Rotting in the Sun

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1:53

Rotting in the Sun

2023

1h 49m

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Writer-director Sebastián Silva's Sundance hit ROTTING IN THE SUN is a darkly funny and refreshingly audacious meta-comedy that skewers the business of filmmaking and our self-obsessed culture. While unwinding at a Mexican gay beach town, depressed director Sebastián Silva meets gregarious Instagram influencer Jordan Firstman (both playing versions of themselves), and Sebastián reluctantly agrees to collaborate on an upcoming project. But when Jordan arrives back in Mexico City, Sebastián is nowhere to be found. Jordan dances, sleeps and snorts his way through the city as he embarks on a quasi-detective journey to get to the bottom of Sebastián's disappearance.

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Critics Consensus

Rotting in the Sun's bold ambition and infectious frenetic energy prove a natural -- albeit not universally appealing -- fit for its unique flavor of dark mischief.

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Sergio Burstein

Los Angeles Times

An especially brave and original film, full of surprises and generous entertainment dues. [Full review in Spanish]

Oct 5, 2023

Full Review

Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (LAist)

The MVP here is Catalina Saavedra... Her role and how it evolves is really the most interesting part of the movie.

Oct 4, 2023

Full Review

David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Very sharp, and Firstman is bang-on as the social celeb who comes good.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 14, 2023

Full Review

Alex Heeney

Seventh Row

By far the funniest film of 2023, Sebastián Silva’s existential crisis movie involves phenobarbitol, a depressing (slash hilarious?) amount of aggressively in-your-face penises at a gay beach, and a lament that the best art rarely pays.

Mar 22, 2024

Full Review

Alex Papaioannou

InSession Film

Rotting in the Sun may squander its potential as a meaningful commentary on society dealing with mental health, but it doesn’t miss the mark when it comes to one of its central characters...

Rated: C-

Oct 30, 2023

Full Review

Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

What could have been a provocative satire ended up feeling excessively simulated, derailed by an uncontrolled impetus that only makes it further rigid and cold.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 9, 2023

Full Review

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Michael C

Beautifully made and such a great film!!! Definitely need more movies like this!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

Full Review

Rob D

This movie is of a badness almost not to be believed. The dialogue seems to have been mostly improvised.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/06/24

Full Review

Jonathan F

Fresh, sarcastic, sexy, I really loved watching this movie, very cool script.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Michael F

Quirky, unusual doesn't take itself too seriously.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Tawha N

Takes some time to find its footing but ultimately a tense but funny ride when it keeps going towards the secondary half. 3/5

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/29/23

Full Review

Mikhail B

Actually, I liked it, but after watching the interview with the director, I realized it wasn't that deep.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/04/23

Full Review

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Sebastián Silva

Director

Jordan Firstman

Actor

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Rotting in the Sun: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Writer-director Sebastián Silva's Sundance hit ROTTING IN THE SUN is a darkly funny and refreshingly audacious meta-comedy that skewers the business of filmmaking and our self-obsessed culture. While unwinding at a Mexican gay beach town, depressed director Sebastián Silva meets gregarious Instagram influencer Jordan Firstman (both playing versions of themselves), and Sebastián reluctantly agrees to collaborate on an upcoming project. But when Jordan arrives back in Mexico City, Sebastián is nowhere to be found. Jordan dances, sleeps and snorts his way through the city as he embarks on a quasi-detective journey to get to the bottom of Sebastián's disappearance.

Director: Sebastian Silva, Sebastián Silva
Producer: Jacob Wasserman
Screenwriter: Sebastian Silva, Pedro Peirano, Sebastián Silva
Distributor: MUBI
Production Co: Hidden Content, Spacemaker Productions, Diroriro, The Lift, Icki Eneo Arlo
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 2023, Limited
Runtime: 1h 49m

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