The Apartment

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The Apartment

Released Jun 15, 1960

2h 5m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

107 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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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

Such gritty material is infused with Wilder’s compassion and defined by two towering central performances.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 5, 2025

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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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Brian Viner

Daily Mail (UK)

The screenplay by Wilder and IAL Diamond is as fresh and sparkling now as it ever was.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 31, 2025

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

One of the great American films

Jan 8, 2024

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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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Tom F

A great cast and a nice reminder that rich white guys are terrible. The entire premise falls apart if you consider that hotels cost like $3. I saw this on TV when I was a kid, the only thing I retained was a memory of straining pasta through a tennis racquet.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/25

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Miles O

A brilliant story. Heartwarming, witty and funny, while also tackling the significant mundane problems of life.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/25

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ray m

Beautifully filmed, beautifully acted. A must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

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D P

Yeah... this didn't do it for me. In fact, it was frustrating to sit through. I am actually surprised this movie came out when it did. This was back in the day when parents in sitcoms slept in different beds. Nothing wrong with the production quality or storytelling, the story just bothered me on a cellular level.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/14/25

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William B

Great movie. I did enjoy a lot.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/25

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Thimo R

There can't be anything said that hasn't already been said. It's striking, charming, clever and so perfectly written. Wilder's best.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

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

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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