Fingernails (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Fingernails is a 2023 romantic drama directed by Christos Nikou, starring Jessie Buckley as Anna, Luke Wilson and Jeremy Allen White. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $13,783 worldwide. Critics gave it 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Stream it on Apple TV.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 53m (113 min)
- Director
- Christos Nikou
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Dirty Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Fingernails About?
The premise of Fingernails without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
As Anna's relationship faces uncertainty, she seeks answers in a mysterious research facility. There, scientists conduct unsettling experiments on couples, pushing them to confront the complexities of their connection and the potential for manipulation. Anna's involvement forces her to examine her own feelings and question the nature of love and commitment in an increasingly unsettling environment.
Fingernails Themes & Keywords
· 23 tags- falling in love
- male female relationship
- institute
- short haired female
- love
- man and woman shower together
- singing along to music on a car radio
- singing along with a radio
- gluten intolerant
- love test
- removing a fingernail
- blindfolded
+11 more Show fewer
- reference to nina simone
- singing along with the radio
- karaoke
- removing fingernail
- singing along with radio
- reference to ginger spice
- skydiving
- singing while driving
- title spoken in dialogue
- side boob
- title spoken by character
Where to Watch Fingernails
Stream it on Apple TV. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 2
Fingernails Cast & Characters
Jessie Buckley leads the cast as Anna, with Luke Wilson as Duncan and Jeremy Allen White as Ryan. Directed by Christos Nikou; 20 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Christos Nikou
-
Jessie Buckley as Anna -
Luke Wilson as Duncan -
Jeremy Allen White as Ryan -
Riz Ahmed as Amir
Also Starring in Fingernails
· 16 more- Annie Murphy Natasha
- Nina Kiri Liane
- Varun Saranga Garth
- Juno Rinaldi Principal
- Amanda Arcuri Sally
- Katy Breier Alexandra
- Jim Watson Andy
- Albert Chung John
- Mish Tam Karaoke Woman #1
- Tameka Griffiths Cleo
- Clare McConnell Carrie
- Ashleigh Rains Gina
- Heather Dicke Maria
- Christian Meer Rob
- Sienna Singh Helena Serafina
- Tanchay Redvers Andrea Robertson
Fingernails Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Fingernails 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in character & emotion (82) and weakest in rewatch factor (53).
Fingernails Echo Score Breakdown
Fingernails presents a compelling blend of thoughtful themes and polished performances offset by uneven pacing and narrative development. The film’s central premise and moments of whimsy are underpinned by strong acting that lends emotional depth to its exploration of love and technology. However, intermittent lulls and an anticlimactic resolution prevent consistent engagement across its runtime. While the movie offers intellectual curiosity and aesthetic charm, its pacing and structural weaknesses limit its repeat viewing appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 72
In terms of art and craft, Fingernails balances a restrained visual approach with moments of whimsical design. Directional choices create understated compositions, and production design supports the story’s speculative tone. Occasional film artifacts and a low-fi aesthetic can distract from otherwise cohesive imagery. Overall, the visual style effectively complements the film’s thematic inquiries.
- Character & Emotion 82
In terms of character and emotion, the performances anchor the film with measured nuance and authenticity. Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed, and Jeremy Allen White deliver layered portrayals that convey subtle anxieties and genuine connection. Emotional stakes remain clear despite the subdued tone. Overall, the acting provides consistent depth that elevates the narrative’s human dimension.
- Story & Flow 60
When it comes to story and flow, Fingernails explores intriguing questions but suffers from uneven pacing and occasional narrative lulls. The premise of a love-testing machine offers originality, yet the plot’s quiet simmer leads to an anticlimactic resolution. Character-driven moments engage intermittently, but structural gaps limit sustained momentum. Overall, the narrative feels thoughtful yet uneven.
- Sensory Experience 68
In terms of sensory experience, the film features a nuanced soundtrack and subtle sound design that reinforce its contemplative mood. Selections of period songs and ambient cues enhance thematic resonance. Visual cohesion is generally strong, though film grain and occasional artifacts can be distracting. Overall, the audio-visual elements align effectively with the story’s tone.
- Rewatch Factor 53
When considering rewatch factor, Fingernails offers compelling thematic layers but limited momentum on repeat viewings. The subtle emotional beats and conceptual intrigue invite reflection, though the film’s quiet pacing and structural unevenness can diminish its appeal on subsequent watches. Overall, the movie rewards thoughtful engagement but may not sustain repeated enjoyment for all audiences.
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IMDb 5.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 60% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 45%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 63 Metascore
User score 5.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 59% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.0 /5
44905 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Fingernails Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Fingernails from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Some years before the film, a controversial test costing one fingernail determines whether couples are truly in love. The test has produced largely negative results, fueling a rise in breakups and divorces.
Anna is an unemployed schoolteacher who lands a job as an instructor at the Love Institute, a one-year-old company founded by Duncan, where researchers and instructors guide couples through relationship-strengthening exercises to help them pass the test. Duncan believes that continued research will yield more positive results. Anna initially keeps the hire a secret from her boyfriend Ryan.
Full summary
The whole story of Fingernails, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Fingernails Box Office
Fingernails grossed $13,783 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$13.8K
- International
- $13.8K
Fingernails Trailers & Videos
7 videos: 1 trailer and 6 featurettes.
- Featurette FINGERNAILS at TIFF 2023 | Q&A with Christos Nikou
- Featurette FINGERNAILS (Apple Original) - Christos Nikou Q&A | Film Independent Presents
- Featurette FINGERNAILS Q&A with Christos Nikou | AFI Fest 2023
- Featurette An Hour of Rain Sounds from the Love Institute
How Well Do You Know Fingernails?
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 is the name of the unemployed schoolteacher who becomes an instructor at the Love Institute?
Fingernails Also Known As
28 alternative titles, including “指甲” and “指尖验爱”.
- Also known as
-
- 指甲
- 指尖验爱
- ناخنها
- نوک انگشتان
- L'amour au bout des ongles
- 핑거네일
- 핑거네일스
- ציפורניים
- '핑거네일' - Fingernails
- Fingernails - Una diagnosi d’amore
- Esto va a doler
- Нігті
+16 more Show fewer
- To może boleć
- Νύχια
- Ногти
- フィンガーネイルズ
- 指引兩顆心
- Nehty
- 指尖驗愛
- Nechty
- Ámame hasta con las uñas
- Körmök
- L’amour au bout des ongles
- Na Ponta dos Dedos
- फ़िंगरनेल्स
- Móng Tay Duyên Phận - Fingernails
- Nagai
- Нокти
Seen Fingernails?
Movies Like Fingernails
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Nailed, Diminuendo and Nails.
Fingernails FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Fingernails, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Fingernails?
Fingernails runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).
When was Fingernails released?
Fingernails was released on October 27, 2023.
Who directed Fingernails?
Fingernails was directed by Christos Nikou.
More films by Christos Nikou Who is in the cast of Fingernails?
Fingernails stars Jessie Buckley as Anna, Luke Wilson as Duncan and Jeremy Allen White as Ryan, among 20 credited actors.
Where can I watch Fingernails?
In the US, Fingernails is streaming on Apple TV (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Fingernails make at the box office?
Fingernails grossed $13,783 worldwide.
How is Fingernails rated?
Fingernails has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63 on Metacritic and 59% on TMDB.
Does Fingernails have a post-credit scene?
No. Fingernails has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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