Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Papillon

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for Papillon R 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 Stream Now

Where to Watch

Papillon

Papillon

What to Know

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

Critics Reviews

View More
Simran Hans Observer (UK) 12/23/2018
2/5
Papi's protracted, chaotically paced setbacks begin to feel less like a test of his resilience than the viewer's. Go to Full Review
Geoffrey Macnab Independent (UK) 12/21/2018
3/5
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. Go to Full Review
Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 12/21/2018
2/5
The deadening narrative structure (escape, capture, escape, capture etc) eventually overwhelms everything else on screen. Go to Full Review
Taylor Baker Drink in the Movies 08/19/2021
76/100
The slapstick and Hollywood set found in the original are swapped out for a more authentic, uncomfortable, and claustrophobic interpretation. Go to Full Review
Jim Rohner Battleship Pretension 04/14/2021
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... Go to Full Review
Richard Crouse Richard Crouse 03/04/2021
2.5/5
Gets much right and features nice performances from the leads but feels like an unnecessary revamping of the story. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Faiz D May 13 What a powerful and emotional movie! See more Mar 30 Though I typically like both of the main actors this was one of the most unnecessary remakes I've ever seen. The 1973 original is a classic, beautifully filmed and acted. This version added nothing new and took away the majority of what that made the first one compelling. It's a great story that should not have been redone. See more Aleksandar D Jan 30 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. See more Jack M 12/04/2024 Brokeback Mountain on a prison island. Rami Malek is ok, unlike the Channing Tatum-wannabe. See more Jim P 09/30/2024 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... See more Kathryn V 09/26/2024 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. See more Read all reviews
Papillon

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
The Birth of a Nation 72% 71% The Birth of a Nation Watchlist TRAILER for The Birth of a Nation Seberg 36% 50% Seberg Watchlist TRAILER for Seberg 12 Years a Slave 95% 90% 12 Years a Slave Watchlist TRAILER for 12 Years a Slave The Devil's Violinist 31% 45% The Devil's Violinist Watchlist Mr. Turner 96% 56% Mr. Turner Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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
Ram Bergman, FishCorb Films, Joey McFarland
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