Science fiction fans have less than a week to stream an iconic film that has been praised for “predicting” the future, as it is set to leave Amazon Prime Video.
Released in October 1998, the film was nominated for three Oscar awards in the screenplay, director and supporting actor categories.
It follows the dull story of a salesman who seemingly leads a perfect life, until viewers discover that none of it is real.
Unbeknownst to the protagonist, he lives on a television set with cameras documenting his every move and broadcasting it to the nation. When he begins to sense the “truth”, he embarks on a journey to escape the simulated reality.
In the age of Big Brother, Love Island, and even twenty-four hour online streamers – the film has been lauded for being ahead of its time.
Titled The Truman Show, the comedy stars Jim Carrey in the titular role of Truman Burbank and is widely considered one of his best performances.
Although the psychological drama debuted over 25 years ago, its cultural influence remains consistent. First-time viewers will likely spot similarities between the film and modern television shows.
Fans on social media have noticed that Black Mirror takes inspiration from the narrative. On Letterboxd, one moviegoer awarded the film five stars and joked: “The Truman Show was Black Mirror before Black Mirror was Black Mirror.”
Another person shared the same sentiment on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “The Truman show is kinda the original Black Mirror if you think about it.”
Other film fanatics rave about the drama’s longevity. One Google reviewer said: “I’ve seen this film maybe 20 times by now, and I always think I can watch a portion or maybe half before heading to bed, but I simply for the life of me can never hit that stop button.
“This is by far one of Jim Carrey’s finest movies, filled with hope and dreams, love and lies, even the soundtrack is inspiring.”
Another person wrote on IMDB: “One film that left a massive impact on me from the first time I saw it up until today when I revisited was 1998’s “The Truman Show,” a film that predated and somehow predicted the reality TV era of society.”
Exploring poignant themes such as the free will, the manipulation of reality, and privacy in the modern world – The Truman Show is a treat for science fiction fans.
The Truman Show is available to stream on Prime Video until Tuesday December 17.