Wasteman

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1:57

Wasteman

Apr 2026

1h 30m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Taylor is branded a "wasteman" by society, his family and in prison. In a world of parties, gangs and violence, he's managed to keep out of trouble. However, with the arrival of chaotic cellmate Dee, the chance to make early parole and get his life back are put in jeopardy.

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Critics Consensus

A prison picture with a terrific pair of lead performances by David Jonsson and Tom Blyth, Wasteman is harrowing, superbly acted across the board, and revealing about the incentives for violence in the correctional system.

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Tim Grierson

Los Angeles Times

Apr 27, 2026

The movie’s bitterest irony is that, of the two men, it’s ultimately Dee who may be more honorable.

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

Apr 17, 2026

3.5/4

It's a genre piece with tragic weight.

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

Apr 15, 2026

3/4

Through the jangly use of cellphone cameras capturing violence on the cellblock and a winnowed down running time, “Wasteman” doesn’t waste one second of a film time. It certainly has a surplus of talent in front of and behind the camera.

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Luis Martínez

El Mundo (Spain)

Jul 17, 2026

4/5

Cal McMau makes his debut with a feverish exercise in prison cinema that is as ruthless as it is starkly human. [Full review in Spanish]

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Nando Salvá

Cinemanía (Spain)

Jul 16, 2026

4/5

It lasts only an hour and a half, and thanks to all of this, it doesn't need any more to accumulate a true tragic magnitude. [Full review in Spanish]

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Fran Chico

Fotogramas

Jul 13, 2026

4/5

There's an electric tension between [Tom Blyth and David Jonsson], a mixture of fragility and arrogance, of fear and defiance, that sustains the entire story, transcending its mafia-movie aesthetic. [Full review in Spanish]

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown 2 days ago

Inside the correctional facility, it's a world with different rules. Huge drug guy comes in a gives the "wasteman" a leg up all the while endangering his chances of getting out and getting to his son.

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Binged Y

@RT00736710 3 days ago

Have to say there's definitely an audience for this that would enjoy it. That being said I really did enjoy the movie. It was very intense and had me on edge of seat. Its definitely not a shawshank redemption but wastemen is really entertaining. I was literally yelling at the TV at end of movie telling the character NO DONT and stuff like that. I dont want to spoil anything but everything definitely works out. Only thing I would critic is when they were throwing parties like it was a college dorm, the angles were a little weird but other than that I enjoyed the movie.

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Aadil M

@RT69075013 Sep 27, 2026

Great film! Great acting! Great plot twist!

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Ericka M

@donnaricka Sep 26, 2026

Excellent performance especially from the 2 leads.

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Umarbin S

@umarbin Sep 26, 2026

really good watch, tense plot, well acted

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Tel M

@Telboy Sep 26, 2026

Brilliant true to life film of what prison is reallly like!! couple of wee mistakes but it can be forgiven...stolen knife from kitchen going unnoticed!

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Cal McMau

Director

David Jonsson

Taylor

Tom Blyth

Dee

Alex Hassell

Paul

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Wasteman: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Taylor is branded a "wasteman" by society, his family and in prison. In a world of parties, gangs and violence, he's managed to keep out of trouble. However, with the arrival of chaotic cellmate Dee, the chance to make early parole and get his life back are put in jeopardy.

Director: Cal McMau
Producer: Sophia Gibber, Myles Payne
Screenwriter: Hunter Andrews, Eoin Doran, Hunter Andrews, Eoin Doran
Distributor: Vertigo Releasing / Sunrise Films
Production Co: Agile Films
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 17, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 19, 2026
Runtime: 1h 30m

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