Verity: Is the Anne Hathaway/Dakota Johnson Thriller Worth Watching?
In short: Verity, the Colleen Hoover thriller with Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, opened in cinemas on October 2, 2026, and topped the US box office with an estimated $33.6 million. Critics were split, with a Rotten Tomatoes score in the 30s to 40s; audiences liked it more. If you loved the book's twisted twist, it's worth seeing; if you want a tight thriller, reviews suggest tempering expectations.
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- Released: October 2, 2026, in cinemas, from Amazon MGM Studios.
- Cast: Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, Anne Hathaway as Verity Crawford, Josh Hartnett as Jeremy Crawford.
- Based on: Colleen Hoover's 2018 thriller Verity.
- Rating and runtime: R, about 114 minutes.
- Opening weekend: number one in the US with an estimated $33.6 million, the biggest Hoover adaptation debut since It Ends with Us.
The premise
Lowen, a struggling writer, is hired to finish the bestselling series of Verity Crawford, who has been left unresponsive after a car accident. Staying in the Crawfords' house to work through Verity's notes, Lowen finds an unfinished autobiography revealing horrifying things about Verity's family, and grows closer to her husband, Jeremy.
What critics said
Reviews were sharply divided, with the Rotten Tomatoes score landing in "rotten" territory in the 30s to 40s. Variety's Guy Lodge called it a "flat-footed dud." Screen Rant's reviewer gave it 8/10, calling it a contender for the best Hoover adaptation to date. Many reviews praised Hathaway's committed, unhinged performance while finding the film tonally uneven. Audience scores were noticeably warmer.
Book vs movie
The book's appeal is its trashy, page-turning dread and an ending that makes readers argue. The film keeps the setup and the central question, but anything this dependent on a final twist loses some power if you already know it. Readers will mostly be watching for the performances.
Our verdict
A fun night out for Hoover fans and anyone who likes glossy, over-the-top thrillers. If you want something tighter, try Gone Girl instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is Verity the movie rated R? Yes. It's an R-rated thriller, about 114 minutes long, with sexual content and disturbing violence, like the book.
Should I read Verity before watching? If you can. The novel is short and the twist works best the first time, so experience it in whichever form you'd enjoy more.
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