Hollow Man (2000)

27% of critics liked it
(113 reviews)
35% of users liked it
(345,224 ratings)

In this sci-fi thriller, a man and a woman must fend off a killer whom they cannot see. Scientist Sebastian Caine (Kevin Bacon) is working with a secret military research team headed by Dr. Kramer (William Devane), assigned to create new intelligence technology. With the help of his colleagues Linda… More In this sci-fi thriller, a man and a woman must fend off a killer whom they cannot see. Scientist Sebastian Caine (Kevin Bacon) is working with a secret military research team headed by Dr. Kramer (William Devane), assigned to create new intelligence technology. With the help of his colleagues Linda McKay (Elisabeth Shue) and Matt Kensington (Josh Brolin), Sebastian has been developing a serum that makes people invisible. The formula is new and unstable, but after a risky but successful test on an ape, an impatient Sebastian, under pressure from Kramer, decides to try it on himself. It works, but no one counted on the side effects; unable to reverse the serum's effects, an invisible Sebastian goes insane, and begins pursuing Linda (his former girlfriend) and Matt (Linda's current beau) in a fog of homicidal rage. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, Hollow Man also features Kim Dickens, Mary Randle, Joey Slotnick, and Greg Grunberg. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Paul Verhoeven
Written By: Andrew W. Marlowe
Genres: Action & Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Aug 4, 2000 Wide
On DVD: May 8, 2001
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Despite a wealth of special effects and direction by Paul Verhoeven, Mr. Over-the-Top himself, this movie is surprisingly inert, more dull than anything else, with little to recommend it on any level.
Robert Koehler, Variety
Is a combo of thrills, juicy one-liners and fine star turns by Kevin Bacon and Elisabeth Shue.
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today
Ultimately the title is most revealing. It's hollow, man.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Women in the audience now have as many bad role models on screen as the men sitting around them.
Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
Hollow Man is hollow is because there's a void where its imagination should be.
Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News
Too bad they couldn't figure out a way to make the whole movie invisible.
M. Faust, Common Sense Media
Even for mature viewers, this is a flop.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Hollow Man has some of the coolest special effects I've seen. Too bad the film lives up to its name, offering nothing of substance.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
All this magical computer-generated whiz-bang, and they can't do more with it than a climax ripping off your choice of slasher movies and Alien films?
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...one can't help but admire the glee with which Verhoeven has imbued the film's more disgusting moments...
John Venable, Supercala.com
The violence in this movie is very graphic, so if that isn't your thing...skip it.
James Rocchi, Netflix
Invisible man tale mixes high-tech effects and old-fashioned chills for out-of-sight entertainment.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Interesting concept by director Paul Verhoeven, Hollow Man is an intense Sci Fi horror film with a good cast of actors. The special effects are well done, however considering that this is a film by Paul Verhoevem, it lacks in delivering what you'd expect from the man that brought… More
Interesting concept by director Paul Verhoeven, Hollow Man is an intense Sci Fi horror film with a good cast of actors. The special effects are well done, however considering that this is a film by Paul Verhoevem, it lacks in delivering what you'd expect from the man that brought classic films such as Robocop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers to the screen. This is still a well acted film that has it its moments. Kevin Bacon gives a stunning performance, and Hollow Man manages to thrill despite its flaws. I felt that this was a departure from Verhoeven's previous work, because after all he did direct Robocop. Hollow Man though is a good film for what it is as it blends Sci Fi elements with horror and thrills into one film. The story is quite interesting, and works quite well. However there are a few things that could have been done better. Despite the flaws the film is quite entertaining and is visually appealing as well as having an interesting plot. The acting performances delivered by the cast are wonderful and they each bring something effective to the screen. Kevin Bacon is great in his role of Sebastian Caine. Verohoeven's change of direction works well, and he proves that he can make something different while retaining his signature style. Hollow Man is an effective Sci Fi horror film that has an intricate story and good acting. This is a better film than what most people say and it delivers effective chills with a good enough story to keep you interested till the end. A good film worthy to watch.
Gregory D

Kevin Bacon starred with Kevin Costner in JFK (1991)...who was one of the star cast members in 3000 Miles to Graceland with Courtney Cox...who used to attend summer camp as a child with Chip Brown...who used to work with me at my last job. There I did it in 4!!! Lmao! Oh yeah... the… More
Kevin Bacon starred with Kevin Costner in JFK (1991)...who was one of the star cast members in 3000 Miles to Graceland with Courtney Cox...who used to attend summer camp as a child with Chip Brown...who used to work with me at my last job. There I did it in 4!!! Lmao! Oh yeah... the movie was okay....
Dead A

So so.
Anthony L

A real wasted opportunity. The story was sound enough but instead of exploring the possibilities of megalomania a person could experience after invisibility they just decided that an egotistical version of Jason would be just as good and no real reason needs to be given as to why a… More
A real wasted opportunity. The story was sound enough but instead of exploring the possibilities of megalomania a person could experience after invisibility they just decided that an egotistical version of Jason would be just as good and no real reason needs to be given as to why a change in character would occur at such a quick rate. Also, everyone runs in a funny way, watch it again and tell me there isn't something odd about the way they all run. Their running was better than their acting though, it would have been cheaper and probably more worth while getting in some cardboard cut-outs. A stupid film that is only worth watching if you like Bacon bits (although there are are many other films out there if you like that kind of thing). One star for, although outdated, still pretty cool effects.
Conner R

Very bizarre take on The Invisible Man. To see him as a pervert is something new and unexpected. It has a lot of the same humor as Paul Verhoeven's other films, so if you enjoy them, then you will enjoy this. Kevin Bacon always plays a great psychopath.
Wahida K

Great Suspense.
Lady D

A great edge of your seat Thriller/Horror. Kevin Bacon plays evil impressively in this well cast film, which combines Science and endless possibilities when things begine to spiral out of control. The use of effects in this film are outstanding and really create the atmosphere of… More
A great edge of your seat Thriller/Horror. Kevin Bacon plays evil impressively in this well cast film, which combines Science and endless possibilities when things begine to spiral out of control. The use of effects in this film are outstanding and really create the atmosphere of the story.
Jason O

The first time I saw the previews for "Hollow Man," I knew I had to see this movie. Of course, what I was impressed with the most by the previews were the special effects, and that was what I was most impressed with after I finally saw the movie. Sebastian (Kevin Bacon) is a… More
The first time I saw the previews for "Hollow Man," I knew I had to see this movie. Of course, what I was impressed with the most by the previews were the special effects, and that was what I was most impressed with after I finally saw the movie. Sebastian (Kevin Bacon) is a genius who has already made something that can make animals completely invisible. Since the experiment works successfully with animals, Sebastian begins to wonder whether it would work or not on a human. To find out, he volunteers to be the first person the experiment is tried on. Will his new invention be as great as it sounds or will something go wrong? I recommend watching the movie to find out. The special effects in "Hollow Man" are some of the best I've ever seen in any movie. I can't believe that it didn't win a lot of awards for best special effects of the year because they are spectacular to say the least. Plotwise, the movie seemed a bit left off. After Sebastian finds out that he is going to be invisible a little longer than expected, the movie takes a huge twist that is both compelling and unexpected. As a subplot, Sebastian isn't too happy with a past breakup with his co-worker ex-girlfriend, Linda (Elisabeth Shue). When I was a kid i used to imagine being invisible and what it would be like. "Hollow Man" appeased some of my past imaginations about being invisible and toying with people because Sebastian did tons of that in this movie. Even though "Hollow Man" wasn't the kind of movie that I thought it was gonna be, and even though it has a choppy plot, I still thought it was a cool movie. I recommend anybody who likes watching movies with spectacular special effects or anyone who has ever had fantasies about being invisible to watch or get "Hollow Man." It's not as bad of a movie as some of the critics and some of the other reviewers are saying it is. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001. One of those not quite as good as you thought it'd be from the previews, but still da kewl.
Martin S

Good movie...Good Action....Great Special Effects
Coxxie M

i ised to like this when he was invisible sucking the girls tit. cause its every 10year-olds fantasy to be invisible so you could suck a girls tit.
Randy T

Valiant effort from director Paul Verhoeven but this retelling of The Invisible Man misses the mark.
Candy R

A group of scientists discover they can make people invisible. Kevin Bacon's character becomes obsessed and goes on a rampage. Interesting take on the Invisible Man.
Tsubaki S

Bad beyond words, what was Verhoeven thinking? I'll take Showgirls any day over this.
Stephen M

Multi-million dollar B-movie.
Wildaly M

Good movie.
Curtis L

I'm sorry I'm going to kick you in the face sweetie- this is what i say to you hollowman!
Dean !

A cool horror/thriller with great SFX!
xGary X

Another stinker from Paul Verhoeven. A promising young scientist tests an invisibility serum on himself and promptly turns into a psychotic pervert who strangely seems to also become nigh on indestructable in a Jason-style way. Badly written, ugly effects, and nonsensical plotting. A… More
Another stinker from Paul Verhoeven. A promising young scientist tests an invisibility serum on himself and promptly turns into a psychotic pervert who strangely seems to also become nigh on indestructable in a Jason-style way. Badly written, ugly effects, and nonsensical plotting. A complete waste of time.
danny d

silly but not totally pointless
Jason S

Kevin Bacon is always good and this wasn't too bad a flick.