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Hollow Man

"Hollow Man" is a 2000 science fiction horror film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Andrew W.

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

Hollow Man is a 2000 American science fiction horror film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Andrew W. Marlowe from a story by Marlowe and Gary Scott Thompson. The film stars Kevin Bacon as Dr. Sebastian Caine, a scientist who becomes invisible after testing an experimental serum on himself. The invisibility process cannot be reversed, and Caine becomes increasingly unstable and violent.

Plot

The story follows Sebastian Caine, a researcher involved in a secret invisibility project. After he becomes invisible through self-experimentation, he is unable to be restored and descends into paranoia and violence.

Production

Hollow Man was directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Andrew W. Marlowe from a story by Marlowe and Gary Scott Thompson. It was produced as a science fiction horror film with a strong emphasis on visual effects.

Cast

The principal cast includes Kevin Bacon, Elisabeth Shue, and Josh Brolin. Other credited cast members include Kim Dickens, Greg Grunberg, Joey Slotnick, Mary Randle, and William Devane.

Reception and classification

The film was released in 2000 and is commonly categorized as science fiction horror. Source listings also describe it as a thriller, and it carries an R rating in one reference.

Key facts

  • "Hollow Man" is a 2000 American science fiction horror film directed by Paul Verhoeven.
  • The film stars Kevin Bacon as Dr. Sebastian Caine, a scientist who tests an invisibility serum on himself.
  • The invisibility process cannot be reversed, and Caine becomes increasingly unstable and violent.
  • The screenplay was written by Andrew W. Marlowe from a story he co-wrote with Gary Scott Thompson.
  • The film is broadly inspired by H. G. Wells's "The Invisible Man."

Frequently asked questions

What is "Hollow Man"?
It is a 2000 science fiction horror film about a scientist who becomes invisible after testing an experimental serum on himself.
Who directed "Hollow Man"?
Paul Verhoeven directed the film.
Who stars in "Hollow Man"?
The film stars Kevin Bacon, Elisabeth Shue, and Josh Brolin.
What is the plot of "Hollow Man"?
Sebastian Caine becomes invisible through a serum experiment, but the process cannot be reversed and his personality grows increasingly violent.
Is "Hollow Man" based on a book?
It is broadly inspired by H. G. Wells's "The Invisible Man."

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Man
    Supports: Release year, director, writer, cast, and core plot description
  2. Turner Classic Movies — https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/443262/hollow-man
    Supports: Plot summary and characterization of Sebastian Caine
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hollow_man
    Supports: Genre, release information, runtime, and summary of the premise
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164052/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot summary and the role of the invisibility experiment