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Observe and Report

Observe and Report

Right now, the world needs a hero.

200986 minRMidcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Director
Jody Hill
Starring
Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Anna Faris, Michael Peña

Mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt is called into action to stop a flasher from turning shopper's paradise into his personal peep show. But when Barnhardt can't bring the culprit to justice, a surly police detective is recruited to close the case.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Observe and Report?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Observe and Report streaming on Howdy via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Observe and Report?

Observe and Report earns 8 badges, led by Award Winner and Heavy for an R-rated film.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content
  • Cast

Reception

Is Observe and Report worth watching?

Observe and Report's Midcredits score is the 35th percentile of all films, from 124K ratings across 6 sources. 38% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

35th percentile

Better received than 35% of films

51st percentile among Action34th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)36th
Approval (how many liked it)35th

58 /100

36th percentile of all films

53rd percentile among Action36th percentile among 2000s

Critics 54 · Audience 58

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.9 — solid but not unanimous.

38% liked it

35th percentile of all films

49th percentile among Action32nd percentile among 2000s
38% rated it 7–1062% rated it 1–6

Critics 51% · Audience 37%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 4 noms overall

94th percentile

123K ratings across platforms

89th percentile among Action90th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 12% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$18M
Opening weekend$11M
Domestic gross$24M
Worldwide gross$27M

Returned 1.5× its budget — 71st percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree this is a deliberately ugly, abrasive dark comedy whose polarizing approach to mental illness and misanthropy defines the entire experience.

Fans praised

  • Seth Rogen's committed, nuanced performance as a deeply troubled character
  • Unflinching dark humor that pushes boundaries and subverts comedy expectations
  • Exceptional soundtrack and supporting turns from Michael Peña and Ray Liotta

Detractors panned

  • Repulsive, mean-spirited tone with no likable characters
  • Date rape scene and graphic male nudity are offensive, not funny
  • Muddled tone shift between bleak drama and slapstick never lands

What stands out

ActingDivisive75

Rogen delivers a credible, uncomfortable portrait of bi-polar delusion; Faris and Liotta praised for committed supporting work

Sound and music70

Soundtrack praised for Queen, Pixies covers, and effective needle drops

OriginalityDivisive60

Boldly unconventional blend of Taxi Driver homage and mall-cop satire; detractors call it a failed rip-off

HumorDivisive40

Deeply divisive: fans find it hilarious in its taboo-breaking, detractors report zero laughs

DialogueDivisive40

Excessive profanity over substance; exchange of 'f--- you' cited as either darkly funny or painfully lazy

EndingDivisive35

Shockingly violent climax divides sharply; fans find cathartic, detractors call it ridiculous and unsatisfying

CharactersDivisive25

Ronnie is a deliberately repellent anti-hero; detractors call everyone one-dimensional and unlikable

Plot and storyDivisive25

Thin, episodic flasher-hunt framework; fans see a character study, detractors see incoherence

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 21 points higher than women.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 5 points apart
  • Critics vs users 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is Observe and Report like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark comedy: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want to laugh at things you probably shouldn't.

It leaves you unsettled.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Dark comedy.

Moods
TenseAbsurdCold
Heaviest: throughout
Dark humor
The answer rests on this: Register
Deadpan · 1% of films: Delivered flat and unsmiling, which is the joke.Absurdist · 7% of films: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its delusional protagonist's antics with a deadpan seriousness that amplifies the absurdity, blending uncomfortable situations with dark humour.
The rideThe film maintains a consistently tense and absurd atmosphere, punctuated by moments of dark humor, with emotional pressure sustained from start to finish.
StructureThe story unfolds in a straightforward chronological sequence with a clear setup, escalation, and resolution.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

UnsettlingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's darkly comedic resolution and Ronnie's questionable triumph leave a mix of unease and twisted satisfaction.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% (this title) · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

21% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe story follows Ronnie's delusional mission to catch a flasher terrorizing the mall, framing it as a predator hunt. The film's darkly comedic and satirical tone loosens the fit.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfAmbitionSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 7% (this title) · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% (this title) · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Ambition · 7% of filmsSelf-worth · 7% of filmsRedemption · 6% of films: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).
Satirizes its theme: Attacks its theme through ridicule.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on Ronnie's desperate drive to become a police officer and prove his worth, while his delusions and failures fuel a need for redemption.
StanceThe film mocks Ronnie's ambition and delusions of grandeur, using satire to critique his single-minded pursuit of authority.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Joseph Stephens
SettingA suburban shopping mall and its surrounding town
MusicThe score blends orchestral cues with a subtle edge, underscoring both the mundane mall setting and the protagonist's grandiose fantasies.

Content guide

Is Observe and Report okay for kids?

R

Observe and Report is rated R: “Rated R for pervasive language, graphic nudity, drug use, sexual content and violence” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (68/100), sexual content at intense (76/100), language at severe (94/100), drug and alcohol content at severe (85/100) and frightening material at intense (61/100). Overall it is heavier than 93% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 10 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • Ireland18
  • JapanR18+
  • Belgium18
  • Denmark15
  • Greece16
  • Hungary18
  • Netherlands16
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 95% of all filmsHeavier than 93% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 48%
Sex & Nudity
Intense
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 94%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 97%
Alcohol & Drugs
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 95%
Frightening / Intense
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 46%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Heavy almost across the board: language, drug and alcohol content, sexual content, violence, and frightening material.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Observe and Report have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Observe and Report?

Cast

3 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Seth Rogen
as Ronnie
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ray Liotta
as Detective Harrison
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Anna Faris
as Brandi
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Michael Peña
as Dennis
Dan Bakkedahl
as Mark
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Jesse Plemons
as Charles
newcomer then · star now
John Yuan
as John Yuen
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Matt Yuan
as Matt Yuen
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Celia Weston
as Mom
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Collette Wolfe
as Nell
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Observe and Report?

Movies like Observe and Report include A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III (2012), Fade to Black (1980) and Mini's First Time (2006). Of the 9 closest matches, most are films that feel dark, and several are films about ambition.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 9 share its world: Los Angeles. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Observe and Report?

106 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: detective. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.