Custody (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Custody is a 2018 drama directed by Xavier Legrand, starring Léa Drucker as Miriam Besson, Mathilde Auneveux and Thomas Gioria. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $3.8 million worldwide on a $3.1 million budget. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 83 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 33m (93 min)
- Director
- Xavier Legrand
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
French
- Studio
- Kino Lorber
- Budget
- $3.1M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Custody About?
The premise of Custody without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Facing a difficult divorce, Miriam is desperate to secure sole custody of her son, Julien, concerned about Antoine's volatile temper. When a judge grants joint custody, Julien finds himself caught in a tense and emotionally draining conflict between his parents. As the legal battle intensifies, the boy must navigate a challenging situation and confront the growing darkness that threatens to destroy his family.
Custody Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- divorce
- lie
- child custody
- violent father
- judge
- lawyer
- birthday party
- france
- divorced parents
- jealous rage
- fear
- anger
+38 more Show fewer
- jealousy
- couple
- husband wife relationship
- custody battle
- apartment
- boy
- cigarette smoking
- kiss
- bus
- toilet
- mother son relationship
- singing
- neighbor
- rifle
- police
- bathtub
- police arrest
- no music score
- written by director
- cell phone
- divorce proceedings
- violent man
- insane with jealousy
- pathological jealousy
- father son estrangement
- father daughter estrangement
- pregnancy test
- veiled threat
- shotgun
- shooting through a door
- house key
- directorial debut
- ex husband ex wife relationship
- grandfather grandson relationship
- handcuffs
- grandmother grandson relationship
- 11 year old
- mother daughter relationship
Custody Cast & Characters
Léa Drucker leads the cast as Miriam Besson, with Mathilde Auneveux as Joséphine Besson and Thomas Gioria as Julien Besson. Directed by Xavier Legrand; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Xavier Legrand
-
Léa Drucker as Miriam Besson - Mathilde Auneveux as Joséphine Besson
- Thomas Gioria as Julien Besson
-
Saadia Bentaïeb as La juge
Also Starring in Custody
· 6 more- Coralie Russier La greffière
- Florence Janas Sylvia
- Denis Menochet
- Sophie Pincemaille Maître Davigny
- Emilie Incerti-Formentini Maître Ghenen
- Mathieu Saikaly Samuel
Custody Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Custody 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 83 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (70).
Custody Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Custody excels in technical execution and sustained tension but is tempered by narrative limitations and uneven character depth. The film’s artful direction, precise editing, and immersive sound design generate a palpable atmosphere, while seasoned performances convey emotional intensity. Some reviewers noted a lack of subplot resolution and limited internal perspective, particularly in character motivations. These factors slightly undermine originality and coherence. In sum, the film delivers a gripping sensory experience despite occasional storytelling constraints.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
In terms of art and craft, the film’s direction and technical execution are among its strongest elements. Critics highlighted its precise camerawork, deliberate editing, and attention to sound design, which fuse documentary realism with thriller intensity. Some noted minor inconsistencies in visual rhythm. Overall, the film demonstrates consistent craft and visual restraint.
- Character & Emotion 75
When it comes to character and emotion, performances are generally commended for their intensity and clarity. Lead actors deliver crisp dialogue and convey palpable tension, yet several observers pointed out a lack of internal perspective and nuanced backstory. Emotional moments resonate through restrained close-ups but deeper motivations remain underexplored. Overall, the character work feels vivid yet somewhat limited.
- Story & Flow 70
In terms of story and flow, the narrative’s tension and pacing secure sustained engagement, especially in its closing acts. Reviewers praised its verity and structured suspense, though originality and depth are flagged as shortcomings. Some plot threads, like the dropped subplot and legal context, are left underdeveloped, which can weaken coherence. Overall, story progression is compelling but not fully realized.
- Sensory Experience 80
In terms of sensory experience, the film leverages its sound design and musical cues to amplify atmosphere. Background sound editing and a restrained soundtrack create bone-deep tension, while tight framing enhances claustrophobic immersion. Visual style balances documentary realism with measured compositions. The sensory elements consistently reinforce the film’s tone and maintain a compelling intensity throughout.
- Rewatch Factor 70
When considering rewatch factor, the film’s intense opening and unrelenting tension leave a memorable imprint. Critics found its visceral impact and technical proficiency worthy of repeat viewings, though narrative predictability and limited character nuance may diminish subsequent engagement. Occasional loose ends and a lack of surprises temper lasting appeal. Overall, the film offers moderate replay value.
-
IMDb 7.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 96% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 85%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 83 Metascore
User score 7.4
See on Metacritic -
Letterboxd 3.9 /5
51 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Custody Plot Summary
What happens in Custody from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Miriam Besson, Léa Drucker and Antoine Besson are a recently divorced couple navigating a tense custody dispute that reaches the courtroom with mounting emotional weight. They share two children: Joséphine Besson, Mathilde Auneveux, who is nearly eighteen, and Julien Besson, Thomas Gioria, who is eleven. In the custody hearing, Miriam seeks sole custody to shield Julien from what she describes as violent behavior by Antoine, presenting a letter from Julien that expresses his wish not to see his father. The scene is charged with fear, care, and the complexities of a family divided.
Full summary
The whole story of Custody, scene by scene
Custody Box Office & Budget
Custody grossed $3.8 million worldwide on a $3.1 million budget, 1.2 times what it cost. $83,882 came from the US and Canada and $3.7 million (98%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$3.8M
1.2× its budget
- US & Canada
- $83.9K
- International
- $3.7M
- Budget
- $3.1M
How Well Do You Know Custody?
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
Who plays Miriam Besson, the mother seeking sole custody of her son?
Custody Also Known As
22 alternative titles, including “Velayet” and “Custodia Compartida”.
- Also known as
-
- Velayet
- Custodia Compartida
- Jeszcze nie koniec
- 아직 끝나지 않았다
- L'affido - Una storia di violenza
- Nach dem Urteil
- KP18: Sūnaus globa
- Allt för min son
- Опекунство
- Láthatás
- Μετά το Χωρισμό
- Sūnaus globa
+10 more Show fewer
- Custódia
- Попечителство
- 家戰
- 监护风云
- 監護權爭戰
- Střídavá péče
- משמורת
- Striedavá starostlivosť
- Custódia Partilhada
- Custodie
Seen Custody?
Movies Like Custody
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Custody, Custody of the Heart and Custody.
Custody FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Custody, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Custody?
Custody runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).
When was Custody released?
Custody was released on June 29, 2018.
Who directed Custody?
Custody was directed by Xavier Legrand.
More films by Xavier Legrand Who is in the cast of Custody?
Custody stars Léa Drucker as Miriam Besson, Mathilde Auneveux as Joséphine Besson and Thomas Gioria as Julien Besson, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Custody make at the box office?
Custody grossed $3.8 million worldwide ($83,882 domestic, $3.7 million international) on a budget of $3.1 million.
How is Custody rated?
Custody has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 83 on Metacritic and 3.9/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Custody have a post-credit scene?
No. Custody has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Custody in?
The original language of Custody is French.
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