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Ballad of a Small Player

Play trailer 1:13 Poster for Ballad of a Small Player R 1h 41m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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69% Tomatometer 13 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings

Cast & Crew

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Edward Berger

Director

Colin Farrell

Lord Doyle

Fala Chen

Dao Ming

Tilda Swinton

Blithe

Deannie Yip

Actor

Alex Jennings

Actor

Critics Reviews

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Benjamin Lee Guardian It is to Farrell’s great credit that he avoids following Berger all the way to the top and over, a role that would have forced a lesser actor into deafening histrionics but one that he embodies with more thought and careful modulation. Sep 8, 2025 Full Review Peter Debruge Variety Compared with great portraits of people dominated by their gambling compulsion, “Ballad of a Small Player” looks great, but lacks the fundamental human insight to make it a winner. Sep 1, 2025 Full Review Carla Renata TheWrap Campy and bombastic at its core, this is ultimately a movie about second chances totuing a magnificent charmed performance from Colin Farrell Aug 31, 2025 Full Review Walter Chaw Film Freak Central Ballad of a Small Player is as misbegotten and ungainly as its title. Rated: 0.5/4 Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Mark Johnson AwardsWatch Ballad of a Small Player is a trippy, psychedelic anxiety attack held together by Farrell’s extraordinary performance and Berger’s precise eye. Rated: B Sep 3, 2025 Full Review Joey Moser The Contending [Farrell] hurls himself into this role, and it will surely rank amongst his very best...a blissfully berserk turn. Sep 1, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews
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Ballad of a Small Player

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Ballad of a Small Player

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Movie Info

Director
Edward Berger
Producer
Edward Berger, Mike Goodridge, Matthew James Wilkinson
Screenwriter
Rowan Joffe
Distributor
Netflix
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 15, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 29, 2025
Runtime
1h 41m