Ballad of a Small Player

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Ballad of a Small Player

R

Oct 2025

1h 41m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

144 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.

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Critics Consensus

Going all in with a committed Colin Farrell and a memorably opulent presentation of Macau, Ballad of a Small Player too often squanders its virtues by doubling down on excess to diminishing returns.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Colin is just outstanding in this film. He's fully and completely committed to the character.

Nov 10, 2025

Full Review

Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (LAist)

It's very loud, sleazy, lurid, and decadent -- and I enjoyed it.

Nov 10, 2025

Full Review

Will Sloan

Sight & Sound

Farrell commits with an energetic physical performance, and Berger’s camera revels in all the flaws of the star’s middle-age handsomeness, but their efforts strain what is little more than a simple, feel-good redemption story.

Nov 4, 2025

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Armond White

National Review

Ballad of a Small Player is a modern version of an international co-production -- what once was a common feature of post-WWII filmmaking shared among nations. Using exotic locales, this production represents globalist insecurity.

Nov 15, 2025

Full Review

Pedro Gallego

Espinof

Ballad of a Small Player ends up being unsatisfying because it fails to achieve the entertainment value of the director's two previous film...[Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 2/5

Nov 14, 2025

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Mick Jordan

Film Ireland Magazine

Endlessly entertaining and always engrossing, Ballad of a Small Player follows a fairly predictable path.

Nov 14, 2025

Full Review

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Deal Mae In

Saw the twist coming, so only half a star off. Colin Farrell is a raw nerve in this, with his character’s blurry need for self-implosion redeemed by his capacity for change. If his world feels decadently claustrophobic when he is at his worst, just wait, the payoff is worth the slow burn.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/19/25

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Christian K

Great visuals and setting, a purposefully disorienting script and presentation. Story was ok, vibes were medium.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/16/25

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Ricardo s

película rapida entretenida pero muy básica muy compartida. algo que le da plus es la curiosidad y la combinación de la forma que se desenlaza

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/16/25

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Max M

It looks fantastic, Colin Farrell is exceptional, there are gaps all over the place but it really doesn't matter.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/15/25

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Cameron K

Colin Farrell at his best in a cinematic masterpiece - the cinematography here is stunning and the pacing by Edward Berger is masterful. It's high art -- so it won't appeal to many but it's an immensely satisfying and beautiful trainwreck for those who enjoy the luxurious feel of a carefully crafted tale. A must for every cinephile.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/15/25

Full Review

Audience Member

BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER is such a great Jungian film and Hero’s Journey. Colin Farrell who plays Doyle, puts on a mask, the societal face he puts on, acts like a rich lord when that’s the persona… He has a moment of crisis… He then faces the Anima, and the Shadow. He has fears, anxiety, doubt,… He faces head on with courage into the unknown. He incorporates the anima and the shadow. Reaching a high level of individuation, and then ready to reintegrate back into society as his authentic genuine and wiser self. Beautiful film 🎥 Thank you @netflix and also Colin Farrell, along with screenwriters, directors, whole cast! I hope to one day be part of the film making process to work on stories like these.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/14/25

Full Review

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Edward Berger

Director

Colin Farrell

Lord Doyle

Fala Chen

Dao Ming

Tilda Swinton

Blithe

Deanie Ip

Actor

Alex Jennings

Actor

Ballad of a Small Player: Trailer 1

2:17

Ballad of a Small Player: Teaser Trailer

1:13

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Synopsis

When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.

Director: Edward Berger
Producer: Edward Berger, Mike Goodridge, Matthew James Wilkinson
Screenwriter: Rowan Joffe
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Stigma Films, Good Chaos
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 29, 2025
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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