Bad Times at the El Royale

Name: Bad Times at the El Royale
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Released: October 12, 2018
Duration: 141 min
Rating: 60
Cast: Alvina August, Bethany Brown, Cailee Spaeny, Chris Hemsworth, Cynthia Erivo

2018

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 43 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 107 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 107 Ratings

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Bad Times At The El Royale (Trailer 2)

Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox | Release Date: October 12, 2018

Starring: Alvina August, Bethany Brown, Cailee Spaeny, Chris Hemsworth, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jeff Bridges, Jim O'Heir, Jon Hamm, Jonathan Whitesell, Katharine Isabelle, Lewis Pullman, Manny Jacinto, Mark O'Brien, Nick Offerman, Sarah Smyth, Shea Whigham, Xavier Dolan

Summary: Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe's El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption... before everything goes to hell.

Director: Drew Goddard

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 141 min

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Awards & Rankings

50	#50 Most Discussed Movie of 2018
70	#70 Most Shared Movie of 2018

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Film Threat - Bobby LePire

Oct 20, 2018

Bad Times At The El Royale is creepy and mysterious in all the right ways. The tension builds as the non-sequential story allows the pieces to fall into place in mesmerizing fashion. Read full review

IndieWire - David Ehrlich

Sep 27, 2018

The more that Goddard upends our assumptions about who’s good, who’s bad, and who’s going to live through the night, the more we realize that we’re rooting for all of these fucked-up people to get right with the world. It’s massively didactic, but in a way that encourages us to dwell on how we feel about these characters, and how malleable those feelings are. Read full review

Entertainment Weekly - Leah Greenblatt

Oct 10, 2018

It’s British stage actress Erivo who feels like the real star. Her steely charisma and gorgeous powerhouse of a voice (Goddard takes every plausible opportunity to let her loose on a classic 1960s songbook; can you blame him?) is what gives the movie not just a different kind of heroine, but a heart. Read full review

Philadelphia Daily News - Nick Vadala

Oct 10, 2018

Goddard provides ample space for his star-studded cast to play, often to great effect, thanks mostly to lesser-known stars like Erivo and Pullman. The production design is similarly engrossing, with the El Royale's endless corridors and secrets making it as much a character in the movie as any of its human players. Read full review

The New York Times - Manohla Dargis

Oct 11, 2018

Goddard keeps everything smoothly, ebbing and flowing as the characters separate and join together, but at some point during this logy 2-hour-and-21-minute exercise you want something more substantial than even Hemsworth’s admittedly mesmerizing snaky hips. Read full review

Vanity Fair - Richard Lawson

Oct 13, 2018

I remain as curious as ever to see what Goddard does next. But this film, for all its canny presentation, is a mishmash of compelling narrative premises clumsily fused together. It manages to be both overwrought and under-developed, disappointing less for what it is than for what it could have been. Read full review

Movie Nation - Roger Moore

Oct 1, 2018

Ponderously telling some parts of its sketch-of-a-story from multiple points of view, it’s an excruciating exercise in self-indulgence, packed with flashbacks and those big speeches/big scenes that draw names like Oscar winner Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson and Jon Hamm to its cast. It adds up to nothing more than two hours and 21 minutes of tedium, with the odd spasm of violence, back-story or musical interlude. Read full review

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User Reviews

Fb29

Oct 15, 2018

I'll echo another reviewer, this is a crafted movie. The acting is superb. Great cinematography. The plot moves. What a treat that Cynthia Erivo sings in the movie, she has to be the best voice on earth right now. The soundtrack for this movie was outstanding. I plan to see it again inI'll echo another reviewer, this is a crafted movie. The acting is superb. Great cinematography. The plot moves. What a treat that Cynthia Erivo sings in the movie, she has to be the best voice on earth right now. The soundtrack for this movie was outstanding. I plan to see it again in theaters, partly for the soundtrack and that Jon Hamm monologue, but mostly to be able to enjoy the movie while also remembering to breathe.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

hmit

Oct 30, 2018

I really can't believe the score most review sites have given this film, it's worth so much more than a 7. This film is a masterpiece, it's so well put together and without a wasted word or scene. It's incredibly refreshing to see a film trying something new like this. Don't listen toI really can't believe the score most review sites have given this film, it's worth so much more than a 7. This film is a masterpiece, it's so well put together and without a wasted word or scene. It's incredibly refreshing to see a film trying something new like this. Don't listen to negative reviews about this film - even if you don't like the genre, it's worth seeing just to see a great work of art.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Datzman290

Oct 13, 2018

OK, I went into this movie with NO expectations and didn't know much about it (outside of a few actors who were starring). I really enjoyed it! I'm guessing that's because I had no pre-conceptions, and saw professional reviews had been mixed. Laughed a few times, was startled a few times,OK, I went into this movie with NO expectations and didn't know much about it (outside of a few actors who were starring). I really enjoyed it! I'm guessing that's because I had no pre-conceptions, and saw professional reviews had been mixed. Laughed a few times, was startled a few times, and left the theater thinking about/discussing the movie and characters. As I'm writing this, I'm realizing this is exactly the type of movie I go to the movies for! Well done :)… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

defdog99

Oct 13, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The story was missing something near the end. Perhaps it needed a meddling cop -ala Die Hard- researching the Malibu murders or maybe hunting for the lost money . Or at the very least make the roll of film more important, like "do you want to escape alive but with nothing, or try to get the money, or try to get the roll of film?" But overall it's a great adult movie w/ Tarantino-esque story crossovers.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

AaronRadcliff

Oct 14, 2018

El Royale has an undeniably beautiful look, strong cast performances, and a story that- while convoluted a bit- does keep you invested and trying to piece things together. There are, without a doubt, the makings of a great movie and yet it feels just short. I don't know if it's the lack ofEl Royale has an undeniably beautiful look, strong cast performances, and a story that- while convoluted a bit- does keep you invested and trying to piece things together. There are, without a doubt, the makings of a great movie and yet it feels just short. I don't know if it's the lack of more memorable personalities and stronger dialogue. Maybe it was because I kept trying to shake off the Tarantino vibe the whole time. Or maybe it was because it is a film that, while good, isn't unique.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

TVJerry

Oct 15, 2018

It's not clear what kind of movie this wants to be. It feels like a Tarantino wannabe on slow motion without the snappy banter or extreme violence. What's left is the back stories of a group of people who checked into this unusual hotel and how they converge for dark outcomes. The castIt's not clear what kind of movie this wants to be. It feels like a Tarantino wannabe on slow motion without the snappy banter or extreme violence. What's left is the back stories of a group of people who checked into this unusual hotel and how they converge for dark outcomes. The cast includes Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson and Chris Hemsworth (who makes the experience worthwhile by strutting around semi-shirtless for an extended period). Having patience as the disappointing plot unfolds doesn't pay off with a shocker. It's attractively shot and interesting, but ultimately a long disappointment (2:20). Two newish actors turn in the most interesting performances: The woman who plays the singer (Cynthia Erivo)and the man who plays the hotel clerk (Lewis Pullman). NOTE: He's the son of actor Bill Pullman.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Trillcosbey

Nov 2, 2018

Bad rip off of Quentin Tarantino films, not even close. It is an old Hollywood trick. They find out some one is making a period film about the Manson family and attempts to beat them to the gate and steal the thunder. Trash.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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