SummaryWhen Tommy (Jake Johnson) is invited into a limo by famous actor Andy Samberg, his dull life takes a thrilling turn. He is offered a chance to win a million dollars in a dark web reality TV show, where assassins from all over the world attempt to kill him for 30 days. The catch? He can't be killed if he's not entirely alone, leading him to recrui... Read More
Directed By:Jake Johnson
Written By:Jake Johnson
Self Reliance
Metascore
Mixed or Average
59
User score
Mixed or Average
5.7
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
59
54% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
46% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Jan 5, 2024
75
There’s never any danger of Self Reliance’s reach exceeding its grasp, but it gets a firm handle on the things it does want to achieve: tell good jokes, craft likeable characters, and strike a lighthearted tone that’s always just a little bit odder than you may be expecting.
Jan 11, 2024
70
For a movie with such a nose for nuttiness, its human element is genuine and warm.
User score
Mixed or Average
5.7
33% Positive
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
55% Mixed
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
12% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
Jan 31, 2024
10
Jake Johnson made a fun movie (directed the film and stars in it). The movie made me laugh the entire way through and had me not knowing what was coming next. Hulu has it listed as a Comedy Thriller. The Thriller part is a reach but it's definitely exciting. The acting is very good and is compromised of a team of talented and well known actors. The story is a clever spin on "The Most Dangerous Game," which is always an entertaining story line. Jake Johnson once again shows us that he is a great actor! I highly recommend giving Self Reliance a shot; you will be pleasantly surprised and impressed with how good it is.
Jan 25, 2025
8
I enjoy movies that have a "game" aspect to them in everyday life, this was a cool idea of having to have someone by your side, led to hilarious moments & funny dialogue, I enjoyed this movie from start to finish.
Mar 17, 2023
70
Johnson delivers a silly and frequently surprising why-we-need-people parable that leans on laughs in lieu of peril.
Jan 9, 2024
63
It’s a little too “Garden State” in places, but Johnson smartly puts a grim enough layer on their dynamic to avoid turning the whole thing into a treacly rom-com.
Mar 17, 2023
60
Self Reliance fares better when it plays up its fictional reality TV show. Johnson flexes his familiarity with the landscape and its mechanics.
Jan 11, 2024
50
This is one of those projects in which everyone on set seemed to have fun making a movie. That joy comes through, even if the finished film induces a good-natured shrug.
Jan 11, 2024
40
The premise is also genuinely neat, a fun, breezy little 90-minute high-concept that unfortunately sounds more propulsive and invigorating than it really is.
Feb 22, 2026
7
Self Reliance is an odd movie that lacks a much needed twist in the final act, but if you’re happy to go along for the ride it’s all relatively entertaining and pretty funny at times as well.
Jan 21, 2024
6
Let's be honest, A lot of Hulu releases are pretty awful so I was pleasantly surprised that I liked this one. Jake Johnson did a good job as director, writer and lead. It's an interesting story with a few laughs along the way and worth giving a shot if you have nothing else to watch.
Jan 9, 2024
6
Self Reliance has its moments coupled with some moderate twists and head-scratching weirdness but chills down too quickly with a mellow vibe that spoils any frantic action. Indeed, the movie simmers throughout when it should be boiling.
Feb 11, 2024
3
I thought this was rather stupid. I didn’t find it funny at all. Even taking into account that this was a farce more than anything, there were just so many flaws in the storyline. I think the music score was this film’s best attribute. Aside from that, less than impressive.
Jan 14, 2024
2
Jake Johnson "relied" on himself as writer/director and lead actor in the film and the help of friends might have made this film beter. He plays a regular guy who's approached by the real Andy Samberg to participate in a dark web reality game: To earn $1million he must avoid people out to kill him for 30 days. The plot has sufficient potential for comedy or thrills, but there's none of either. Johnson isn't very funny and the situations he writes aren't especially interesting. The film is sufficiently energetic, but lacks anything or anyone that would make it memorable or even fun.
