James · 7/10If you think Simon Cowell is a television control freak, just meet "Christof" (Ed Harris) who built an huge great dome you can see from space, populated by dozens of ever-changing actors all so the ever-curious world can follow the life of one man. "Truman Burbank" (Jim Carrey) h…
CinemaSerf · 7/10Directed by Peter Weir and starring Jim Carrey in a career-defining role, the film tells the story of Truman Burbank, a man living unknowingly in a reality TV show. This premise alone sets it apart in cinematic history. Truman felt real, relatable, and honestly, just amazing. Wha…
RalphRahal · 9/10**_Take a smiling bow and exit_** A 30-years old man living in an idyllic community off the coast of America (Jim Carrey) wants to leave the isle but his efforts curiously seem hindered. What’s going on? “The Truman Show” (1998) is a drama/fantasy/satire helmed by Peter Weir and…
Wuchak · 6/10
