The Childhood of a Leader
Seen it?2016 | 116 min | Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (89% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office loss and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- If you count yourself among people who like stories about real, flawed people, this one's for you. Paris does a lot of the work, and it looks wonderful. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Gives its people room to develop, at 1 hr 56 min.
- What might put you off
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
- Skip it if you need something light and fast tonight.
The chilling story of a young American boy living in France in 1918 whose father is working for the US government on the creation of the Treaty of Versailles. What he witnesses helps to mold his beliefs – and we witness the birth of a terrifying ego.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
Our audience score: 53%
- AwardsSolid
Nominated for 1 Venice award and 2 Independent Spirit Awards.
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$246K worldwide on a $3 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 70K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Brady Corbet
- Bérénice BejoThe Mother
- Liam CunninghamThe Father
- Stacy MartinAdelaide / The Teacher
- Yolande MoreauThe Maid
- Jacques BoudetThe Priest
- Robert PattinsonCharles Marker / The Leader
- Tom SweetPrescott, the Boy
- Sophie Lane CurtisLaura
- Rebecca DayanEdith
- Michael EppEconomist