Apt Pupil
Seen it?1998 | 107 min | Drama, Thriller
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
It's still drawing plenty of interest, but middling reviews (53% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a box office loss held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Freedom Writers or The Hate U Give, start here.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 47 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
One day in 1984, Todd Bowden, a brilliant high school boy fascinated by the history of Nazism, stumbles across an old man whose appearance resembles that of Kurt Dussander, a wanted Nazi war criminal. A month later, Todd decides to knock on his door.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
53% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.5 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
Won 1 Critics' Choice Award: Best Actor.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$9 million worldwide on a $14 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 196K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Bryan Singer
- Ian McKellenKurt Dussander
- Brad RenfroTodd Bowden
- Bruce DavisonRichard Bowden
- Elias KoteasArchie
- Joe MortonDan Richler
- Jan TřískaIsaac Weiskopf
- Michael ByrneBen Kramer
- Heather McCombBecky Trask
- Ann DowdMonica Bowden
- Joshua JacksonJoey