Melancholia

Name: Melancholia
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller
Released: November 11, 2011
Duration: 137 min
Rating: 80

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 525 Ratings

See All

6.7

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.7	Your Score
6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 525 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Melancholia

Now Playing: Melancholia

Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Films | Release Date: November 11, 2011 | R

Summary: In this beautiful movie about the end of the world, Justine and Michael are celebrating their marriage at a sumptuous party in the home of her sister Claire, and brother-in-law John. Despite Claire's best efforts, the wedding is a fiasco, with family tensions mounting and relationships fraying. Meanwhile, a planet called Melancholia isIn this beautiful movie about the end of the world, Justine and Michael are celebrating their marriage at a sumptuous party in the home of her sister Claire, and brother-in-law John. Despite Claire's best efforts, the wedding is a fiasco, with family tensions mounting and relationships fraying. Meanwhile, a planet called Melancholia is heading directly towards Earth. (Magnolia Pictures)… Expand

Director: Lars von Trier

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 137 mins

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Rene Rodriguez

Nov 17, 2011

Leave it to von Trier to conceive an intergalactic sci-fi metaphor for a psychological disorder – and then make it work so astonishingly well. Read full review

100

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Oct 25, 2011

Melancholia hovers in ambiguity with riveting aesthetic prowess. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Dec 1, 2011

Melancholia is an intense, exhausting experience. That may not sound appealing, and for some, it won't be. But nor should it be off-putting. Proceed with caution, perhaps. But proceed nevertheless. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Nov 9, 2011

The grand concept is really just a vehicle for a more intimate study of depression and its dangerous, shifting polarities. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Nov 17, 2011

As von Trier's ultimate wish-fulfillment fantasy, Melancholia is a broodingly downbeat self-portrait but also the inspiring work of an artist of seemingly boundless imaginative power. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Nov 8, 2011

Melancholia represents von Trier at his best and worst. Visually and thematically, Melancholia is a rich motion picture, full of nuances. Unfortunately, in his pursuit of an artistic vision, von Trier has thrown logic, physics, and coherence out the window. Read full review

Rex Reed

Nov 8, 2011

Melancholia is his latest pile of undiluted drivel, nauseatingly filmed by a wonky hand-held camera and featuring a crazy, mismatched ensemble headed by Kirsten Dunst, who won an acting award in Cannes last year for looking totally catatonic. Read full review

SEE ALL 40 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

MorriBey

Nov 12, 2011

Weird Weird Weird. Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful. It all begins to make sense towards the end so all the questions and confusion of the beginning makes sense. If you are patient enough and curious enough you will be greatly rewarded. Make time for the movie. Understand that it will be great.Weird Weird Weird. Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful. It all begins to make sense towards the end so all the questions and confusion of the beginning makes sense. If you are patient enough and curious enough you will be greatly rewarded. Make time for the movie. Understand that it will be great. You only get to see such a movie maybe only once a decade.… Expand

15 of 21 users found this helpful156

ariel84

May 9, 2013

it's been a year since i first watched MELANCHOLIA. it is still one of the greatest films i've ever seen. kirsten dunst is as beautifully magnificent. the setting and cinematography still astonish. my favorite apocalyptic film of all time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Christopher_G2

Sep 2, 2012

This film is not going to be for everyone, but I loved it. From a crazy wedding party where hardly anything goes right, to the potential coming of the end of the world, it hooked and shook me like very few films have in recent years. It deals with the relationship of two sisters, played byThis film is not going to be for everyone, but I loved it. From a crazy wedding party where hardly anything goes right, to the potential coming of the end of the world, it hooked and shook me like very few films have in recent years. It deals with the relationship of two sisters, played by Kirsten Dunst, in a career best performance, and Charlotte Gainsbourg who is also terrific. Kiefer Sutherland is also very good as the husband of the latter. It's disturbing, beautiful, and emotionally resonant. It's not slow, but well paced. A Von Trier film will always be a bit polarizing. Personally I really disliked his previous film Antichrist, but I loved this.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Cameron_Ash

May 8, 2016

Wonderful acting from both Dunst and Gainsbourg, some dramatic effects a bit too obvious - horses going wild, this one was overused quite a few times. Nevertheless its a great pieces exploring the idea of depression and destruction. Beautiful on various levels.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jacobparker

May 14, 2013

I like that in the movie not the apocalypse is in the foreground, but the events around it.
the movie is very long and the story takes a long time until it gets interesting, but the movie is worth to be seen.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DeeperIn2Movies

Dec 12, 2011

"Melancholia may be the most depressing film of the yearâ

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

montecristo1976

Dec 28, 2011

What a pretentious, long, boring and empty movie. Another "style over substance" film. I found the Kirstin Dunst character very annoying, and the plot was disjointed and incoherent. By the time I was halfway into the movie, I was actually hoping the fictional planet would wipe out all of theWhat a pretentious, long, boring and empty movie. Another "style over substance" film. I found the Kirstin Dunst character very annoying, and the plot was disjointed and incoherent. By the time I was halfway into the movie, I was actually hoping the fictional planet would wipe out all of the characters involved.
This movie is LONG AND DRAGGY. I actually walked out, and I almost never do that for a movie I paid money to see.… Expand

3 of 12 users found this helpful39

SEE ALL 115 REVIEWS

39	#39 Best Movie of 2011
46	#46 Most Discussed Movie of 2011
36	#36 Most Shared Movie of 2011