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Apt Pupil

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for Apt Pupil R 1998 1h 51m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
54% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A high-school student (Brad Renfro) forms an unhealthy relationship with a former Nazi death-camp officer (Ian McKellen).
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Apt Pupil

Apt Pupil

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Critics Consensus

A somewhat disturbing movie that works as a suspenseful thriller, yet isn't completely satisfying.

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Critics Reviews

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Elizabeth Weitzman Film.com 01/01/2000
Nothing about the movie even makes sense! Go to Full Review
Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune 01/01/2000
Effective but not overwhelming, bone-chilling but not blood-freezing, Apt Pupil is a good shocker that misses the ultimate horror. Go to Full Review
Jay Carr Boston Globe 01/01/2000
Apt Pupil is most compelling for its moral dimension. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Jan 21
4/5
…a disturbing, thoughtful movie that will provoke debate and discussion; it refuses to put war crimes in a box, and suggests that the motives behind the unforgivable genocides of the past remain latent in modern society… Go to Full Review
Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast 10/23/2023
3/5
It lacks the bite of King's novella, but the film adaptation of 'Apt Pupil' skates by on the talents of its two lead actors. Go to Full Review
Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast 10/19/2023
2.5/5
It's become impossible to separate the art from the artist when it comes to alleged rapist Bryan Singer and this film. From the assaults that purportedly took place during filming to the framing of Brad Renfro's underage body, this is a hard watch Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Feb 25 A decent film that doesn't dare to go where the novella goes. It's clear in King's story that Todd is a very screwed up kid well before he meets Denker. He's probably a burgeoning sociopath, and his interest in holocaust material is largely sadistic. (Especially disturbing because novella Todd is only 13.) This kinship between two psychopaths (although they hate each other, there's a grudging respect) is what makes the story interesting. In the film, Todd just seems very curious, doesn't realise what he's getting into, and ends up warped by Denker's influence. A safer and more commercially palatable choice but way less interesting. See more Katy T Jan 23 Ian McKellen is believable in his role and this performance carries the film. An okay movie. See more Teddy B 12/07/2024 King's novella ties the elements of the story together tighter, but for what it is 'Apt Pupil' is an exceedingly disturbing film thanks to the strong writing of its source material. See more Anton H 11/08/2024 As disturbing as many of its scenes can be, this one is consistently captivating, and leaves the audience desperate to find out just what will happen next. An excellent and suspenseful thriller. See more 07/09/2024 The movie drags a little longer than it should and also the plot does not keep you interested after a while. Nothing to think twice about. See more Jeffrey P 03/25/2024 Kinda dated, released over twenty-five years ago and WWII Nazis aren't all that relevant anymore. The dynamic involved, an old Nazi and his relationship with a high school aged boy, is just an odd watch that had no deeper meaning or lesson to be learned. See more Read all reviews
Apt Pupil

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Movie Info

Synopsis A high-school student (Brad Renfro) forms an unhealthy relationship with a former Nazi death-camp officer (Ian McKellen).
Director
Bryan Singer
Producer
Don Murphy, Bryan Singer
Screenwriter
Stephen King, Brandon Boyce
Distributor
TriStar Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
TriStar Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Phoenix Pictures, Bad Hat Harry
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 16, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 11, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.8M
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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