Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Jul 28, 2026

[Robert Altman] brings the satirical sensibility of a veteran who’s been through the Hollywood ringer and come out alive, yet for all the cynicism and politics of the portrait, he creates likable, compelling characters and riveting scenes ...

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 13, 2025 4/4

One of the great films of the 1990s.

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Farah Cheded A Good Movie To Watch Aug 18, 2023

Deliciously meta... simply masterful.

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Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) May 9, 2023

Part satire of Hollywood and its ever molting presence of dealmakers and sycophants, The Player is also a suspense film wickedly sure of its targets.

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Zita Short InSession Film Feb 7, 2023 C-

I think that The Player fails when it comes to achieving its main objective, pillorying the industry, and that does end up counting for a lot.

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Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Feb 14, 2022 4/4

Through Altman's incomparable perspective, The Player would become the ultimate post-modern insider's film, whose deconstructive approach dishes on Hollywood culture in all its insidious glory.

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Sarah Brinks Battleship Pretension Apr 1, 2021

...movies like The Player bring into harsh light that box office success will trump art most of the time...

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Ellie Lucas From the Front Row Jun 5, 2019 3.5/4

Altman structures the The Player like a film noir, but one that feels like a tune on a piano being played slightly off-key.

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Andrea Beach Common Sense Media Nov 22, 2016 5/5

Noir masterpiece has nudity, lots of strong language.

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Armond White National Review Nov 4, 2016

The Player, which Altman made after years of struggle, with all Hollywood fascination worn away, is Altman's dour version of Dante's Inferno. His satire forces us to realize the obscenity of Clinton-era corruption - once again.

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Rob Thomas Madison Movie Jun 10, 2016 4/4

In "The Player," Altman creates a scathing satire of Hollywood - and then lets his satire itself gets seduced by Hollywood schmaltz. Because what better way to show how seductive it is?

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James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk Jun 8, 2016 4/4

Altman knew Hollywood, but The Player casts a much wider net by allowing the movie industry to stand in for the shark-eat-shark nature of modern business in general

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Witney Seibold CraveOnline Jun 3, 2016

Altman was making a sour, salient, cynical, and passionate point about how artistry and edge had been drained from Hollywood. By 1992, the suits were in charge.

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Apr 30, 2016 A+

"The Player" was an instant classic when it was released, and it stands up to close scrutiny. This is one fun movie.

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Josef Braun Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta) Nov 18, 2015

The Player has enough truly hilarious bits and inspired sequences-that baroque opening-sequence shot is a masterpiece in itself-to make it well worth your time, its very silly story is ultimately a fairly paltry piece of social commentary.

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Kevin Carr 7M Pictures Jan 19, 2014 4/5

Altman lets us vacation in Hollywood for a bit but not too long to feel smothered

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Sep 7, 2011 A

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Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Feb 13, 2011 B+

Amusing black comedy on Tinseltown.

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Mike McGranaghan Aisle Seat Sep 11, 2010 4/4

The Player can be admired even more now than it was at the time, because it so succinctly diagnosed the sickness that still causes Hollywood to churn out too much soulless "product."

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John J. Puccio Movie Metropolis Aug 30, 2010 7/10

Altman performs a bit of legerdemain, poking fun at the film industry while simultaneously paying tribute to it.

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