Climax (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- Gaspar Noé
- Original language
-
French
- Studio
- A24
- Budget
- $2.6M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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 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.
Stream 10
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.
-
Director Gaspar Noé
-
Sofia Boutella as Selva -
Kiddy Smile as Daddy - Taylor Kastle as Taylor
- Giselle Palmer as Gazelle
Also Starring in Climax
· 8 more- Souheila Yacoub Lou
- Romain Guillermic David
- Sharleen Temple Ivana
- Thea Carla Schott Psyche
- Lea Vlamos Lea
- Claude Gajan Maull
- Claude Gajan Maude
- Smile Kiddy
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).
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.
-
IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 69% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 65%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 69 Metascore
User score 7.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 71% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.8 /5
12K ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$1.7M
65% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $817.3K
- International
- $878.7K
- Budget
- $2.6M
Climax Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 1 trailer, 2 teasers and 1 featurette.
- Teaser Official UK Teaser Trailer
- Teaser Official Promo
- Featurette The Arrow Video Story
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What substance was secretly laced into the sangria that caused chaos among the dancers?
Cars in Climax
2 cars on screen: the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the 2015 Toyota Fortuner.
-
Rolls-Royce Phantom Minor role -
2015 Toyota Fortuner Background role
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 Show fewer
- Vrhunec
- Ekstazė, კულმინაცია
- CLIMAX クライマックス
Seen Climax?
Movies Like Climax
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Climax, Climax and Climax.
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.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
