Skip to main content
Celluloid
ComedyDrama Editor's Pick

The Truman Show Review (1998) — 88% Celluloid Score

Directed by Peter Weir · 1998 ·

Short answer

Is The Truman Show worth watching?

Yes. The Truman Show (1998) earns an 88% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

88%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

95% Editorial Rating
93% Audience snapshot · excluded
90 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.2
8.2 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 43m
Age rating
PG (US) · PG (UK) · PG (Australia) · PG (Canada) · 12 (South Korea)
Cast
Jim Carrey , Laura Linney , Noah Emmerich , Natascha McElhone , Holland Taylor , Ed Harris , Paul Giamatti , Brian Delate
Language
English

Also known as Truman Show: Historia de una Vida El show de Truman Die Truman Show O Show de Truman: O Show da Vida トゥルーマン・ショー 트루먼 쇼 楚门的世界 楚門的世界

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — our catalogue lists Paramount+ in the United Kingdom. Check local listings for your region.

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home, Spectrum On Demand

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Truman Show by country

Country Streaming on
Indonesia HBO Max
Japan Hulu, U-NEXT
Malaysia HBO Max
Philippines HBO Max
Thailand HBO Max
United Arab Emirates Shahid
United Kingdom Paramount+

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (95/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (93%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (90/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.2/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.2/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded comedy, drama pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is The Truman Show worth watching?

    Yes — The Truman Show earns an 88% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded comedy, drama pick. Read our full review (4/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Weir’s reality-TV parable made Carrey a prestige lead — still essential “is it worth watching” fodder.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is The Truman Show about?

    In a picture-perfect seaside town, an insurance salesman begins to realize that his entire existence may be staged and observed by a vast unseen audience as part of a long-running real-time reality TV show.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The Truman Show

    The Truman Show (1998) Review: A Prison Made of Sunshine

    The Truman Show is Peter Weir's sunny, unsettling satire about a man whose whole life is a TV show, and Jim Carrey's best dramatic turn is at its heart.

    Yes. It is a smart, moving and still-relevant satire of media and surveillance that works for teenagers and adults alike, though its satire is gentle.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    The Truman Show stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Truman Show production still 1
    The Truman Show production still 2
    The Truman Show production still 3
    The Truman Show production still 4
    The Truman Show production still 5
    The Truman Show production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Truman Show: frequently asked questions

    Is The Truman Show worth watching?

    Yes. The Truman Show (1998) has a Celluloid Score of 88%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch The Truman Show?

    In the United States you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: HBO Max in Indonesia; Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; HBO Max in Malaysia; HBO Max in the Philippines. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The Truman Show?

    The Truman Show runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).

    What is The Truman Show rated?

    The Truman Show is rated PG in the United States, PG in the UK, PG in Australia, PG in Canada and 12 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Truman Show?

    The Truman Show is directed by Peter Weir and stars Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor.

    What is the Metascore for The Truman Show?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Truman Show is 90 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

    More Like This

    Ranked by genre overlap and Celluloid Score. More movies like The Truman Show →