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Free Guy 2021
Action comedyScience fiction actionScience fiction comedy
A 2021 American science fiction action comedy film, Free Guy stars Ryan Reynolds as a bank teller who realizes he is a non-player character within a massive multiplayer online game. He teams up with a player in order to stop the game from shutting down. The movie was directed and produced by Shawn Levy, with screenplay written by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn, and a story credited to Lieberman. Supporting roles are played by Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Joe Keery, and Taika Waititi.
Lieberman started developing the script in 2016, which was later picked up by 20th Century Fox. Although Levy initially passed on the project, he changed his mind after Hugh Jackman brought Reynolds into the picture, leading him to abandon development of an Uncharted video game adaptation. Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, Free Guy became one of the first productions under the new ownership to continue filming. Principal photography occurred in Massachusetts and California from May through July 2019.
The film faced two delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic before its premiere at the 74th Locarno Film Festival on August 10, 2021. It opened in U.S. theaters three days later via 20th Century Studios. Commercially, it earned $331.5 million worldwide, surpassing its $100-125 million budget. Critics responded positively, drawing comparisons to Ready Player One, The Truman Show, The Matrix, Grand Theft Auto, and Fortnite. The film received a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 94th Academy Awards.
Trailer
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Cast
- Ryan ReynoldsGuy / Blue Shirt Guy
- Jodie ComerMillie Rusk
- Lil Rel HoweryBuddy
- Joe KeeryWalter "Keys" McKey
- Utkarsh AmbudkarMouser
- Taika WaititiAntwan Hovachelik
- Channing TatumRevenjamin Buttons
- Matty CardaropleKeith
Crew
- Director
- Shawn Levy
- Screenplay
- Matt Lieberman, Zak Penn
- Story
- Matt Lieberman
- Producer
- Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, Sarah Schechter, Greg Berlanti, Adam Kolbrenner
- Cinematography
- George Richmond
- Editing
- Dean Zimmerman
- Music
- Christophe Beck
Details
- Production
- 21 Laps Entertainment, Berlanti Productions, Lit Entertainment Group, Maximum Effort
- Distributor
- 20th Century Studios
- Budget
- $100–125 million
- Box office
- $331.5 million
