I Saw the TV Glow: how to watch, awards, reviews, trailer, cast and everything we know about the A24 horror movie

Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine in I Saw the TV Glow
Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine in I Saw the TV Glow (Image credit: Zoey Kang/A24)

A24 and the Sundance Film Festival have been a great combination in recent years, and they're at it again as I Saw the TV Glow premiered at the marquee US film festival and is among the more intriguing 2024 new movie options.

Just in 2023 alone, Sundance served as the launching pad for major A24 movies Past Lives and Talk to Me. In 2024, the mini-studio/distributor also showed the Kristen Stewart movie Love Lies Bleeding at the fest, in addition to I Saw the TV Glow. The latter horror movie earned rave reviews from those who saw it at the festival, including calling it "a one-of-a-kind masterpiece," which should get moviegoers excited to see it. 

With that in mind, here is everything you need to know about I Saw the TV Glow.

I Saw the TV Glow how to watch

I Saw the TV Glow is now streaming on Max and is available via digital on-demand in the US. In the UK the movie is available through digital on-demand platforms.

I Saw the TV Glow cast

The two main members of the I Saw the TV Glow cast are Justice Smith, who plays Owen, and Brigette Lundy-Paine, playing Maddy. 

Smith has been a rising star over the last few years, appearing in the likes of The Get Down, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, Generation, Sharper and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. He also has another 2024 movie in addition to I Saw the TV Glow, the satire The American Society of Magical Negroes.

Lundy-Paine has also been building up their resume in their young career. Among their most notable roles were Atypical, Bombshell and Bill & Ted Face the Music.

Other members of the I Saw the TV Glow cast include Ian Foreman (Let the Right One In) as young Owen, Helena Howard (The Wilds) as Isabel, Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit) as Frank and Danielle Deadwyler (Till) as Brenda.

I Saw the TV Glow plot

An original script written by Jane Schoenbrun, here is the official synopsis for I Saw the TV Glow:

"Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen's view of reality begins to crack."

I Saw the TV Glow trailer

Watch the official, trippy trailer for I Saw the TV Glow right here: 

I Saw The TV Glow | Official Trailer HD | A24 - YouTube I Saw The TV Glow | Official Trailer HD | A24 - YouTube
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I Saw the TV Glow reviews

I Saw the TV Glow earned a "Certified Fresh" rating of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Among the plaudits, critics have described the movie as "exquisitely surreal" and "daring," and heralds director Jane Schoenbrun as "a major cinematic talent."

I Saw the TV Glow awards

Here's a roundup of the major awards and nominations that I Saw the TV Glow has earned thus far:

Gotham Awards

  • Best Director — Jane Schoenbrun (nominee)
  • Outstanding Lead Performance — Justice Smith (nominee)
  • Outstanding Supporting Performance — Brigette Lundy-Paine (nominee)

Independent Spirit Awards

  • Best Feature (nominee)
  • Best Director — Jane Schoenbrun (nominee)
  • Best Screenplay — Jane Schoenbrun (nominee)
  • Best Lead Performance — Justice Smith (nominee)
  • Best Supporting Performance — Brigette Lundy-Paine (nominee)

Jane Schoenbrun movies

Jane Schoenbrun is still a new director in Hollywood, but she previously made some noise with her movie, We're All Going to the World's Fair, which earned a "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. She also directed the movie A Self-Induced Hallucination.

I Saw the TV Glow poster

(Image credit: A24)
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Michael Balderston

Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the TV side he enjoys Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone, The Boys, Game of Thrones and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd.