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Free Guy

Free Guy is a 2021 American science fiction action comedy film directed by Shawn Levy.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Free Guy is a 2021 American science fiction action comedy film directed by Shawn Levy. It stars Ryan Reynolds as a bank teller who discovers he is a non-player character in a video game and tries to stop the game from being shut down. The film was released in Canada as a mainstream Hollywood studio release and is known in Quebec under the French title L'Homme libre.

Premise

The story centres on Guy, an everyday non-player character who becomes self-aware in a chaotic online game. As he changes his behaviour, he becomes key to saving the game world from shutdown.

Cast and characters

Ryan Reynolds leads the film as Guy, with Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Taika Waititi in major roles. The cast also includes supporting appearances from other performers and cameo appearances by gamers and streamers.

Production and release

Free Guy was directed and produced by Shawn Levy from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn. It was released in the United States on August 13, 2021, and was rated PG-13.

Reception

The film was marketed as a broad action-comedy with a video game premise. Available review sources describe it as a light, fast-paced science fiction comedy.

Key facts

  • The film follows Guy, a bank teller who learns he is an NPC inside an open-world video game.
  • Its setting is the fictional game world of Free City.
  • Ryan Reynolds plays the title character Guy.
  • Jodie Comer plays Millie, also known as Molotov Girl, a player in the game.
  • The film was released in U.S. theaters in August 2021.
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Canadian context

The film was released in Canada as a mainstream Hollywood studio release and is known in Quebec under the French title L'Homme libre.

Frequently asked questions

What is Free Guy about?
It is about a bank teller who discovers he is a non-player character in a video game and becomes self-aware.
Who directed Free Guy?
Shawn Levy directed and produced the film.
Who stars in Free Guy?
The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Taika Waititi.
When was Free Guy released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on August 13, 2021.
What genre is Free Guy?
It is a science fiction action comedy film.
What is the name of the game in Free Guy?
The fictional game is called Free City.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Guy
    Supports: Basic film identification, release year, director, screenplay, cast, and premise.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/free_guy
    Supports: Premise, rating, genre, and theatrical release date.
  3. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/free-guy-movie-review-2021
    Supports: Premise and description of the film's setting and main character.
  4. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Guy
    Supports: French-language Quebec title and film identification.