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Poster for The Ax

The Ax

Seen it?

2005 | 118 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (80% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office loss. 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
Made for crime-drama fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved The Wolf of Wall Street, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Funny with heart, tense.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 58 min.
What might put you off
It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).

Bruno loved his job as a middle manager at a paper company, but optimistically views being laid off as an opportunity. After two years of searching for a comparable position, optimism turns to desperation. His wife works two jobs, and their marriage slowly deteriorates as their hold on the middle class slips away. Bruno concocts a grimly audacious plan to identify and kill his fellow job applicants so that he is the only qualified person left.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    80% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.9 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    1 win and 5 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $5 million worldwide on a $5 million budget

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 119K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Costa-Gavras

  • José GarciaBruno Davert
  • Karin ViardMarlène Davert
  • Ulrich TukurGérard Hutchinson
  • Olivier GourmetRaymond Machefer
  • Yvon BackEtienne Barnet
  • Thierry HancisseInspector Kesler
  • Olga GrumbergIris Thompson
  • Geordy CouturiauMaxime Davert
  • Christa ThéretBetty Davert
  • Yolande MoreauPost Office Clerk