The Lobster

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2:18

The Lobster

R

Released Jun 3, 2016

1h 58m

Romance

Comedy

Fantasy

Drama

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

88%

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268 Reviews

65%

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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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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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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

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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

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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

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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

Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

Lanthimos' particular style, characterized by intense camera movements and exquisite shot compositions, is reminiscent of the best Kubrick. [Full review in Spanis]

Rated: 8/10

Apr 11, 2024

Full Review

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Nick E

Equal parts bizarre and darkly funny, The Lobster is a unique gem from Yorgos Lanthimos.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

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Jessica M

Absolutely phenomenal satire of the bleak experience of trying to return to dating after a marriage or long term partnership. Yorgos Lanthimos brings his usual crackpot sensibilities to a subject that is so ordinary and everyday that we fail to notice how utterly bizarre some of the ritual behaviours actually are and shines a light on not only the multitude of ways the system can be subverted but also reminds us why we might bother to engage in the first place. Each time I watch a Yorgos Lanthimos work I am reminded of his keen eye for human’s and humanity and I am always impressed by the vehicle by which he chooses to reveal us to ourselves. And YES! I would choose to be a Lobster 🦞 too.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Pathetic movie no sense no story no understanding. Useless.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/09/25

Full Review

Spike D

It's difficult for me to overstate just how much I hate this dull, affectatious, mean-spirited, paltry attempt at satire.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

Full Review

Robert R

Has a lot to say about love, compromise and monogamy in modern society, but I think it maybe gets a little too lost trying to be weird for the sake of being weird. I know this is Yorgos we're talking about here and this is still unmistakably a film spun from his unique style and voice, but I think some of the choices with regard to the dialogue left things feeling a bit too stilted and unnatural for my tastes. Granted, I'm certain that's the point, but it kind of came off as zero calorie Wes Anderson at times. Still, the initial concept is magnetic and fun to muse on, with a lot of the scenes in the first half of things representing some of my favorite moments from the project as a whole. And, while the second half kind of wore my attention a tad thin, I think the ending makes up for some of that meandering. All in all, not my favorite of the director's, but a great touchstone for his unique brand of storytelling.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

Full Review

Niko H

Pretty good I wished for a better ending so the worst ones could have got what they deserved.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/17/25

Full Review

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The Lobster: Trailer 1

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The Lobster: International Trailer 1

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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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