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Romantic drama

Cicada (2021): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Cicada (2021) movie poster

Cicada is a 2021 romantic drama directed by Kieran Mulcare, starring Matthew Fifer as Ben, Sheldon D. Brown and Cobie Smulders. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $52,131 worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best First Screenplay at the Spirit Awards 2022. Critics gave it 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.7/10.

IMDb rating
4.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
95%
worldwide gross
$52.1K
award nomination
1
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Cicada (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 36m (96 min)
Director
Kieran Mulcare
Genres
Drama , Romance
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Cicada About?

The premise of Cicada without spoilers.

Ben explores the dating world and finds himself drawn to Sam, a person grappling with past experiences. Their relationship deepens during a hot summer, offering comfort and understanding. However, hidden secrets and unresolved insecurities emerge, putting their burgeoning connection at risk and forcing them to confront painful truths about themselves and each other.

Cicada Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • woman wears black panties
  • missing girl
  • woman walking alone in the woods
  • child trafficking
  • missing person
  • women kissing each other
  • left for dead
  • honky tonk
  • close up of a hand
  • uncle and niece living together
  • series of disappearances
  • log cabin
+38 more
  • lesbian slur
  • spanish
  • undocumented immigrant
  • sleuthing
  • honda cr v
  • close up of eyes
  • lesbian couple
  • scene before opening credits
  • redneck
  • town with a secret
  • crawling
  • ex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationship
  • estranged father
  • convenience store clerk
  • flashback
  • combine harvester
  • missing person report
  • lesbian protagonist
  • special needs teenage boy
  • missing children
  • missing person poster
  • homophobic
  • foul play
  • used condom
  • bunk beds
  • bonus
  • internet research
  • missing girlfriend
  • missouri
  • gay slur
  • pokies
  • farmer
  • injured woman
  • father son relationship
  • pump action shotgun
  • drunken man
  • two women kissing
  • beach
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Cast & crew

Cicada Cast & Characters

Matthew Fifer leads the cast as Ben, with Sheldon D. Brown as Sam and Cobie Smulders as Sophie. Directed by Kieran Mulcare; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Cicada

· 6 more
Ratings

Cicada Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Cicada 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 71/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in sensory experience (60).

71 /100

Cicada Echo Score Breakdown

Cicada presents a measured blend of intimate romance and thematic depth, buoyed by strong performances but hampered by uneven narrative structure. Critics commend its realistic visual style and honest portrayal of trauma, while others note a lack of nuance and occasional tonal wobble. Audience reactions echo this split, with some praising its heartfelt honesty and others finding it disengaging. The film therefore offers a compelling yet imperfect experience that may reward repeat viewings for viewers attuned to its emotional core.

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

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of visual craftsmanship, the film benefits from realistic style and noteworthy cityscape shots. Critics highlight an elegant compactness and atmospheric framing, yet also point to structural wobbliness and tonal inconsistency. These mixed observations suggest competent direction with occasional lapses. Overall, the artistry is solid but not uniformly polished.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    Character work stands out through naturalistic performances and strong on‑screen chemistry. Reviews praise the lead actors’ nuanced portrayals and the authentic emotional resonance of the romance. Some critics find certain moments emotionally unfocused, but the prevailing sentiment underscores effective character depth. Consequently, the film excels in delivering believable, affecting relationships.

  • Story & Flow 65

    The narrative tackles trauma and love with ambition, delivering moments of honesty and an absorbing romance. However, several reviewers cite a lack of nuance, jumbled script elements, and uneven pacing that weaken overall coherence. While the story’s intent is commendable, execution issues lead to a mixed reception. The plot thus remains engaging yet structurally uneven.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    Sensory elements such as ambient cityscape visuals receive positive remarks, contributing to an immersive setting. Nonetheless, the soundtrack and sound design receive limited commentary, and tonal unevenness is noted. This results in a sensory experience that is competent but not consistently striking. Overall, the film’s auditory and visual cohesion is adequate.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    Rewatch appeal is driven by the film’s honest emotional core and memorable moments, which some viewers find unforgettable. Conversely, a portion of the audience perceives it as disengaging and fails to sustain interest beyond a brief trailer. The balance of these views suggests a moderate to strong likelihood of repeat viewings for those valuing its heartfelt narrative.

Box office

Cicada Box Office

Cicada grossed $52,131 worldwide. $13,370 came from the US and Canada and $38,761 (74%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$52.1K

US & Canada
$13.4K
International
$38.8K
US & Canada 26% Rest of the world 74%
Awards

Cicada Awards & Nominations

Cicada earned 1 award nomination, including Best First Screenplay at the Spirit Awards 2022.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Cicada Trailers & Videos

10 videos: 1 trailer, 8 clips and 1 featurette.

All 10 videos
Official US Trailer
  • Clip CICADA - Age / Sex / Location
  • Clip CICADA - This is Real for Me
  • Clip CICADA - When Did You Know?
  • Clip CICADA - When Was Your First Time?
Details

Cicada Also Known As

Also known as “Maemi”.

Also known as
  • Maemi

Seen Cicada?

FAQ

Cicada FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is Cicada?

Cicada runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).

When was Cicada released?

Cicada was released on October 29, 2021.

Who directed Cicada?

Cicada was directed by Kieran Mulcare.

Who is in the cast of Cicada?

Cicada stars Matthew Fifer as Ben, Sheldon D. Brown as Sam and Cobie Smulders as Sophie, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Cicada make at the box office?

Cicada grossed $52,131 worldwide ($13,370 domestic, $38,761 international).

How is Cicada rated?

Cicada has 4.7/10 on IMDb, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 66 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.

Was Cicada nominated for any awards?

Cicada received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Cicada have a post-credit scene?

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

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