While tipping a delivery man, reclusive Charles accidentally leaves his keys in his apartment and finds himself locked out. The inconvenience soon turns into a day of befriending neighbors he had never met, reflecting on his recent breakup, and exploring his feelings and values.
The Outside Story was scheduled to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 18, 2020,[4] but the festival was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] It premiered instead at Rooftop Films on August 1, 2020.[6] In February 2021, Samuel Goldwyn Films acquired U.S. distribution rights, and set it for an April 30, 2021 release.[7]
Reception
The Outside Story received positive reviews from film critics. It holds 88% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 52 reviews, with an average of 7.1. The site's critical consensus reads, "A refreshingly optimistic look at urban community life, The Outside Story is further distinguished by a layered leading performance from Brian Tyree Henry."[8] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 69 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[9]