The Gates

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2:07

The Gates

R

Mar 2026

1h 38m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

The Gates follows three college students -- Derek, Kevin, and Tyon (Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, and Keith Powers) on a road trip gone wrong, as the three young men take an ill-advised shortcut through a remote gated community, where they find themselves trapped behind the walls after witnessing a murder. Over the course of the night, they find themselves blamed, hunted, and fractured by their own differing belief systems, while the perpetrator--James Van Der Beek, at his most charming and terrifying--emerges as the cunning patriarch that holds the entire community under his influence.

Peter Travers

The Travers Take

Mar 14

2.5/4

In his final film, James Van der Beek raises the bar on a standard-issue thriller through the sheer force of his talent and magnetism.

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William Bibbiani

TheWrap

Mar 13

'The Gates' is constantly on the verge of getting better, sometimes on the verge of getting good, but it never quite gets there. It’s a missed opportunity for thrills, social commentary, humor and/or horror.

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Bob Strauss

San Francisco Chronicle

Mar 13

2.5/4

“The Gates” benefits from simple, straightforward plotting and understated social commentary that’s as effective as shouted outrage.

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George and Josh Bate

ScreenAnarchy

1d

4/5

By couching relevant, albeit heavy-handed, racial commentary in a tense and contained thriller, The Gates operates effectively both as a cinematic thrill-ride and thought-provoking endeavor.

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Joe Friar

Fort Worth Report

4d

3/4

John Burr's sophomore film is a worthy thriller with solid performances, including James Van Der Beek as the villain. The late actor gives us one more memorable role.

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Preston Barta

Dallas Observer

4d

'The Gates' easily could have been a standard, throwaway thriller. Instead, it is a fun, intense and socially resonant ride that treats its characters — and its setting — with deep respect.

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Cherry M

@CherryM113 1d

Too slow without a payoff

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Timothy R

@Timreese 2d

So sad this is Vanderbeek’s final film, deserved a lot better.

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Lorry B

@JamaicanStoryteller 2d

The Gates. From its very first moments, THE GATES grips you with an intensity that won’t let you go. It’s the kind of film that reminds you why you go to the movies in the first place; to feel something real and exciting. It tells a tense story about three friends whose lives fall into chaos after they witness a murder inside what seems like a safe, gated community. From that moment on, everything unravels into a steady rise of fear, danger, and survival. There are no slow or boring parts; it keeps moving and keeps you guessing. I found myself fully captivated. Knowing this is Kamala Avila-Salmon’s first major film makes it even more remarkable. The movie feels polished, like it was made by someone with far more experience. In the end, The Gates is more than just a thriller; it’s an experience. Riveting, intense, and absorbing, it keeps your heart racing. If you’re looking for a movie that will keep you fully invested from start to finish, The Gates is one you cannot miss.

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Brandon L

@branlucas 3d

Have to be honest, couldn't get through the whole thing so maybe it got better at the end.

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Patricia B.

@RT22763073 3d

Movie was well structured true to life movie. I enjoyed the movie

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Jay S

@GNJStaya 3d

I'm typically not into the Thriller genre but this film was really entertaining and more grounded than most of it's kind. James Van Der Beek had a really stellar performance and the twists and turns were really fun and engaging!

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John Burr

Director

Mason Gooding

Derek

Algee Smith

Kevin

Keith Powers

Tyon

Jack Snyder

Thad

Sofia Hublitz

Roxy

The Gates: Trailer 1

2:07

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Synopsis

The Gates follows three college students -- Derek, Kevin, and Tyon (Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, and Keith Powers) on a road trip gone wrong, as the three young men take an ill-advised shortcut through a remote gated community, where they find themselves trapped behind the walls after witnessing a murder. Over the course of the night, they find themselves blamed, hunted, and fractured by their own differing belief systems, while the perpetrator--James Van Der Beek, at his most charming and terrifying--emerges as the cunning patriarch that holds the entire community under his influence.

Director: John Burr
Producer: Nancy Leopardi, Ross Kohn, Gary Glushon
Screenwriter: John Burr
Distributor: Lionsgate
Production Co: Indy Entertainment, Core 4 Films
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 13, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 1h 38m