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Diva

Play trailer Poster for Diva R 1982 2h 5m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 58 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Jules (Frédéric Andréi) goes on the run from every conceivable pursuer -- from drug dealers and music pirates to the cops -- after obtaining a recording of the woman of his dreams, the never-recorded opera star Cynthia Hawkins (Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez).
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Diva

Diva

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Critics Consensus

Beineix combines unique cinematography, an intelligent script, and a brilliant soundtrack to make Diva a stylishly memorable film.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 09/19/2023
[Director Jean-Jacques] Beineix may not be interested in what’s underneath, but he has a great feeling for surfaces. A chase through the Métro and an escape to a pinball-machine and video-game arcade are so ravishing that they’re funny, intentionally. Go to Full Review Dwight Brown Sepia 08/10/2022
Yes, this film is a little contrived at times, but it’s still one of the best pictures I've seen all year. Hats off to the French! Go to Full Review Melissa Anderson 4Columns 04/29/2022
Beineixs film delights, if not overwhelms, the eye. (And in its obsession with the beauty and power of the human voice, Diva might also be thought of as an illustration of the cinéma du listen). Its bewitchery hasnt dimmed more than forty years later. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Oct 9
5/5
…the elegant, super-fashionable approach of Diva seems to predict MTV and the slick visuals of the 80’s, but also showcases multiple musical styles, not least the deep appreciation of opera which demonstrates the sweet nature of the streetwise Jules… Go to Full Review Neely Swanson Easy Reader (California) Sep 3
This movie is the very embodiment of style over substance and succeeds wildly. It is advised that you let “Diva” sweep over you, like the tsunami of action that it is. Don’t try to keep up, you’ll drown. Go to Full Review Lynden Barber Limelight 07/29/2022
I was no opera fan at the time, indeed had found that musical form somewhat alienating, and yet after being mesmerised by the aria performed by soprano Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez near the start of the film, the barriers began to melt. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Bosch H Nov 28 Ok. VHS - this is my Favorite FILM. I 😍 loved this FILM... so MUCH, that i had (3) COPIES.. in the TRUNK of my car !!! In order to... !!! Give them AWAY...!!!! ITS that GOOD!!! Then - I bought the DVD, from CRITERION Collection. Plus Plus...RENTED IT on FanDANGO for a Colleague to watch on my Apple 🍎 MAC AIR. --> HDMI connected. French-speaking I cooked in FRANCE. And am INTERPRETER for WDW - Walt Djsney FLORIDA. IMPORTANT: 3 Directors $ FINANCED this Film - because- for ONCE they were COMMITTED to Carry Out - their Artistic VISION. Watch it. Or ..... See more SYLVANA O Aug 30 I saw the original in theater back in the 80's and own the DVD. I watch from time to time and it's always a treat. J'aime pas ca! lol!! See more Ed . Aug 29 Attitude, Operatude and Dark Style over Substance 4 star tude, 1 star plot, 4 star influencer I'll weigh the plot doubly, so that's an average of 2.5 stars overall. The Asian girl is utterly ridiculous. I and my friends watching this film with me did not especially care much about the characters. With a reasonably plausible story, this would have been a fine film. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Aug 23 Success in 2 hours and 5 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $16,700.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more S R @ScottR 02/29/2024 1001 movies to see before you die (added later). A well made and entertaining dramatic thriller with a soft French feel to its thrills. The villains were threatening, yet simple to me. I enjoyed the diva who was an opera singer who refused to be recorded, but ironically her best fan is the only one who does. I don't plan to see it again, but the streets of Paris and the chase scenes were fun. RUS. See more Paul G 06/17/2023 In a film filled with symbolism and circular resonance, a young bike messenger (Frederic Andrei) worships an opera diva's music with near-sexual passion, even as he illegally records her concert. Director Jean-Jacques Beineix's consummately French use of symbols will delight any literature student: for example, the bundle of dirty money tossed disdainfully out the window lands next to a blind accordion player, whose music turns out to be what has been playing all along in the earphone of Priest, the punk assassin (Dominique Pinon). C'est bon! (This film is one of my Paris favorites.) See more Read all reviews
Diva

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Cast & Crew

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Jean-Jacques Beineix

Director

Frederic Andrei

Jules

Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez

Cynthia Hawkins

Richard Bohringer

Gorodish

Thuy An Luu

Alba

Jacques Fabbri

Commissaire Jean Saporta

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Diva

Diva (1981) Diva (1981) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Jules (Frédéric Andréi) goes on the run from every conceivable pursuer -- from drug dealers and music pirates to the cops -- after obtaining a recording of the woman of his dreams, the never-recorded opera star Cynthia Hawkins (Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez).
Director
Jean-Jacques Beineix
Production Co
Greenwich Film Productions, Les Films Galaxie, France 2
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 16, 1982, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Aug 22, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 14, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$24.3K
Runtime
2h 5m
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