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Verity opens to mixed reviews for Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway

moviesSep 30, 20265098

Verity, directed by Michael Showalter and starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, opened this week to largely mixed and negative reviews. Critics called Showalter’s handling of the material listless and lacking feel for the erotic thriller elements, with headlines calling it a "dumb mystery" that "drift[s]" and "fails to slink." Several reviewers and posts describe the film as mostly faithful to Colleen Hoover’s novel but playing it safe and leaning into trashy, sensational beats without fully delivering suspense or chemistry between the leads. FlickDirect gave Hathaway a credited performance but a final grade of C+, and multiple critics singled out the movie’s preoccupation with sexual detail while finding the plot thin. The film premiered in New York and opens in theaters Friday, October 2, with early coverage likely to shape audience expectations ahead of the wider release.

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