The Perfect Candidate
Seen it?2020 | 104 min | Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. 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 anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 44 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in another language, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
A young Saudi doctor campaigns for a seat on the municipal council, finding confidence as she combats prejudice.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
0 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$1 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 8K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
What Maisie Knew Sunday Safe BetAnother drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Richard Jewell
Saturday SpecialAnother drama, and a Saturday Special.
Orlando Saturday SpecialAnother drama, and a Saturday Special.
The Kingdom Sunday Safe BetAnother drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
A Hologram for the King
Weeknight WatchAnother drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Haifaa al-Mansour
- Mila Al-ZahraniDr. Maryam Alsafan
- Nora Al AwadhSara
- Dae Al HilaliSelma
- Khalid AbdulrhimAbdulaziz
- Shafi Al HarthyMohammed
- Mohamed OthmanHimself
- Nojoud AhmedDr. Abeer
- Khadeeja Mua'thKhadeeja
- Tareq Al KhaldiOmar
- Reema MohammedBadria (voice)