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Drama musical

Climax (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Climax (2019) movie poster

Climax is a 2019 drama musical directed by Gaspar Noé, starring Sofia Boutella as Selva, Kiddy Smile and Taylor Kastle. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and earned $1.7 million worldwide on a $2.6 million budget. Critics gave it 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home Free, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
69%
worldwide gross
$1.7M
Echo Score
70
Climax (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 37m (97 min)
Director
Gaspar Noé
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller , Horror
Original language
French
Studio
A24
Budget
$2.6M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Climax About?

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

During a post-rehearsal party, a dance troupe's celebratory mood quickly turns terrifying when someone laces sangria with LSD. As the drug takes effect, the dancers descend into a chaotic and disturbing night filled with intense emotions, paranoia, and increasingly violent behavior. Director Gaspar Noé’s film captures a visceral and unsettling exploration of psychological unraveling and the fragility of control.

Climax Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • dancing
  • hallucination
  • lesbian sex
  • pregnancy
  • urinating on the floor
  • beating a pregnant woman
  • brutality
  • male nudity
  • loud music
  • lsd
  • red light
  • screaming
+38 more
  • snorting cocaine
  • long take
  • sangria
  • little boy
  • urination
  • pregnant woman beaten
  • snow
  • paranoia
  • nudity
  • female full frontal nudity
  • female frontal nudity
  • drunkenness
  • written by director
  • death
  • blood
  • corridor
  • desperation
  • dutch angle
  • self cutting
  • self mutilation
  • sex scene
  • dancer
  • drugged
  • african franco
  • sex talk
  • horniness
  • spiked drink
  • begging for help
  • lipstick
  • woman in a shower
  • female female kiss
  • abnormal behavior
  • lysergic acid diethylamide
  • dance tour
  • sex
  • female topless nudity
  • female rear nudity
  • female nudity
Where to watch

Where to Watch Climax

Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home Free, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Climax Cast & Characters

Sofia Boutella leads the cast as Selva, with Kiddy Smile as Daddy and Taylor Kastle as Taylor. Directed by Gaspar Noé; 12 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Climax Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Climax 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in character & emotion (50).

70 /100

Climax Echo Score Breakdown

The film's primary strength is its bold technical execution, though its emotional and narrative elements divide viewers. Critics and audiences praise the film's dynamic direction, immersive cinematography, and unsettling sound design, highlighting its capacity to engender visceral responses. However, many note a thin narrative core, uneven acting, and moments of tedium that limit deeper engagement. Ultimately, Climax leaves a strong sensory impression but yields a mixed sense of cohesion and attachment.

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

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of cinematography and direction, the film excels with fluid long takes, precise camera movements, and a striking color palette. Reviewers consistently highlight the seamless choreography between camera and movement, praising the staging and editing for sustaining tension. Production design and lighting accentuate the escalating mood from celebratory to claustrophobic. The net result is a visually rigorous approach that anchors the film’s unsettling atmosphere.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    When it comes to character depth and emotional resonance, the film offers moments of insight but often falls short of sustained engagement. While some viewers value the improvised interactions for their authenticity, many find the cast’s limited acting experience and underdeveloped motivations hinder empathy. The lack of emotional grounding leads to uneven chemistry among the group. Overall, character work registers as a mixed element that rarely achieves full dramatic impact.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of plot coherence and pacing, the film adopts a deliberately segmented structure that both intrigues and frustrates. Early scenes build atmosphere through slow exposition, while later sequences accelerate into hallucinatory intensity. Reviewers note that the narrative meanders with uneven momentum and at times sacrifices clarity for shock. Nevertheless, the unconventional flow supports the thematic descent. The overall story arc remains polarizing, blending originality with moments of tedium.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    When assessing the sensory experience, the film delivers a potent auditory and visual synthesis that amplifies its intensity. The soundtrack and sound design oscillate between ethereal musical pieces and abrupt, jarring effects, heightening disorientation. Visually, the bold color schemes and kinetic lighting reinforce the hallucinatory atmosphere. Critics generally agree the sensory elements create a deeply immersive environment. The net effect is a compelling, if unsettling, spectacle.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    When considering rewatch value, the film’s intensity and technical daring prompt divided responses. Some viewers report a compulsion to revisit its hypnotic sequences and dissect the layered visual motifs. Others find the relentless brutality and opaque narrative discourage multiple viewings. While the film’s bold artistry and visceral impact can reward further exploration, the heavy tone and uneven emotional grounding limit its lasting replay appeal.

Plot

Climax Plot Summary

What happens in Climax from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film begins with a haunting image: a laughing and sobbing woman, bleeding as she drags herself through snow, ultimately surrendering to her fate.

As the story unfolds, we find ourselves in winter 1996, where a professional French dance ensemble, guided by the ambitious manager Emmanuelle and the talented choreographer Selva, gathers to rehearse for an upcoming show in a deserted school. After successfully mastering a complex closing sequence, the troupe pops open the champagne for a post-rehearsal celebration, enjoying some sangria crafted by Emmanuelle, while DJ Daddy sets the mood with pulsating beats. During this lively festivity, the dancers partake in jovial conversation, revealing their secrets and personal struggles.

Full summary

The whole story of Climax, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Climax Box Office & Budget

Climax grossed $1.7 million worldwide on a $2.6 million budget, 65% of what it cost. $817,339 came from the US and Canada and $878,736 (52%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.7M

65% of its budget back

US & Canada
$817.3K
International
$878.7K
Budget
$2.6M
US & Canada 48% Rest of the world 52%
Videos

Climax Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 1 trailer, 2 teasers and 1 featurette.

Official US Trailer
  • Teaser Official UK Teaser Trailer
  • Teaser Official Promo
  • Featurette The Arrow Video Story
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Climax?

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

What substance was secretly laced into the sangria that caused chaos among the dancers?

Cars

Cars in Climax

2 cars on screen: the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the 2015 Toyota Fortuner.

  • Rolls-Royce Phantom in Climax Rolls-Royce Phantom Minor role
  • 2015 Toyota Fortuner in Climax 2015 Toyota Fortuner Background role
Details

Climax Also Known As

15 alternative titles, including “Psyché” and “高潮(2018)”.

Also known as
  • Psyché
  • 高潮(2018)
  • Էքստազ
  • Clímax
  • Екстаз
  • 클라이맥스
  • Экстаз
  • קליימקס
  • Eksztázis
  • 高潮
  • Климакс
  • ปาร์ตี้เต้น เมา คลั่ง
+3 more
  • Vrhunec
  • Ekstazė, კულმინაცია
  • CLIMAX クライマックス

Seen Climax?

FAQ

Climax FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

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

How long is Climax?

Climax runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).

When was Climax released?

Climax was released on March 1, 2019.

Who directed Climax?

Climax was directed by Gaspar Noé.

More films by Gaspar Noé

Who is in the cast of Climax?

Climax stars Sofia Boutella as Selva, Kiddy Smile as Daddy and Taylor Kastle as Taylor, among 12 credited actors.

Where can I watch Climax?

In the US, Climax is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home Free and Hoopla and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Climax make at the box office?

Climax grossed $1.7 million worldwide ($817,339 domestic, $878,736 international) on a budget of $2.6 million.

How is Climax rated?

Climax has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.

Does Climax have a post-credit scene?

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

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