The Rules of the Game
Seen it?1939 | 110 min | Drama, Comedy, Romance
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (97% 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 romantics and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Ninotchka, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Provocative satire that goes after everyone, romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 50 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1939: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
The Marquis de la Chesnaye and his wife host a weekend gala where a variety of complicated romantic and social entanglements between guests and servants lead to tragedy, all against the backdrop of a looming war.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 99 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$274K worldwide on a $9 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 92K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jean Renoir
- Jean RenoirOctave
- Marcel DalioRobert de la Cheyniest
- Nora GregorChristine de la Cheyniest
- Julien CaretteMarceau, le braconnier
- Roland ToutainAndré Jurieux
- Paulette DubostLisette, sa camériste
- Gaston ModotEdouard Schumacher, le garde-chasse
- Mila ParélyGeneviève de Marras
- Anne MayenJackie, nièce de Christine
- Eddy DebrayCorneille, le majordome