Black Swan

Play trailer

2:08

Black Swan

R

Released Dec 17, 2010

1h 48m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

320 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina whose passion for the dance rules every facet of her life. When the company's artistic director decides to replace his prima ballerina for their opening production of "Swan Lake," Nina is his first choice. She has competition in newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) however. While Nina is perfect for the role of the White Swan, Lily personifies the Black Swan. As rivalry between the two dancers transforms into a twisted friendship, Nina's dark side begins to emerge.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Bracingly intense, passionate, and wildly melodramatic, Black Swan glides on Darren Aronofsky's bold direction -- and a bravura performance from Natalie Portman.

Read Critics Reviews

Julie and Brandy

Autostraddle

What were they trying to say? What happened?... You're all pretending you know what it means.

Aug 31, 2021

Full Review

Phoenix Danger

Autostraddle

The impeccable casting adds an elevated element of reality to a film that already hits so close to home.

Jun 8, 2021

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

This is part horror, part thriller, part Freudian nightmare and not a pretty film, as I said, nor an easy watch, but it's so unexpected and out there and passionate it keeps you with it and involved all the way.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Darren Aronofsky's beautiful, haunting tale of obsession takes a look at the lengths some will go to achieve perfection. What luck that Portman has achieved just that in her performance.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 11, 2025

Full Review

Dan Bayer

Next Best Picture

“Black Swan” stands as proof that films have been elevating horror to the level of art for decades, and when they get it right, the results are exhilarating.

Rated: 9/10

Aug 8, 2024

Full Review

Michael Leader

Den of Geek

Throughout, we can spot thematic threads from Aronofsky's body of emotionally raw, character-based studies of obsession and tragedy.

Rated: 4/5

May 7, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Moreau D

LE CHANT DU CYGNE Le blanc ou le noir, l'intouchable ou le miroir, l'intuition ou l'inspiration, la grâce ou la beauté, la pureté ou la malédiction. Nathalie Portman embellit tous les lieux qu'elle fréquente. L'imprévisible Darren Aronofsky et son côté sombre de sa force pour un spectre troublant, confus, confondus, au final grandiose.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

Full Review

Dick B

This film leaves me with an empty feeling. Boredom at it's best ... Try Terrifier2 instead. I go to bed now.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

Full Review

Leprechaun K

Just didn't care for it. Portman did deliver.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/25

Full Review

Obi-wan K

I never watched these kind of movies

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/25

Full Review

Breno B

In a few words I want to describe my experience watching this film. TOO GOOD, my god, everything in this film is beautiful! It's no surprise that Natalie won best actress at the Oscars, much deserved. What a badass experience I had... I hope everyone has the opportunity to watch this film!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I guess this was a critique about obsession in combination with alter egos that manifest as the "thing" you are missing. If you think that this movie is like "Whiplass" it's not. The plot consists of the protagonist "hallucinating " half of the time. The characters are developed but you can not really identify with the protagonist.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Darren Aronofsky

Director

Natalie Portman

Nina Sayers

Mila Kunis

Lily

Vincent Cassel

Thomas Leroy

Barbara Hershey

Erica Sayers

Winona Ryder

Beth MacIntyre

Zipper

20%

28%

Zipper

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Zipper

Irresistible

22%

32%

Irresistible

Watchlist

Shutter Island

69%

77%

Shutter Island

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Shutter Island

Straw Dogs

42%

34%

Straw Dogs

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Black Swan: Trailer 1

2:08

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina whose passion for the dance rules every facet of her life. When the company's artistic director decides to replace his prima ballerina for their opening production of "Swan Lake," Nina is his first choice. She has competition in newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) however. While Nina is perfect for the role of the White Swan, Lily personifies the Black Swan. As rivalry between the two dancers transforms into a twisted friendship, Nina's dark side begins to emerge.

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Producer: Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, Brian Oliver, Scott Franklin
Screenwriter: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, John J. McLaughlin
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Cross Creek Pictures, Dune, Protozoa Pictures, Phoenix Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Violent Images|Some Drug Use|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 17, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $107.0M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

Most Popular at Home Now