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Series 7

Play trailer Poster for Series 7 R 2001 1h 26m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
72% Tomatometer 83 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
"The Contenders," the highest-rated reality program on U.S. television, selects people at random -- to kill off one another until a lone champion survives. On the show, six contenders (normal people living everyday lives) are picked at random by lottery, given a gun, assigned a cameraman and let loose.
Series 7

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Boasting no big-name stars, Series 7 is surprisingly well-acted. Its timing is impeccable, with its dark humor casting shadows over the enjoyment and popularity of today's reality-TV shows.

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Critics Reviews

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John Zebrowski Seattle Times Jun 22, 2001
A gritty, disturbing and very funny satire that points the finger as much at its audience as those who make 'reality TV.' Go to Full Review Mark Kermode Sight & Sound Jun 7, 2001
Ends up straddling an uneasy divide between genuinely edgy artistry and bluntly indulgent bluster, leaving us uncertain whether it's the television show portrayed or the film itself that's the real turn-off. Go to Full Review Adam Smith Empire Magazine Jun 1, 2001
3/5
A sporadically amusing but overambitious first feature that would have worked better as a short. Still, it provides a respite from blockbuster fare and a much-needed poke in the eye for reality TV junkies. Go to Full Review Christine Champagne Out Magazine May 26, 2022
Outrageously funny, Sarin 7 cleverly spoofs how extreme reality TV has become. Go to Full Review Erik Anderson Awards Watch Apr 7, 2020
4/4
A bleak dead-end at our potential cultural void, it's nevertheless a scary and hilarious film. Go to Full Review B. Ruby Rich The Nation Feb 25, 2020
Minahan learned the vocabulary of the new "reality" TV so well that Series 7 is a pitch-perfect satire of the genre: It takes the form of a TV show that selects contestants at random, arms them and instructs them to fight to the death. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Todd F @Tiddlows Sep 7, 2026 Series 7: The Contenders is a nasty little blast of satire disguised as a reality show, where the line between entertainment and horror gets thinner with every trigger pull. It’s darkly funny, deliberately uncomfortable, and somehow feels more relevant the longer you sit with it. The clever dialogue gives the film its sharpest edge, while the deadpan performances make the absurdity feel disturbingly believable. Beneath all the blood and black humor is a pointed question: what happens when people stop watching the spectacle and become part of it? See more Allison A @AlissonAnderson32 Jul 28, 2026 Series 7: The Contenders treats reality television like the logical endpoint of civilization, then dares you to laugh at how plausible it feels. Its razor-sharp satire lands every punch, turning confessionals, sponsorships, and casual violence into the same ugly spectacle. The deadpan performances never wink at the audience, which somehow makes the absurdity even funnier. Smart, savage, and years ahead of its time, it's the kind of film that leaves you entertained and just a little suspicious of the next thing you watch. See more Dwayne W @Dwayneee Mar 28, 2026 Series 7: The Contenders is a savage little grenade disguised as a TV show. It takes the absurdity of reality entertainment, cranks the volume to maximum, and dares you to laugh while everything goes completely off the rails. Smart, brutal, and wickedly funny, it turns violence and celebrity obsession into a sharp-edged carnival ride. A fearless satire that proves the scariest thing on screen might be the audience cheering from the couch. See more Andy B @AndyB21 Feb 13, 2026 A reality TV satire that is too blunt to be either particularly funny or entertaining. See more Robin O @RT70734306 Oct 1, 2025 Amidst the dry humour, the film is chilling, because it rings far too true. See more Movie W @RT11415920 Oct 1, 2025 A bleak dead-end at our potential cultural void, it's nevertheless a scary and hilarious film. See more Read all reviews
Series 7

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Daniel Minahan

Director

Brooke Smith

Dawn

Glenn Fitzgerald

Jeff

Marylouise Burke

Connie

Richard Venture

Franklin

Michael Kaycheck

Tony

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Series 7

Brooke Smith stars as contender Dawn in the Daniel Minahan film SERIES 7, a USA Films release. (Left to right) Brooke Smith discusses a scene with director Daniel Minahan on the set of his film SERIES 7, a USA Films release. (Left to right) Glenn Fitzgerald and Brooke Smith star in the Daniel Minahan film SERIES 7, a USA Films release. Marylouise Burke and Glenn Fitzgerald in the Daniel Minahan film SERIES 7, a USA Films release. (Top left to bottom right) Brooke Smith, Glenn Fitzgerald, Michael Kaycheck, Merritt Wever, Marylouise Burke and Richard Venture star in the Daniel Minahan film SERIES 7, a USA Films release. (Left to right) Brooke Smith discusses a scene with director Daniel Minahan on the set of his film SERIES 7, a USA Films release. Glenn Fitzgerald in the Daniel Minahan film SERIES 7, a USA Films release. Brooke Smith stars as contender Dawn in the Daniel Minahan film SERIES 7, a USA Films release. Series 7 (2001) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis "The Contenders," the highest-rated reality program on U.S. television, selects people at random -- to kill off one another until a lone champion survives. On the show, six contenders (normal people living everyday lives) are picked at random by lottery, given a gun, assigned a cameraman and let loose.
Director
Daniel Minahan
Producer
Jason Kliot, Katie Roumel, Christine Vachon, Joana Vicente
Screenwriter
Daniel Minahan
Distributor
USA Films
Production Co
Blow Up Pictures, October Films, Open City Films, Killer Films
Rating
R (Strong Violence|Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 20, 2001, Original
Box Office (Gross USA)
$171.5K
Runtime
1h 26m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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