The Beta Test (2021)
78%RT Audience Score: 60%
Awards & Nominations: 4 nominations
A darkly amusing thriller that discomfits as it entertains, The Beta Test satirizes Hollywood with savage flair.
The Beta Test” is a wild ride that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about Hollywood. With a magnetic performance from Cummings, this dark and satirical movie explores issues of masculinity, temptation, and digital identity in a way that’s both relevant and entertaining. Sure, it may be a bit messy and tangential at times, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? Buckle up and get ready for a high adrenaline, erotic thrill ride that you won’t soon forget.
Production Company(ies)
O2 Filmes, Video Filmes, Globo Filmes,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2021
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 34m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States, United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 5, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2021
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe, Virginia Newcomb, Kevin Changaris, Olivia Grace Applegate, Jessie Barr, directed by Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe, written by Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Natalia Winkelman, Claudia Puig, Matt Zoller Seitz, Scott Tobias, Katie Rife, Carlos Aguilar, Josh Parham, Guillem Martinez Oya, Jayne Nelson, Brian Eggert, Carson Timar, MPAA rating, Hollywood, satire, thriller, sexual encounter, murder, infidelity, agent, anonymous letter, lying, masculinity, temptation, digital identity, workplace, Hollywood insider, symbology, erotic thrill ride, desperate masculine posturing, commentary, performer, genre, distributor, producer, Natalie Metzger, Matt Miller, Benjamin Wiessner, limited release, streaming, IFC Films
Worldwide gross: $37,536
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $40,824
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,094
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,452
US/Canada gross: $30,520
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $33,194
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,778
US/Canada opening weekend: $17,841
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $19,404
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,524
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
PJ McCabe – PJ, Co-Director, Co-Writer
Virginia Newcomb – Caroline
Kevin Changaris – Unknown
Olivia Grace Applegate – Unknown
Jessie Barr – Lauren
Natalie Metzger – Producer
Matt Miller – Producer
Benjamin Wiessner – Producer
Director(s)
Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe
Writer(s)
Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe
Producer(s)
Natalie Metzger, Matt Miller, Benjamin Wiessner
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (87) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (80) | Rotten (7)
Tales of angsty alpha males who see the light are a cinematic sacred cow, yet lacking in clarity of vision or a cohesive world, “The Beta Test” comes out looking as confused as its antihero.
December 7, 2021
Natalia Winkelman
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
It is a really great Hollywood satire that I found amusing.
November 6, 2021
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Cummings and co-director/co-star PJ McCabe are more adept at maintaining tone than a lot of better-known filmmakers.
November 5, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Zoller Seitz
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
An unstable and unfocused satire that dabbles haphazardly in issues of masculinity, temptation, digital identity, and reformed workplaces but does so with a brio that keeps it on edge.
November 5, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Scott Tobias
The Reveal
TOP CRITIC
The results won’t help McCabe and Cummings land any well-paying sellout gigs any time soon. But if being a Hollywood insider is anything like it appears in this movie, is that really such a loss?
November 5, 2021 | Rating: B
Katie Rife
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
“The Beta Test” hinges on Cummings’ magnetically deranged turn.
November 5, 2021
Carlos Aguilar
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The topics of discussion have a pointed relevancy that makes them attractive, and centered around a commanding performance from Cummings makes it all the more inviting.
June 5, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Josh Parham
Next Best Picture
A dark and satiric movie about how we play a role in our social and cultural life. The life as a theatre where everyone plays a role. Here, the symbology is important. Full review in Spanish
February 24, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Guillem Martinez Oya
Cinematismo
The Beta Test can be a disorientating and even unpleasant watch, with a plot that careens as wildly as its lead character… but it’s often impossible to look away.
February 18, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Jayne Nelson
Radio Times
Although occasionally messy and tangential, the film and Cummings’ performance keeps us involved from moment to moment.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
A clear lack of craft and substance lets The Beta Test down yet the film shows no signs of worry or concern by this.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: C-
Carson Timar
ButteredPopcorn
The Beta Test is a high adrenaline, erotic thrill ride that will leave you breathless. Cummings has once again proven that he has a masterful understanding of blending genres.
February 12, 2022
Jeff Nelson
Showbiz Cheat Sheet…
Plot
An engaged Hollywood agent receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity, and digital data.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for The Beta Test.
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