This Is Not a Test (2026): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
This Is Not a Test is a 2026 horror thriller directed by Adam MacDonald, starring Jeff Roop as Sloane's father, Froy Gutierrez and Chloe Avakian. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $150,000 worldwide on a $3 million budget. Critics gave it 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and 36 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 42m (102 min)
- Director
- Adam MacDonald
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Anova Pictures
- Budget
- $3M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is This Is Not a Test About?
The premise of This Is Not a Test without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
When a sudden apocalypse devastates their town, Sloane and a few classmates seal themselves inside the high school, hoping the walls will keep them safe. As danger pounds the doors, Sloane begins to see the world through the eyes of those who truly want to survive, and she takes decisive action to protect her friends and confront the threat.
This Is Not a Test Cast & Characters
Jeff Roop leads the cast as Sloane's father, with Froy Gutierrez as Rhys and Chloe Avakian as Grace Casper. Directed by Adam MacDonald; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Adam MacDonald
- Jeff Roop as Sloane's father
-
Froy Gutierrez as Rhys - Chloe Avakian as Grace Casper
- Joelle Farrow as Lily Price
Also Starring in This Is Not a Test
· 6 more- Luke Macfarlane Mr. Baxter
- Olivia Holt
- Carson MacCormac
- Missy Peregrym Emergency Voice
- Corteon Moore
- Perez Tieku Man on Megaphone
More from Adam MacDonald
More films directed by Adam MacDonald, best-rated first: Pyewacket, Backcountry and Out Come the Wolves.
This Is Not a Test Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave This Is Not a Test 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and 36 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 30/100, strongest in sensory experience (38) and weakest in character & emotion (28).
This Is Not a Test Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, the film registers as a largely ineffective entry in the zombie genre, hindered by unremarkable craftsmanship and flimsy storytelling. Critics and viewers alike note a reliance on familiar tropes, limited emotional engagement, and technical shortcuts that undermine immersion. While a few observers appreciate its thematic ambition, the dominant impression is one of missed potential and limited appeal for repeat viewings.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 32
In terms of art and craft, the production displays a modest technical competence but lacks visual distinction. Reviewers point to cheap-looking sets, artificial zombie designs, and a B‑movie aesthetic that detract from polish. Direction and editing are described as functional rather than inventive, resulting in a respectable yet uninspired visual presentation.
- Character & Emotion 28
When evaluating character and emotion, the film falls short of delivering compelling performances. Critics and users criticize flat acting, underdeveloped personalities, and dialogue that feels forced. Although a minority note moments of attachment to the protagonist, the prevailing view is that characters lack depth and fail to generate meaningful emotional resonance.
- Story & Flow 34
The story and flow are viewed as formulaic and predictable, with a plot that telegraphs twists and offers little tension. Reviewers highlight a sloppy script, repetitive scenes, and an over‑reliance on genre conventions that weaken narrative momentum. Some appreciate its fidelity to source material, yet overall the storytelling is considered weak.
- Sensory Experience 38
Sensory experience receives mixed feedback, with occasional praise for effective gore sequences but frequent criticism of sound design and visual fidelity. Viewers describe the soundtrack as unremarkable and the visual style as cheap, noting fake zombie appearances. The limited sensory impact contributes to a generally lukewarm auditory and visual impression.
- Rewatch Factor 30
Rewatch factor is low, as many reviewers label the film boring, repetitive, and lacking in sustained suspense. While a small subset finds the thematic angle intriguing enough for a second look, the consensus is that the movie offers little incentive for repeat viewings, diminishing its lasting appeal.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 42% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 32%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 36 Metascore
User score 3.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 56% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.3 /5
13047 ratings
See on Letterboxd
This Is Not a Test Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in This Is Not a Test from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On a December morning in 1998, Sloane Price contemplates the unthinkable, reading a suicide note and preparing to end her life in the bathtub, when her Sloane’s father—a verbally and physically abusive presence—calls for breakfast. A frantic, screaming woman at the door jolts the household into motion, and he urges them to leave. But as Sloane steps into the street, she witnesses zombies swarming the neighborhood, and one of the creatures breaks into the home through a shattered window. The brutal confrontation between her father and the undead ends with him being bitten in the left arm and, in a last desperate act, him choosing to kill a zombie by driving a shard of broken glass into its eye. Shocked by the violence, Sloane escapes, leaving her infected father behind.
Full summary
The whole story of This Is Not a Test, scene by scene, with the ending explained
This Is Not a Test Box Office & Budget
This Is Not a Test grossed $150,000 worldwide on a $3 million budget, 5% of what it cost. $213,951 came from the US and Canada and $5,711 (3%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$150K
5% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $214K
- International
- $5.7K
- Budget
- $3M
This Is Not a Test Trailers & Videos
The trailer of This Is Not a Test.
How Well Do You Know This Is Not a Test?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year is the story set?
This Is Not a Test Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “Ngày Học Cuối Cùng” and “Това не е тест”.
- Also known as
-
- Ngày Học Cuối Cùng
- Това не е тест
- 这不是演习
- ขังนรกมัธยมซอมบี้
Seen This Is Not a Test?
This Is Not a Test FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of This Is Not a Test, each answered in a sentence.
How long is This Is Not a Test?
This Is Not a Test runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).
When was This Is Not a Test released?
This Is Not a Test was released on February 20, 2026.
Who directed This Is Not a Test?
This Is Not a Test was directed by Adam MacDonald.
More films by Adam MacDonald Who is in the cast of This Is Not a Test?
This Is Not a Test stars Jeff Roop as Sloane's father, Froy Gutierrez as Rhys and Chloe Avakian as Grace Casper, among 10 credited actors.
How much did This Is Not a Test make at the box office?
This Is Not a Test grossed $150,000 worldwide ($213,951 domestic, $5,711 international) on a budget of $3 million.
How is This Is Not a Test rated?
This Is Not a Test has 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, 36 on Metacritic, 56% on TMDB and 2.3/5 on Letterboxd.
Does This Is Not a Test have a post-credit scene?
No. This Is Not a Test has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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