Poolman
Vertical Entertainment | Release Date: May 10, 2024 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
29
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
5
Negative:
9
Watch Now
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
63
RogerEbert.comMatt Zoller SeitzMay 10, 2024
The movie has a clearly defined aesthetic and a consistent tone and a good heart, and there are moments where it wanders into the sublime. Read full review
60
The New York TimesNicolas RapoldMay 10, 2024
Pine wisely avoids winks to the audience. But he whiffs at making the mystery especially gripping, leaving one instead to savor the moments, like a note-perfect Bening calmly talking Pine’s befuddled pool man through his latest setback. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesKatie WalshMay 9, 2024
Pine’s Poolman is sort of the physical, emotional and spiritual embodiment of Los Angeles itself: earnest, silly and a little (or a lot) ridiculous, but insistently charming if you decide to surrender to the experience. Read full review
50
SlashfilmRafael MotamayorSep 12, 2023
The mystery is a convoluted mess, clearly attempting to marry the intrigue of "Chinatown" with the escalating chaos of a Coen Brothers movie while failing to make things compelling, all while the wacky humor falls flat. Read full review
45
TheWrapMartin TsaiSep 18, 2023
The film never fully commits itself to neo-noir beyond the plot. Read full review
40
The Daily BeastNick Schager
Conspiracies are everywhere in Poolman, although the greatest mystery might be how anyone involved was attracted to this tidal wave of dire kookiness. Read full review
30
Screen RantPatrice WitherspoonSep 22, 2023
Poolman is an unfunny spoof of neo-noir thrillers with hazy direction, even messier storytelling, and unbearable dialogue. Read full review
30
The Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenSep 14, 2023
While Pine is undeniably a charismatic actor, that likability can only generate so much audience good will in a production overstuffed with cartoonish caricatures lacking any sort of deeper connective tissue. Read full review
25
The A.V. ClubEmma KeatesMay 8, 2024
If you’re a Chris Pine super-fan looking to live inside the actor’s head for a little while, Poolman just might be for you. But if you’re pretty much anyone else—even someone looking for some so-bad-it’s-good fun—take a lesson from the walkouts and stay out of the splash zone. Read full review
25
ColliderTania HussainSep 13, 2023
Without the foundation of solid writing for Pine to direct from, everything ends up being lackluster and takes away from that aspect, no matter how strong the cast is and how cartoonish the situations are. Read full review
20
Total FilmMatt MaytumSep 14, 2023
You can at least say for the film that it’s clearly targeting a surreal, stoner vibe. But even cutting it that slack, there’s barely anything here to recommend. Read full review
0
San Francisco ChronicleBob StraussMay 11, 2024
Like “Chinatown” with no stakes or “The Big Lebowski” minus the laughs, Poolman is a neo-noir comedy that shares just one quality with its superior influences: a palpable love for Los Angeles in all its corrupt, cruddy glory. Read full review
0
ObserverRex ReedMay 11, 2024
Not only is it the worst movie I have seen this year, this dog is one of the worst movies ever made. Read full review
0
VarietyOwen GleibermanSep 25, 2023
I take no vicious pleasure in saying that Poolman, a movie that Pine co-wrote, directed, and stars in, is not only the worst film I saw during the fall festival season but would likely be one of the worst films in any year it came out. Read full review
0
IndieWireSiddhant AdlakhaSep 13, 2023
It’s only 100 minutes long, but upward of 99 of those minutes are likely to be spent in silent boredom, if not irritated disbelief at being subjected to such guileless, artless nonsense. Read full review
More From This Movie

29 Critic Reviews

tbd User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL