The Outside Story

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1:52

The Outside Story

2021

1h 25m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Brian Tyree Henry takes on his first big screen lead role as Charles Young, a broken-hearted video editor. Perceiving a betrayal of trust as a sign his girlfriend Isha (Sonequa Martin-Green) is leaving him, Charles preemptively blows up his relationship and sequesters himself at home. The fates do not comply and Charles locks himself out of his apartment. Stumbling into a transformational, timely odyssey exploring his community, Charles meets a dynamic ensemble of previously avoided neighbors (including Sunita Mani, Olivia Edward and Asia Kate Dillon) who show him everyone's got issues and it never helps to keep them all locked up.

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Critics Consensus

A refreshingly optimistic look at urban community life, The Outside Story is further distinguished by a layered leading performance from Brian Tyree Henry.

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Dwight Brown

National Newspaper Publishers Association

06/23/2021

1.5/4

Even a bevy of idiosyncratic supporting characters (flirty policewoman, priggish gay upstairs neighbor, older woman looking for romance) can't compensate enough for a storyline that feels like it can't get off its own treadmill.

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Angie Han

Mashable

05/12/2021

It may not be exactly the experience we're going through right now, but Nozkowski's gentle charmer does serve as a reminder of the joys of going out and meeting people again.

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Musthafa Azeez

Globe and Mail

05/06/2021

The Outside Story will leave you smiling and ready to connect with your loved ones once again.

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Carlos Ovalle

But Why Tho?

01/22/2023

5.5/10

Despite The Outside Story’s aimless nature, some might enjoy Casimir Nozkowski’s quiet and snoozy direction; it just isn’t the lead role debut Brian Tyree Henry deserves.

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Norman Wilner

NOW Toronto

03/29/2022

4/5

Henry – an invaluable ensemble player in everything from Atlanta and Widows to Spider-Man and Godzilla Vs. Kong – is quietly great in his first leading role, and Nozkowski keeps the tone pleasantly busy rather than panicked.

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Lonita Cook

Black Bee Buzz

06/10/2021

Henry's tender performance and his buttered beauty mixed with clever dialogue to mask the cracks in the overall execution.

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Boo B

@ReddBerry Feb 24

Very good movie! A light hearted, warm, relatable film with comedic moments.

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Kennith B

Nov 23

Absolutely EXCELLENT.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 07/02/2025

Success in 1 hour and 25 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kyle M

@RT77296778 07/17/2024

Simplistic realism, occasional comedic and empathetic resonance towards Brian Tyler Henry’s gently performed plight positionally enables an open-minded insight of how beneficially optimistic social extroversion can be, successfully attempted in shedding a light in the unwanted situation. (B)

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02/18/2022

Such a funny, heartfelt film. From the directing to the performances to the writing -- I absolutely loved it. A beautiful New York story!

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02/18/2022

I loved The Outside Story. Incredibly well written in terms of both story and dialog, such beautifully thought out shots, terrific directing/acting. Bryan Tyree Hill was fantastic and perfectly cast. Also very much loved Hannah Bos and the great performance by the young Olivia Edward. The scoring was TIGHT and perfect. It was well-crafted and executed in every detail. I both laughed out loud and teared up. I really really loved it.

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Casimir Nozkowski

Director

Brian Tyree Henry

Charles Young

Sonequa Martin-Green

Isha

Sunita Mani

Slater

Olivia Edward

Elena

Asia Kate Dillon

Inez

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The Outside Story: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Brian Tyree Henry takes on his first big screen lead role as Charles Young, a broken-hearted video editor. Perceiving a betrayal of trust as a sign his girlfriend Isha (Sonequa Martin-Green) is leaving him, Charles preemptively blows up his relationship and sequesters himself at home. The fates do not comply and Charles locks himself out of his apartment. Stumbling into a transformational, timely odyssey exploring his community, Charles meets a dynamic ensemble of previously avoided neighbors (including Sunita Mani, Olivia Edward and Asia Kate Dillon) who show him everyone's got issues and it never helps to keep them all locked up.

Director: Casimir Nozkowski
Producer: Frank Hall Green, Brian Newman, Joseph Stephans
Screenwriter: Casimir Nozkowski
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: Greenmachine Film, Sub-Genre Film
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 30, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 30, 2021
Runtime: 1h 25m