Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Ballad of a Small Player

Play trailer 2:17 Poster for Ballad of a Small Player R Oct 2025 1h 41m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
48% Tomatometer 147 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.
Watch on Netflix Stream Now

Where to Watch

Ballad of a Small Player

Ballad of a Small Player

What to Know

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Tim Cogshell FilmWeek (LAist) Nov 10
Colin is just outstanding in this film. He's fully and completely committed to the character. Go to Full Review
Peter Rainer FilmWeek (LAist) Nov 10
It's very loud, sleazy, lurid, and decadent -- and I enjoyed it. Go to Full Review
Will Sloan Sight & Sound Nov 4
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. Go to Full Review
Robert W. Butler Butler's Cinema Scene Dec 17
B
Toss in Tilda Swinton as a comically stuffy investigator hot on his trail and Fala Chen as the casino hostess who provides a love interest, and you’ve got a good-looking if not terribly deep outing. Go to Full Review
Sheraz Farooqi CinemaDebate Nov 24
2.5/5
While Colin Farrell's performance is strong and the production design is great, the script is just too weak to create any real tangible tension in the plot. Go to Full Review
Sonny Bunch The Bulwark Nov 21
3/4
Not an easy or a pleasant watch, precisely. ... But it looks great, Berger perfectly capturing both the neon-soaked grubby splendor of the casino city of Macau and the grimy muck of its extremities. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Deal Mae In Oct 19 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. See more Tyler P 5h Ballad of a Small Player is the textbook definition of style over substance. I LOVE the way this movie looks, sounds and feels, but there is literally no substance to it. Edward Berger directs with feverish intensity with lavish cinematography and a thunderous score from Volker Bertelmann, but that isn’t enough to make up for the narrative issues. The story is all over the place, with no actual thesis on addiction besides shoving its pitfalls in your face. Colin Farrell is incredible though, and continues to be one of the most interesting working actors today. Ballad of a Small Player feels like a meal I know I should enjoy if I were handed a menu, but there’s just an ingredient missing. By no means is Ballad of a Small Player a "bad" movie, it’s just not a film that rises to its full potential. The filmmaking is much better than the story here - the music, acting and visuals elevate the material more than it deserves. See more Ramon V @RisingVictoryMiracle Dec 20 Ballads of a Small Player is a work that seeks to penetrate the deepest layers of consciousness regarding some of the most ancient yet modern themes in human history: Gluttony, Lust, and the crushing weight of addiction. Through this lens, the film becomes a spiritual odyssey, illustrating how "low-vibration" emotions and the volatility of life are driven by a material world that is never enough to fill the void. Ultimately, this is a piece of art meant for internal reflection on behaviors we often cannot explain. It pushes human experience to the edge to provide answers without the need for guides or dialogue. It is the definitive realization that the possessive world offers no true respite. The spiritual path remains ever-present, shining through as the only true salvation from the hungry ghosts that haunt us all. See more @Zbird412 Dec 18 Not really what I expected, not your typical gambling movie. I say that because there was hardly any gambling, basically a man running from a debt and never gains any hope. I love gambling movies and if you like them too, you will not like this. Great acting and cinematography but terrible storylines and a plot that makes no sense. I didn’t graduate high school so I may not be the most cultured person yet I feel like I know a bad movie when I see one. See more Sam A Dec 17 The main character is a lovable rogue. Interesting film. Can't say I loved it, but glad I took a chance on it See more Jack S @staffs Dec 11 Colin Farrell at his absolute best, his acting and the production were spot on. I liked the deeper element that portrays the battle we have with our demons and how we can always choose in our lowest moments to seek a different path. I think the ending was a let down and there could have been more to the story itself which would have made it a top film. Overall worth a watch for Colin’s acting itself See more Read all reviews
Ballad of a Small Player

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Movie Info

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
Most Popular at Home Now