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The Lobster

Play trailer 2:18 Poster for The Lobster R Released Jun 3, 2016 1h 58m Romance Comedy Fantasy Drama Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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87% Tomatometer 269 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In a dystopian society, single people must find a mate within 45 days or be transformed into an animal of their choice.
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The Lobster

The Lobster

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Critics Consensus

As strange as it is thrillingly ambitious, The Lobster is definitely an acquired taste -- but for viewers with the fortitude to crack through Yorgos Lanthimos' offbeat sensibilities, it should prove a savory cinematic treat.

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Critics Reviews

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Jordan Hoffman Esquire Magazine Like all good satire, it takes what's already obvious about the world around us and just transforms it into something new. Oct 18, 2018 Full Review Danny Leigh Financial Times Part of the joy of Lanthimos's film is seeing in it any degree of subtext you like. Rated: 5/5 Dec 27, 2016 Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com This is the type of film I'm going to watch multiple times, obsessing over every choice Lanthimos and his talented team of cinematic craftsmen made in order to see it come to life. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 9, 2016 Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson With more talent and a high concept at play, "The Lobster" is missing the charm to tie it all together. Rated: 2/5 Jul 20, 2025 Full Review Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film The Lobster is an uncanny and bizarre cinematic experience, and, if this is Lanthimos’s starting point, he may prove to be one of the most original directors of the twenty-first century. Rated: 4.5/5 Aug 9, 2024 Full Review JD Duran InSession Film He isn’t a director for everyone, but I love his style of filmmaking. The Lobster especially is one of the most unique films I’ve seen in a decade. The premise is not only bizarre, but it features some wonderful irony about the absurdity of relationships. Aug 8, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Marina D Honestly not even sure what I just watched. There was no message behind the movie, no point to it, nothing to enjoy about it, nothing to cry about, nothing. It was both dull and disturbing, which is basically the worst combination for a movie to be. A disturbing movie is fine as long as it’s not completely dull, since if disturbance is accompanied by any other emotion it’s at least something you can feel. Dullness could hardly be called an emotion at all, and that’s what this movie evokes. Also, I didn’t realize the amount of animal cruelty there would be in this movie. Obviously it’s not real but, it was certainly more than expected and I almost wish there had been a warning about it at the beginning or something. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review Riquelmy W The Lobster, de Yorgos Lanthimos, é uma experiência única: ao mesmo tempo encantadora, desconfortável e reflexiva. A direção é marcante, com uma câmera quase sempre estática que reforça o tom frio e clínico do universo distópico apresentado. As narrações, quase literárias, criam uma sensação de imersão quase íntima, contrastando com o comportamento contido e vazio dos personagens. O maior trunfo do filme é seu conceito absurdo — um mundo onde você tem 45 dias para arranjar um parceiro ou vira um animal — tratado com naturalidade e sem explicações desnecessárias. Essa abordagem torna o universo crível e perturbador, mostrando a adaptação das pessoas a esse sistema bizarro. A ambientação, especialmente no hotel, é uma metáfora perfeita para a marginalização social e a busca desesperada por aceitação dentro de padrões rígidos. O filme entrega uma crítica afiada à pressão social por relacionamentos, expondo as relações vazias e tóxicas geradas por essa imposição. The Lobster não é pra todo mundo, mas é daqueles filmes que grudam na cabeça e provocam reflexões profundas sobre amor, liberdade e conformismo. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/19/25 Full Review Dejah S Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it when I watched it, and maybe one day I'll try again. I love a sow burn but, jeez. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/16/25 Full Review Larry P Bizarre, disturbing, frustrating. It's called an absurdist comedy but there was no laughter in the room where we saw it. No one's life was improved in any way from watching this. We hung on through the end just to figure out how it could possibly resolve. The answer is: not well. One in our audience pronounced the movie toxic. Run away. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/16/25 Full Review Kenneth H Underrated film of the decade. So much more poignant than a monochrome Wes Anderson. A truly original film. Not for everyone, but compelling and full of wit. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/11/25 Full Review Audience Member EIN HEIßES EI UNTER DER ACHSEL Da die Gesellschaft in naher Zukunft nur noch Paare akzeptiert, muss David ins Hotel um dort in 45 Tagen eine Partnerin zu finden. Mehr Zeit kann er sich verdienen in dem er Einzelgänger jagd. Sollte es ihm nicht gelingen wird er in ein Tier verwandelt. Wenn dieser Fall Eintritt möchte David gern ein Hummer werden, denn die werden bekanntlich 100 Jahre alt und sind sehr lange Zeugungsfähig. The Lobster von 2015 geht ca. 115 Minuten und ist ab 16 Jahren freigegeben. Wir haben hier eine Sci-Fi-Romanze mit Colin Farrell in der Hauptrolle und man serviert uns hier eine herrlich bittersüße Gesellschaftsatire mit schwarzen Humor. Der Streifen zieht einen von Beginn an in seinen Bann und die Prämisse das man in ein Tier verwandelt wird wenn man keinen Partner findet ist interessant und skurril. Die Figuren sind alle nicht perfekt, manche haben Sprachfehler, Gehfehler oder sind emotional einfach anstrengend. Die Regeln dieser Welt sind auf der einen Seite amüsant, andererseits waren die Laienaufführungen im Hotel so überzeugend schräg das es nur logisch ist wieso es keine Singles mehr geben darf. Vieles muss man tatsächlich einfach hinnehmen damit es funktioniert und für mich tat es das. Wer in einer Beziehung etwas vorheuchelt wird bestraft, wer im Hotel ornaniert wird bestraft und wer in seiner Beziehung zu viel streitet bekommt ein Kind damit das Paar eine Aufgabe hat (als David das Kind eines anderen begrüßt hab ich mich weggeschmissen vor lachen). Die Regeln der Einzelgänger im Wald sind aber ebenfalls sehr wild und bestialisch. Wenn mir etwas nicht gefiel dann einmal die Schlussszene, die mir zu offen war und das es im Mittelteil sich etwas zieht. Am Ende bleibt ein Werk das Spaß macht wenn man was für schwarzen Humor übrig hat, man nichts gegen verrückte Ideen hat und Figuren mag die etwas eigen sind. Von mir bekommt der Film 8/10 Punkten. Es gibt nur Hetero oder Homosexuell, Bi wurde abgeschafft weil es zuviel Verwirrung gab. Was eine Zukunft. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Lobster

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Movie Info

Synopsis In a dystopian society, single people must find a mate within 45 days or be transformed into an animal of their choice.
Director
Yorgos Lanthimos
Producer
Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Ceci Dempsey, Yorgos Lanthimos
Screenwriter
Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou
Distributor
A24
Production Co
Lemming Film, Haut et Court, Element Pictures, Faliro House, Scarlet Films
Rating
R (Sexual Content|Dialogue|Some Violence)
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 3, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.1M
Runtime
1h 58m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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