Climax

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2:05

Climax

R

Released Mar 1, 2019

1h 35m

Drama

Music

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

185 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

When members of a dance troupe are lured to an empty school, drug-laced sangria causes their jubilant rehearsal to descend into a dark and explosive nightmare as they try to survive the night -- and find out who's responsible -- before it's too late.

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Critics Consensus

Challenging and rewarding in equal measure, Climax captures writer-director Gaspar Noé working near his technically brilliant and visually distinctive peak.

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Regardless the various attempts at shock value (with scenes involving self-mutilation and abortion) seem downright desperate.

Mar 16, 2020

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Ben Croll

TheWrap

Just like Possession, this tale of stylized hysteria is an absolute scream.

Feb 12, 2020

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Michael Koresky

Film Comment Magazine

In the latest goofy provocation from a director who never saw a space-dank dungeon or sunny bedroom-upon which he couldn't unleash a swirly-twirly camera, Noé puts a pansexual, multicultural dance troupe through its paces before sending them to hell.

Mar 21, 2019

Full Review

Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

There is so much potential here, and it's so frustrating that Noé didn't go even further. Apparently, Climax was shot with only a 5 page long script and it shows.

Oct 11, 2024

Full Review

D.M. Palmer

Vague Visages

The film documents the dissipation of idealism and the gradual slide into self-annihilation...

Nov 9, 2023

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Less a film and more an experience (an anxiety-inducing one, at that), Climax is a fascinating and stressful watch.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 8, 2022

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Audience Member

I finished it so you don't have to. Literally nothing worth seeing here. Nothing cohesive, just a bunch of images. Nothing comes together in the end. You'll just be waiting for something that never happens and by the time the plot even started (halfway through the movie) I was already tired of waiting anyway.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

Full Review

Dave S

With the grimy realism of Irreversible and the stunning pyrotechnics of Enter the Void, Gaspar Noe has proven his flair for visuals. Climax, the story of a group of French dancers tripping out after drinking acid-spiked sangria, proves to be the ideal vehicle for Noe. Filled with a pounding score, a vibrant colour palette, wildly creative camerawork, and a brilliant dance number early on, it has everything you expect from a Noe film, with one exception – there really isn’t anything resembling a plot or characterization, which makes it hard to care about anyone or anything as everyone freaks out over the last half of the movie. It’s one of those movies that you’ll either love to hate OR hate to love…or maybe find yourself somewhere in the middle.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/25/25

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Tori L

First twenty minutes was dancing. Most of the rest was screaming. Absolutely terrible and ridiculous.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

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alberto M.

🐐goateus maximus- art film, with incredibly originality, pacing, and execution

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/06/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Good, but I would've watched something else.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/24/25

Full Review

Brad D

Too many characters with not enough development. Poor pacing, 40 minutes of background that was slow and felt drawn out. It does pick up in the second half but I don't think it was worth the investment. The writing also felt lacking between gossip and dance. The only thing that I felt they did exceptionally were the shots and the cast's skill in dance. There was some good symbolism but not enough to redeem it.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

Full Review

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Climax: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When members of a dance troupe are lured to an empty school, drug-laced sangria causes their jubilant rehearsal to descend into a dark and explosive nightmare as they try to survive the night -- and find out who's responsible -- before it's too late.

Director: Gaspar Noé
Producer: Edouard Weil, Vincent Maraval, Brahim Chioua, Richard Grandpierre
Screenwriter: Gaspar Noé
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Les Cinémas de la Zone, Eskwad, Wild Bunch, KNM, arte France Cinéma, Rectangle Productions
Rating: R (Disturbing Content|A Combination of Drug Use|Violent Behavior|Language|Some Graphic Nudity|Strong Sexuality)
Genre: Drama, Music, Horror
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 1, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $813.8K
Runtime: 1h 35m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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