The Tenant

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The Tenant

R

1976

2h 5m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

39 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In Paris, isolated Eastern European émigré Trelkovsky rents an apartment in a spooky old building whose inhabitants regard him with suspicion and even outright hostility. When he learns that the apartment's previous tenant, a beautiful woman, tried to commit suicide by jumping out the window, Trelkovsky begins to identify with her in increasingly disturbing ways. Then, to make matters even worse, he reaches the conclusion that his new neighbors are plotting to kill him.

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Critics Consensus

A rough-edged thriller that lacks the precision of Polanski's best work, but makes up for it with its skillful mounting of paranoia, dread, and dark themes.

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Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

Jan 23, 2024

The Tenant is a poetic nightmare about punishment imposed on an unguilty man who merely entertained great fear of guilt.

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Feb 18, 2010

4/5

A disturbing and poignant anthology of Roman Polanski's favourite, oppressive themes.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Oct 18, 2008

It has a humorous tang, underlying the macabre.

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Dave Aldridge

Radio Times

Nov 11, 2025

3/5

Melvyn Douglas and Shelley Winters co-star in a puzzling and absorbing thriller that, on occasions, recalls not just Repulsion but also has vague echoes of Rosemary's Baby.

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

Mar 17, 2025

B

Polanski hopes to get under the skin during the offering, but such irritation only connects periodically in the overlong feature, though creepiness and interesting interpretational elements do contribute to the puzzle aspect of the material.

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Steve Warren

The Barb (Atlanta)

May 9, 2023

It's strange stuff, and too subtle for people who like The Exorcist and The Omen, but The Tenant is a real horror movie.

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Meathook C

@MeathookCinema Sep 5, 2026

Funny, paranoid, dark

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Alex J

@RT51904888 Aug 18, 2026

I had avoided seeing anything by Polanski for a long time but gave this a go. I figured I could (and likely would) end it early, but I was truly amazed by the film and haven’t stopped thinking about it for over a week now. I did think the first hour moved at a slow pace, but in retrospect there was so much groundwork laid that got paid off in a satisfying manner later that I have to withdraw the complaint. The ending is just superb, and both movies I’ve seen since seem to draw directly from it in some ways (Total Recall and Camp Miasma). While Polanski is a monster, it’s hard to deny he was skilled in his craft.

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bruce F

@bruce999 Aug 14, 2026

weird but interesting. it's worth seeing, but it's not a family movie, or a kids movie.

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Jonathan S.

@JonathanColeSpivey Jun 14, 2026

The Tenant (1976) film review Roman Polanski is one of our finest and masterful international filmmakers and has proven his worth in every film he has crafted. None of his works are as auteur as The Tenant which was crafted in 1976, with the beloved star Shelly Winters and other gifted actors. Like many of Polanski’s work he is dealing with extreme exclusiveness, paranoia and disillusionment. Polanski commonly deals with protagonist being ostracized in some form or fashion and this chosen character must struggle with acceptance. This makes sense because he is a holocaust survivor and witness to the brutal capture of his Jewish parents. Not many filmmakers have witnessed suffering as much as Roman Polanski has in his childhood and early years, and this is proven in his interpretation of humanity and creation of stories. Polanski often deals with a secret society and a group that could possibly be compared to a coven. The Tenant focuses more on…(Facebook Cole Spivey)

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j15j15j15 j

@J15cTell Jan 27, 2026

@}>--->>*

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Billy L

@RT72202244 Oct 8, 2025

Its so funny the film got terrible reviews in 1976...today its hailed as a great work...It a Masterpiece !! .

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Synopsis

In Paris, isolated Eastern European émigré Trelkovsky rents an apartment in a spooky old building whose inhabitants regard him with suspicion and even outright hostility. When he learns that the apartment's previous tenant, a beautiful woman, tried to commit suicide by jumping out the window, Trelkovsky begins to identify with her in increasingly disturbing ways. Then, to make matters even worse, he reaches the conclusion that his new neighbors are plotting to kill him.

Director: Roman Polanski
Producer: Andrew Braunsberg
Screenwriter: Gérard Brach, Roman Polanski
Production Co: Marianne Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 26, 1976, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jun 11, 1976
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.6K
Runtime: 2h 5m

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