Carmen

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Carmen

R

Released Apr 21, 2023

1h 56m

Drama

Musical

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

102 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Benjamin Millepied's CARMEN is a gritty modern day tale, with a majestic score by Nicholas Britell, and dream-like dance sequences that evoke magic realism. The story follows a young and fiercely independent woman who is forced to flee her home in the Mexican desert following the brutal murder of her mother, another strong and mysterious woman. Carmen survives a terrifying and dangerous illegal border crossing into the US, only to be confronted by a lawless volunteer border guard who cold-bloodedly murders two other immigrants in her group. When the border guard and his patrol partner, Aidan--a Marine with PTSD--become embroiled in a deadly standoff, Carmen and Aidan are forced to escape together.

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Critics Consensus

Benjamin Millepied reinvents Prosper Mérimée's tragic novella as a dance extravaganza full of sound and fury signifying a hollow emotional core, although the ravishing style is a treat onto itself.

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Kimberley Jones

Austin Chronicle

Britell’s score super-juices the tragic pall over the film, while Barrera and Mescal channel Romeo and Juliet as the star-crossed lovers who communicate mostly in looks and the occasional pas de deux.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 6, 2023

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

It is indeed a strange film, but not a bad one.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 2, 2023

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

The dancing and photography are striking, and the acting’s perfectly fine. But the sum of it all is a moony inertia, lacking any awakening spark of life.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 1, 2023

Full Review

Sammie Purcell

Rough Draft Atlanta

When the film abandons magical realism and dance, it falters. But when Millepied lives within his wheelhouse, “Carmen” is at its most powerful.

Jul 24, 2025

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Anna Hoang

Boston Hassle

CARMEN takes advantage of that exploration through its cinematography, where we are taken to unpredictable places and imagery...[but] it is a little startling how stale it can look.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 17, 2025

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Maxance Vincent

Film Speak

You’ll be quickly riveted by Carmen’s hypnotic visual style and engulfing sound design that should only be experienced on the biggest screen possible.

Rated: A-

Jul 13, 2025

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Allen D

I enjoyed it. I thought it had beautiful moments and really great atmospheric visuals. this isn't the latest marvel or DC film, so if you're looking for action, this isn't it. the two leads were very good and I believed them. Almodovar muse, Roissy de Palma is someone I've been aware of for decades and at first I wondered what she was doing in this, but once her role kicked into high gear, I was impressed and moved by her performance. a solid four stars from me. I'm still thinking of the beauty of this film. saw it tonight on a Monday evening sand was the only one in the theater. people need to expand their horizons.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/23/23

Full Review

Matt B

I couldn’t really connect to the love story despite good performances from the two leads, and an interesting approach to this source material

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/21/23

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Michael K

Beautiful imagery, magical realism, metaphorical themes

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/23

Full Review

Maria A E

Loved the cinematography. Loved the choreography. Wasnt crazy about the dialogue (cliche). All in all, I loved it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/23

Full Review

geovanny p

MUITO BOM ADOREI AS ATUAÇOES

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

Full Review

هاوزين الخياط K

Fine ...this social thing is going well

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/23/24

Full Review

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Benjamin Millepied

Director

Elsa Pataky

Gabrielle

Melissa Barrera

Carmen

Paul Mescal

Aidan

Rossy de Palma

Masilda

Kaan Guldur

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Carmen: Trailer 1

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Carmen: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

Benjamin Millepied's CARMEN is a gritty modern day tale, with a majestic score by Nicholas Britell, and dream-like dance sequences that evoke magic realism. The story follows a young and fiercely independent woman who is forced to flee her home in the Mexican desert following the brutal murder of her mother, another strong and mysterious woman. Carmen survives a terrifying and dangerous illegal border crossing into the US, only to be confronted by a lawless volunteer border guard who cold-bloodedly murders two other immigrants in her group. When the border guard and his patrol partner, Aidan--a Marine with PTSD--become embroiled in a deadly standoff, Carmen and Aidan are forced to escape together.

Director: Benjamin Millepied
Producer: Rosemary Blight, Dimitri Rassam, Mimi Valdés
Screenwriter: Loïc Barrere, Alexander Dinelaris, Lisa Loomer, Prosper Mérimée, Alexander Dinelaris
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Sony Pictures Classics, Chapter 2, Goalpost Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Some Violence|Nudity)
Genre: Drama, Musical
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 14, 2023
Box Office (Gross USA): $103.4K
Runtime: 1h 56m

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