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Entertainment • Film

A Man Called Otto

A Man Called Otto is a 2022 American comedy-drama film directed by Marc Forster and written by David Magee.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

A Man Called Otto is a 2022 American comedy-drama film directed by Marc Forster and written by David Magee. The film stars Tom Hanks as Otto Anderson, a grieving widower whose life changes after new neighbours move in next door. It is a remake of the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove, itself based on Fredrik Backman’s 2012 novel.

Plot

The film centres on Otto Anderson, a grieving and irritable widower who becomes involved with the people living near him after a young family moves in next door. The story focuses on his changing relationships and emotional recovery.

Production

A Man Called Otto was directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by David Magee. It adapts Fredrik Backman’s novel through the earlier Swedish film version, making it a second-screen adaptation of the same source material.

Cast

The film stars Tom Hanks in the lead role, with Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo in supporting roles. Tom Hanks’s son Truman Hanks also appears in the film.

Release

The film had a limited theatrical release in late December 2022 before expanding widely in the United States in January 2023. It later became available on streaming platforms.

Key facts

  • A Man Called Otto is a 2022 American comedy-drama film.
  • Tom Hanks stars as Otto Anderson, a grieving widower whose outlook changes.
  • The film is a remake of the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove.
  • It is based on Fredrik Backman’s 2012 novel A Man Called Ove.
  • The film was directed by Marc Forster and written by David Magee.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed internationally and became available to Canadian viewers through major theatrical and streaming release windows, making it relevant to Canadian audiences as a widely seen Hollywood adaptation.

Frequently asked questions

What is A Man Called Otto?
It is a 2022 American comedy-drama film about a grieving widower whose outlook changes after he gets to know his neighbours.
Who directed A Man Called Otto?
Marc Forster directed the film.
Is A Man Called Otto based on a book?
Yes. It is based on Fredrik Backman’s 2012 novel A Man Called Ove.
Is A Man Called Otto a remake?
Yes. It is a remake of the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove.
Who stars in A Man Called Otto?
Tom Hanks stars as Otto Anderson, alongside Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

References

  1. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt7405458/
    Supports: Director, writer, and principal cast.
  2. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Man_Called_Otto
    Supports: Release year, nationality, genre, remake status, and plot overview.
  3. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_man_called_otto
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, rating, and release dates.
  4. Netflixhttps://www.netflix.com/title/81616256
    Supports: Synopsis and principal cast listing.
  5. Common Sense Mediahttps://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/a-man-called-otto
    Supports: Runtime, rating, release timing, and thematic description.
  6. The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jan/08/a-man-called-otto-review-tom-hanks-formulaic-but-charming-grumpy-old-man-movie
    Supports: Plot context, character description, and remake status.