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Action thriller

Apex (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Apex (2021) movie poster

Apex is a 2021 action thriller directed by Edward Drake, starring Bruce Willis as Malone, Lochlyn Munro and Corey Large. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $11,984 worldwide. Critics gave it 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 3.0/10.

IMDb rating
3.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
11%
worldwide gross
$12K
Echo Score
20
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Apex (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m (93 min)
Director
Edward Drake
Genres
Action , Thriller
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Apex About?

The premise of Apex without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Former cop Thomas Malone finds himself framed for a crime and must fight for his freedom on a remote island. Hunted by six skilled and ruthless adversaries, he relies on his instincts and training to survive. The intense situation quickly turns into a desperate battle where every choice carries life-or-death consequences as he attempts to clear his name and escape the island.

Apex Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • psychological war
  • life without parole
  • time travel
  • hunter versus prey
  • unbreakable
  • mongrel
  • trophy
  • tombstone
  • eulogy
  • prison
  • future
  • game over
+38 more
  • criminal
  • not guilty
  • bloody delight
  • blood sport
  • teleport
  • gambling
  • wrongfully convicted of murder
  • trillionaire
  • algorithm
  • hologram
  • regain freedom
  • apathy
  • remote island
  • ex policeman
  • life sentence
  • traps
  • remake
  • hunting humans
  • human hunting a human
  • crossbow
  • prisoner
  • convict
  • teleportation device
  • montage
  • island
  • ex cop
  • headshot
  • shot to death
  • shot in the head
  • human skull
  • reference to hamlet
  • reference to shakespeare's hamlet
  • tacheon radiation
  • hallucinogenic
  • sociopath
  • drinking from a puddle
  • severed head
  • trophy room
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Cast & crew

Apex Cast & Characters

Bruce Willis leads the cast as Malone, with Lochlyn Munro as Lyle and Corey Large as Carrion. Directed by Edward Drake; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Apex Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Apex 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 3.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 20/100, strongest in sensory experience (25) and weakest in story & flow (15).

20 /100

Apex Echo Score Breakdown

Apex is overwhelmingly perceived as a low‑quality production that fails to deliver on its sci‑fi premise. Critics and viewers alike cite inadequate world‑building, subpar direction, and a reliance on stale action tropes, while the majority of reviews highlight wooden performances and incoherent plotting. A single outlier praises the film’s unintended humor, but this does not offset the dominant criticism. Consequently, the film scores poorly across all dimensions and offers little incentive for repeat viewings.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 15

    In terms of art and craft, the film is judged as severely deficient. Reviewers repeatedly describe the cinematography as comparable to a high‑school project, and the direction is labeled formulaic and hurried. Production design receives no positive remarks, and editing is criticized for being unrefined. The cumulative evidence points to a markedly weak technical execution.

  • Character & Emotion 20

    Character and emotional impact are consistently reported as lacking. Critics and users mention wooden acting, particularly from the lead, and a dearth of meaningful dialogue or chemistry. Although one reviewer notes a modest seriousness that prevents outright camp, the prevailing view is that performances do not engage the audience, resulting in a shallow emotional experience.

  • Story & Flow 15

    The story and narrative flow are described as disjointed and unoriginal. Reviewers highlight illogical plot points, ineffective pacing, and an underdeveloped sci‑fi setting that feels afterthought. The premise is deemed clichéd, and dialogue is often called childlike or clumsy. Overall, the film fails to present a coherent or compelling storyline.

  • Sensory Experience 25

    Sensory elements receive limited commentary, yet the few references are negative. Critics note cheap visual effects, such as a rudimentary hologram, and a lackluster soundscape. No reviewer praises the soundtrack or sound design, and visual style is characterized as generic. Consequently, the sensory experience is assessed as below average.

  • Rewatch Factor 25

    Rewatch factor is low for most viewers, who describe the film as tedious and without lasting appeal. One user finds accidental humor entertaining, but this sentiment is isolated. The majority advise against further viewings, citing boredom and a failure to engage beyond a single watch, leading to minimal replay value.

Plot

Apex Plot Summary

What happens in Apex from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film opens with Samuel, a self-proclaimed Apex Warrior and pharmaceutical trillionaire, expressing his boredom with the virtual challenges and asking for something real to test him. Thomas Malone [Bruce Willis] has spent years locked away, serving a life sentence for a string of crimes, and he longs to be reunited with his family. When the game-master pitches him a stark deal, Malone sees a narrow path to freedom: survive a private island while being hunted.

Full summary

The whole story of Apex, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Apex Box Office

Apex grossed $11,984 worldwide.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$12K

International
$12K
Videos

Apex Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Official Trailer
  • Trailer UK Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Apex?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor portrays the convict Thomas Malone in the film?

Cars

Cars in Apex

2 cars on screen: the 2020 Ford Explorer and the Bobcat E35.

  • 2020 Ford Explorer in Apex 2020 Ford Explorer Minor role
  • Bobcat E35 in Apex Bobcat E35 Background role
Details

Apex Also Known As

17 alternative titles, including “Apex Predator” and “獵殺時刻”.

Also known as
  • Apex Predator
  • 獵殺時刻
  • משחק הניצודים
  • Преступный квест
  • Apex - Vadászok szigete
  • Vrcholný predátor
  • 에이펙스
  • Apex (Depredador alpha)
  • 猎杀时刻
  • Апекс: Смертельний квест
  • אייפקס
  • الذروة
+5 more
  • キル・ゲーム
  • Κυνήγι στο Άκρο της Γης
  • 終極狩獵團
  • Stipriausias plėšrūnas
  • ล่าคนอึดพลิกจักรวาล, მწვერვალი

Seen Apex?

FAQ

Apex FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Apex, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Apex?

Apex runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

When was Apex released?

Apex was released on November 12, 2021.

Who directed Apex?

Apex was directed by Edward Drake.

More films by Edward Drake

Who is in the cast of Apex?

Apex stars Bruce Willis as Malone, Lochlyn Munro as Lyle and Corey Large as Carrion, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Apex make at the box office?

Apex grossed $11,984 worldwide.

How is Apex rated?

Apex has 3.0/10 on IMDb, 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, 52% on TMDB and 1.6/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Apex have a post-credit scene?

No. Apex has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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