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What's After the Movie?
Comedy drama

Lemon (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Lemon (2017) movie poster

Lemon is a 2017 comedy drama directed by Janicza Bravo, starring Michael Cera, Judy Greer and Gillian Jacobs. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes and earned $29,258 worldwide. Critics gave it 55% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.8/10.

IMDb rating
4.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
55%
worldwide gross
$29.3K
Echo Score
60
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Lemon (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 23m (83 min)
Director
Janicza Bravo
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Lemon About?

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

Isaac Lachmann, a man in his forties, finds his life spiraling downwards. Facing a stalled career, a failing relationship, and the pressures of a demanding family, he feels trapped in a cycle of disappointment. Once filled with ambition, Isaac now struggles with a profound sense of mediocrity and feels powerless to change his circumstances as his life seemingly falls apart.

Lemon Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • aunt niece relationship
  • beard
  • acting class
  • incontinence
  • adult diaper
  • hair
  • masturbation
  • asking someone to dance
  • dating
  • birdcage
  • flowers
  • doorbell
+38 more
  • wine
  • kiss
  • dead bird
  • bird
  • crying man
  • killing a bird
  • gagging
  • self pity
  • barbecue
  • cousin cousin relationship
  • uncle niece relationship
  • sister sister relationship
  • reggae music
  • mugging
  • race relations
  • stroke
  • wheelchair
  • subtitled scene
  • running
  • car won't start
  • frustration
  • man on a toilet
  • rear nudity
  • toilet paper
  • dropping a cellphone in a toilet
  • moving out
  • man wears sunglasses
  • scene during closing credits
  • tow truck
  • los angeles california
  • breakup
  • man wears eyeglasses
  • ex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationship
  • 40 year old
  • family relationships
  • pajamas
  • sleeping on a sofa
  • prologue
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Cast & crew

Lemon Cast

Michael Cera leads the cast, with Judy Greer and Gillian Jacobs. Directed by Janicza Bravo; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Janicza Bravo

More films directed by Janicza Bravo, best-rated first: Zola, Man Rots from the Head, Woman in Deep and Pauline Alone.

Full filmography
Ratings

Lemon Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Lemon 55% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).

60 /100

Lemon Echo Score Breakdown

The film’s most consistent asset is its bold directorial vision, though it is hampered by uneven narrative flow and a challenging protagonist. Critics praised the assured framing and absurdist approach but repeatedly noted the episodic structure and lack of satisfying resolution. The tonal shifts between transgressive humor and existential introspection create a polarized viewing experience. While the visual inventiveness stands out, the uneven story development tempers its overall impact.

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 direction and cinematography, Lemon displays a confident visual style characterized by extended takes and precise framing. The film’s production design subtly emphasizes absurdist elements, and the editing maintains a deliberate rhythm that underscores the existential tone. Observers noted the assured execution of long shots and an understated color scheme that reinforces emotional discomfort. Overall, the film’s craft elements deliver a distinctive aesthetic that elevates its provocative themes.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When it comes to character depth, Lemon offers a deliberately abrasive protagonist whose unlikable traits divide audiences. Critics highlighted the film’s focus on humiliation and awkward interactions, noting that the central figure often lacks clear motivation or emotional growth. Some found the relational dynamics between characters underdeveloped and reliant on broad caricature. In sum, the film’s character work is intentionally challenging but provides limited emotional connection.

  • Story & Flow 50

    When assessing story and flow, Lemon frequently suffers from episodic pacing and unresolved narrative threads. Observers noted that initial plot setups fade without payoff, leading to a sense of stasis rather than progression. While the film’s originality was praised, its structural unevenness and predictable quirkiness diminish engagement. Ultimately, the storyline presents bold thematic ideas but lacks cohesive development, resulting in a disjointed viewing experience.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    In terms of sensory experience, Lemon excels through its deliberate visual composition and immersive sound design. The film employs an understated color palette and careful use of ambient noise to heighten tension in key moments. Viewers highlighted the effective blending of visual textures with a restrained soundtrack that underscores the film’s absurdist tone. Overall, the sensory elements contribute strongly to an unsettling atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    When considering rewatch value, Lemon’s challenging tone and uneven storytelling limit its replay appeal. Critics observed that the film’s abrasive humor and unresolved narrative discourage subsequent viewings. While some noted the provocative directorial choices may reveal new details on further watches, the overall discomfort and lack of clear resolution outweigh these potential rewards. Consequently, the film’s lasting appeal is modest, offering limited incentive for multiple viewings.

Plot

Lemon Plot Summary

What happens in Lemon from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 10 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Isaac is a mid‑career actor whose life is tangled between work, relationships, and the pressure to stay relevant. He lives with his girlfriend, Ramona, a blind woman who travels frequently for her job at a pharmaceutical company, a detail that keeps their rhythm and plans constantly shifting. In his own world, Isaac runs a small acting workshop where he showers lavish praise on his star pupil, Alex, who is also a working actor, while he routinely dismisses or ignores another student, Tracy. The dynamic inside the class reveals a man torn between pride in one success and insecurity about a stalled career, as his own acting gigs have mostly become commercials and product modeling for pharmaceutical brands.

Full summary

The whole story of Lemon, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Lemon Box Office

Lemon grossed $29,258 worldwide.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$29.3K

US & Canada
$29.3K
Videos

Lemon Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Lemon.

Lemon - Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Lemon?

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 is the name of Isaac's blind girlfriend?

Cars

Cars in Lemon

27 cars on screen, including the 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560 SL R107 and the 1989 SAAB 900.

All 27 cars
  • 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560 SL R107 in Lemon 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560 SL R107 Important role
  • 1989 SAAB 900 in Lemon 1989 SAAB 900 Important role
  • 1995 Chevrolet C-3500HD in Lemon 1995 Chevrolet C-3500HD Minor role
  • 2005 Acura RL in Lemon 2005 Acura RL Background role
Details

Lemon Also Known As

5 alternative titles, including “柠檬” and “Лимон”.

Also known as
  • 柠檬
  • Лимон
  • Cytryna
  • 레몬
  • Limona

Seen Lemon?

FAQ

Lemon FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Lemon?

Lemon runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).

When was Lemon released?

Lemon was released on August 18, 2017.

Who directed Lemon?

Lemon was directed by Janicza Bravo.

More films by Janicza Bravo

Who is in the cast of Lemon?

Lemon stars Michael Cera, Judy Greer and Gillian Jacobs, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Lemon make at the box office?

Lemon grossed $29,258 worldwide.

How is Lemon rated?

Lemon has 4.8/10 on IMDb, 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic and 45% on TMDB.

Does Lemon have a post-credit scene?

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

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