Papillon

Play trailer

2:25

Papillon

R

Released Aug 24, 2018

2h 13m

Adventure

History

Drama

Biography

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

110 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

The epic story of Henri Papillon Charrière, a safecracker from the Parisian underworld who is framed for murder and condemned to life in the notorious penal colony on Devil's Island. Determined to regain his freedom, Papillon forms an unlikely alliance with convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega, who in exchange for protection, agrees to finance Papillon's escape.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Papillon puts its own well-acted, solidly produced spin on a previously adapted tale, although it suffers in comparison to the 1973 version.

Read Critics Reviews

Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

Papi's protracted, chaotically paced setbacks begin to feel less like a test of his resilience than the viewer's.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 23, 2018

Full Review

Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

But whether taken as a study in human resilience, as an oblique love story, or as an indictment of the French penal system, this drama is claustrophobic and oppressive.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 21, 2018

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

The deadening narrative structure (escape, capture, escape, capture etc) eventually overwhelms everything else on screen.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 21, 2018

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

The slapstick and Hollywood set found in the original are swapped out for a more authentic, uncomfortable, and claustrophobic interpretation.

Rated: 76/100

Aug 19, 2021

Full Review

Jim Rohner

Battleship Pretension

It's an impressive sequence, but too little too late and shortly thereafter thoroughly undercut by an unearned saccharine conclusion and bad old age makeup. Papillon may have escaped but the viewer is still punished...

Apr 14, 2021

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Gets much right and features nice performances from the leads but feels like an unnecessary revamping of the story.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 4, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Aleksandar D

The 2017 remake of Papillon ambitiously revisits the legendary true story of Henri Charrière’s escape from the brutal penal colony of French Guiana. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the 1973 classic, it delivers a compelling, visually arresting survival tale anchored by two strong performances. Charlie Hunnam takes on the role of Charrière, bringing both physical intensity and emotional depth to the character. Rami Malek, as the wealthy and enigmatic Louis Dega, adds a quiet but powerful presence, making their unlikely friendship the heart of the film. Their chemistry is convincing, even when the film occasionally drags under its weighty runtime. The cinematography is striking, capturing the suffocating heat, filth, and cruelty of the penal system with unflinching realism. The escape sequences are gripping, and the film does well in maintaining the core themes of resilience and freedom. However, compared to the original, it sometimes lacks the raw emotional impact and pacing feels inconsistent. Papillon is a respectable retelling, offering solid performances and impressive visuals, but it doesn’t fully justify its existence alongside the classic. Gritty, well-acted, but not quite essential.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/25

Full Review

Jack M

Brokeback Mountain on a prison island. Rami Malek is ok, unlike the Channing Tatum-wannabe.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/05/24

Full Review

Jim P

Papillon the book (and the follow up Banco) are two of my fave ever books. The original movie from 1973 is a 5star classic! But this version..? Meh...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/30/24

Full Review

Kathryn V

As far remakes it is one of the better ones I've seen when it comes to movies. Wasted too much screen time in the beginning with the girlfriend and all that. Still nothing like the one with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffmann. This actor kind of resembles Steve McQueen., don't know who he is really. Rami Malek, I know who.he is, liked his portrayal as Louie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/26/24

Full Review

Dani G

Intresting story. At times one starts doubting if he was ever gonna escape.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/28/24

Full Review

Steve A

Really Enjoyed this movie!....Watch it today!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Michael Noer

Director

Charlie Hunnam

Henri "Papillon" Charrière

Rami Malek

Louis Dega

Roland Møller

Celier

Nina Senicar

Leper Woman

Tommy Flanagan

Masked Breton

The Birth of a Nation

72%

71%

The Birth of a Nation

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Birth of a Nation

12 Years a Slave

95%

90%

12 Years a Slave

Watchlist

TRAILER

for 12 Years a Slave

Seberg

36%

50%

Seberg

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Seberg

The Railway Man

67%

68%

The Railway Man

Watchlist

Mr. Turner

97%

56%

Mr. Turner

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Happytime Murders Won’t Leave You in Stitches

Papillon: Trailer 1

2:25

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

The epic story of Henri Papillon Charrière, a safecracker from the Parisian underworld who is framed for murder and condemned to life in the notorious penal colony on Devil's Island. Determined to regain his freedom, Papillon forms an unlikely alliance with convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega, who in exchange for protection, agrees to finance Papillon's escape.

Director: Michael Noer
Producer: Roger Corbi, Joey McFarland, Ram Bergman, David Koplan
Screenwriter: Aaron Guzikowski
Distributor: Bleecker Street Media
Production Co: Joey McFarland, FishCorb Films, Ram Bergman
Rating: R (Language|Bloody Images|Nudity|Some Sexual Material|Violence)
Genre: Adventure, History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 24, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 30, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.3M
Runtime: 2h 13m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now