The Apartment

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The Apartment

Released Jun 15, 1960

2h 5m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

105 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Insurance worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) lends his Upper West Side apartment to company bosses to use for extramarital affairs. When his manager Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) begins using Baxter's apartment in exchange for promoting him, Baxter is disappointed to learn that Sheldrake's mistress is Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), the elevator girl at work whom Baxter is interested in himself. Soon Baxter must decide between the girl he loves and the advancement of his career.

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Critics Consensus

Director Billy Wilder's customary cynicism is leavened here by tender humor, romance, and genuine pathos.

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

Wilder’s all-time classic comedy of corporate and sexual manners...

Aug 25, 2022

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Edward Porter

Times (UK)

A perfect blend of sweetness and mordancy.

Aug 22, 2022

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

Though lighter than Arrows 2018 release on the extras front, Kinos 4K of The Apartment provides the definitive home-video presentation of one of Billy Wilders greatest films.

Apr 18, 2022

Full Review

Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

One of the great American films

Jan 8, 2024

Full Review

Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

The Apartment works as both poignant tragedy and romantic comedy. As smart as a whip, The Apartment is as enchanting as it is thought-provoking. A terrific examination of the desperation to get ahead in corporate America as well as a study in melancholy.

Jun 8, 2023

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The Apartment is an all-around masterclass in cinema.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 30, 2022

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julie b

Cozy feel of classic Hollywood on a cloudy day🫶🏻. It’s charming and tender, ultimately more melancholy than romcom if you ask me, but strikes a difficult balance of emotions and captures them perfectly. Kind of like smiling to stop from crying but in movie form. Shirley MacLaine is spectacular. Also working in an office pre cell phones and AI looks so fun🙃. “Well that’s just the way it crumbles. Cookie wise”

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

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Faiz D

Movie-wise, there has never been anything like "The Apartment", love-wise, laugh-wise, or otherwise-wise!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

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Fer S

Fantastic movie with no wasted time! I found it to be very ahead of its time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/16/24

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Alex S

Simultaneously touching and razor sharp. Not to be missed. Billy Wilder always delivers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/18/24

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Jeff M

I don't think I've ever seen a movie that blends comedy and drama together so seamlessly and beautifully. Although 60 years old, this motion picture holds up beautifully and gets exactly right what 99.9% of its followers have gotten wrong. This is indeed a timeless film, and as I continue my odyssey through all the Best Picture winners, I'd be shocked if this doesn't rank among the very top of the heap. The cast can't be improved upon, and the two leads give arguably career best performances. MacLaine, in particular, is revelatory here and achieves a beautiful combination of strength and vulnerability. When she's onscreen it's virtually impossible to look elsewhere. Sparkling dialogue, scenes alternately hilarious and heartbreaking, pitch perfect direction and editing - this is what happens when everything falls into place, and it deserves to be considered a classic!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

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Brian S

Wilder's masterpiece and true gift to storytelling is the making light of the sleazy, ugly and selfish aspects of human nature. The chemistry between Lemmon and MacLaine is palpable as you root for the salvation of two souls.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/24

Full Review

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Billy Wilder

Director

Jack Lemmon

C.C. Baxter

Shirley MacLaine

Fran Kubelik

Fred MacMurray

Jeff D. Sheldrake

Ray Walston

Joe Dobisch

David Lewis

Al Kirkeby

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The Apartment: Official Clip - You're on Your Way Up

1:05

The Apartment: Official Clip - Shut Up and Deal

2:00

The Apartment: Official Clip - The Floating Key

2:02

The Apartment: Official Clip - Fruitcake Every Christmas

1:20

The Apartment: Official Clip - Slow Down, Kid!

1:02

The Apartment: Official Clip - We Never Close at Buddy Boy's

1:47

The Apartment: Official Clip - Ring in the New

2:12

The Apartment: Official Clip - All Washed Up

1:54

The Apartment: Official Clip - A Flower From Miss Kubelik

1:46

The Apartment: Official Clip - Sheldrake Wants the Apartment

2:13

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Synopsis

Insurance worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) lends his Upper West Side apartment to company bosses to use for extramarital affairs. When his manager Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) begins using Baxter's apartment in exchange for promoting him, Baxter is disappointed to learn that Sheldrake's mistress is Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), the elevator girl at work whom Baxter is interested in himself. Soon Baxter must decide between the girl he loves and the advancement of his career.

Director: Billy Wilder
Producer: Billy Wilder
Screenwriter: Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond
Production Co: Mirisch Corporation
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 1960, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 29, 2016
Runtime: 2h 5m

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