Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Beast

Play trailer 1:37 Poster for The Beast 2024 2h 26m Drama Romance Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 144 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
The year is 2044: artificial intelligence controls all facets of a stoic society as humans routinely "erase" their feelings. Hoping to eliminate pain caused by their past-life romances, Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) continually falls in love with different incarnations of Louis (George MacKay). Set first in Belle Époque-era Paris, Louis is a British man who woos her away from a cold husband, then in early 21st Century Los Angeles, he is a disturbed American bent on delivering violent "retribution." Will the process allow Gabrielle to fully connect with Louis in the present, or are the two doomed to repeat their previous fates? Visually audacious director Bertrand Bonello (Saint Laurent, Nocturama) fashions his most accomplished film to date: a sci-fi epic, inspired by Henry James' turn-of-the-century novella, suffused with mounting dread and a haunting sense of mystery. Punctuated by a career-defining, three-role performance by Seydoux, The Beast poignantly conveys humanity's struggle against dissociative identity and emotionless existence.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Beast

The Beast

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Unwieldy but rewarding, The Beast uses its sci-fi conceit to explore intriguing themes in largely satisfying fashion.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Adam Nayman The Ringer 07/23/2024
The Beast gives a sense of an artist burrowing deep inside his material (and his moment) and emerging with something vital. It’s fearless filmmaking. Go to Full Review
Donald Clarke Irish Times 07/13/2024
3/5
About halfway through Bertrand Bonello’s insanely knotty new picture – a Spaghetti Junction of semi-discrete timelines – one version of Léa Seydoux gives in to frustration. “What the f**k are you talking about!” she yells into the ether. What indeed? Go to Full Review
Mark Kermode Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube) 06/05/2024
Against any rhyme or reason, it works. Go to Full Review
Ryan Swen Taipei Mansions Sep 5
The general cacophony suggested by this hailstorm of information, however, does not truly describe the experience of The Beast, and how both Bonello and Seydoux contribute to the singular, overwhelming mood. Go to Full Review
Clotilde Chinnici The People's Movies Aug 19
3.5/5
Overall, The Beast is an incredible film, unlike anything I have ever seen in recent years thanks to its ambitious storyline and fascinating visuals. Go to Full Review
Kyle Amato Boston Hassle Jul 31
I am usually allergic to any film taking on “our modern world,” as many writers and directors struggle to find ways to make cell phones cinematic, but The Beast leans into just how crazy it feels to be alive. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Kelvin G 04/24/2024 This was very well acted and shot well, but the story was just meh. There was entirely too much dialogue. The end was somewhat abrupt too. See more Will 04/21/2024 A very strange movie that uses a sci-fi framework to examine difficulties people face in forming connections and sustaining relationships very ambitious and not totally successful, it benefits from a strong lead in Lea Seydoux and sharp direction. Still, it bites off more than it can chew thematically. See more Remy 04/13/2024 Strange movie but made me think and was entertaining See more Dotan 04/12/2024 First half was very boring and then the rest mad 0 sense See more Reagan R @ReddRover Sep 21 It’s both deeply emotional and eerily stoic. A very slow movie. The actors are mesmerizing and it’s worth watching just for that. But the costumes, the settings, the science fiction element. It worked. See more Tom F Sep 19 Mulholland Drive meets Eternal Sunshine with remarkable performances from Léa Seydoux and George MacKay. See more Read all reviews
The Beast

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

The Beast

The Beast: First Look - Close Your Eyes The Beast: First Look - Close Your Eyes 0:34 View more videos
Little Fish 91% 89% Little Fish Watchlist TRAILER for Little Fish Swan Song 80% 76% Swan Song Watchlist TRAILER for Swan Song With Love and a Major Organ 88% % With Love and a Major Organ Watchlist Daniela Forever 65% % Daniela Forever Watchlist TRAILER for Daniela Forever Past Lives 95% 93% Past Lives Watchlist TRAILER for Past Lives Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis The year is 2044: artificial intelligence controls all facets of a stoic society as humans routinely "erase" their feelings. Hoping to eliminate pain caused by their past-life romances, Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) continually falls in love with different incarnations of Louis (George MacKay). Set first in Belle Époque-era Paris, Louis is a British man who woos her away from a cold husband, then in early 21st Century Los Angeles, he is a disturbed American bent on delivering violent "retribution." Will the process allow Gabrielle to fully connect with Louis in the present, or are the two doomed to repeat their previous fates? Visually audacious director Bertrand Bonello (Saint Laurent, Nocturama) fashions his most accomplished film to date: a sci-fi epic, inspired by Henry James' turn-of-the-century novella, suffused with mounting dread and a haunting sense of mystery. Punctuated by a career-defining, three-role performance by Seydoux, The Beast poignantly conveys humanity's struggle against dissociative identity and emotionless existence.
Director
Bertrand Bonello
Producer
Justin Taurand, Bertrand Bonello, Xavier Dolan, Nancy Grant
Screenwriter
Bertrand Bonello, Bertrand Bonello, Guillaume Bréaud, Benjamin Charbit
Distributor
Sideshow / Janus Films
Genre
Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Original Language
French
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 5, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 18, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA)
$414.0K
Runtime
2h 26m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
Most Popular at Home Now