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Drama

Minyan (2021): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Minyan (2021) movie poster

Minyan is a 2021 drama directed by Eric Steel, starring Mark Margolis as Itzik, Ron Rifkin and Brooke Bloom. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $13,861 worldwide. Critics gave it 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
93%
worldwide gross
$13.9K
Echo Score
68
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Minyan (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 58m (118 min)
Director
Eric Steel
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Minyan About?

The premise of Minyan without spoilers.

In 1980s Brighton Beach, a young Russian Jewish immigrant grapples with the conflict between his traditional community and his personal aspirations. His life takes an unexpected turn when he develops a friendship with two elderly gay men, leading him to the East Village. There, he encounters a world of youthful rebellion and sexual exploration, all against the backdrop of the growing AIDS epidemic and a search for identity and acceptance.

Minyan Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • gay sex
  • male nudity
  • male rear nudity
  • gay interest
  • jewish
  • judaism
  • 1980s
  • communal shower
  • locker room
  • gay
  • gay protagonist
  • gay jew
+38 more
  • gay kiss
  • homosexuality
  • gay bar
  • gay relationship
  • closeted homosexual
  • homosexual
  • gay couple
  • gay teenager
  • homosexuality and religion
  • brooklyn new york city
  • alcohol
  • shower
  • group shower
  • shower room
  • first gay sexual experience
  • undressing
  • yarmulke
  • orthodox jew
  • sexual awakening
  • classroom
  • school
  • religion
  • beach
  • religious
  • coming of age
  • brighton beach brooklyn new york city
  • east village manhattan new york city
  • new york city
  • dancing
  • bartender
  • year 1987
  • russian immigrant
  • kiss
  • bar
  • man dances with a man
  • vodka
  • russian
  • grandfather grandson relationship
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Cast & crew

Minyan Cast & Characters

Mark Margolis leads the cast as Itzik, with Ron Rifkin as Josef and Brooke Bloom as Rachel. Directed by Eric Steel; 14 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Minyan Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Minyan 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in story & flow (55).

68 /100

Minyan Echo Score Breakdown

Minyan presents a modestly engaging experience that balances thoughtful visual composition with an uneven narrative structure. Critics generally commend the film's atmospheric score, gritty cinematography, and nuanced lead performance, while noting occasional pacing lapses and a meandering plot that can leave viewers disoriented. Audience reactions skew sharply negative, highlighting confusion and a lack of emotional payoff. The combined critical appreciation and user dissatisfaction result in a middling overall rating that reflects both artistic merit and storytelling shortcomings.

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 direction and visual design, the film demonstrates a controlled, restrained aesthetic. Critics highlight the subdued colour palette, gritty visuals, and purposeful framing that contribute to a cohesive look. Some note a slow start that later gains momentum, while a minority find the pacing uneven. Overall, the craftsmanship is viewed as competent and occasionally striking, supporting a solid artistic foundation.

  • Character & Emotion 58

    When evaluating acting and character depth, the lead performance receives praise for its tenderness and emotional nuance. Supporting actors are described as convincing in establishing place and mood, yet some portrayals appear mannered or miscast. User feedback emphasizes age incongruities and a lack of emotional resonance. The mixed reception places character work in a moderate range, with notable strengths offset by discernible weaknesses.

  • Story & Flow 55

    The narrative structure exhibits both promise and inconsistency. Critics commend the film's thematic richness, particularly its exploration of Jewish and queer intersections, and acknowledge moments of compelling storytelling. However, several reviewers cite abrupt, forced transitions and a meandering rhythm that hinder coherence. User comments reinforce this view, describing confusion and missing narrative purpose. The story therefore scores around the midpoint, reflecting a blend of originality and structural flaws.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    Sensory elements stand out as a primary strength of the film. Reviewers frequently reference the evocative bluesy woodwind score, nuanced sound design, and striking visual texture that together create an immersive atmosphere. The music’s melancholy tone and the gritty, soulful visuals are consistently praised, with only minor critique regarding an initial sluggishness. This strong sensory impact yields a high score for the aspect.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    Rewatch potential is tempered by the film's mixed execution. While its atmospheric qualities and thematic depth invite further contemplation, the uneven pacing and occasional narrative ambiguity reduce immediate replay appeal. Some critics suggest the film grows more absorbing on subsequent viewings, yet user reactions are overwhelmingly negative, citing low emotional reward. Consequently, the rewatch factor lands in the moderate range, indicating some merit but limited broad appeal.

Box office

Minyan Box Office

Minyan grossed $13,861 worldwide. $11,451 came from the US and Canada and $2,410 (17%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$13.9K

US & Canada
$11.5K
International
$2.4K
US & Canada 83% Rest of the world 17%
Videos

Minyan Trailers & Videos

9 videos: 1 trailer and 8 clips.

All 9 videos
Official Trailer
  • Clip MINYAN - "Can't you see the boy needs a drink?"
  • Clip MINYAN - Drunk in Love
  • Clip MINYAN - Thieves, Adulterers & Homosexuals
  • Clip MINYAN - Cruising in 1987
Details

Minyan Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “Minjan” and “祈祷班”.

Also known as
  • Minjan
  • 祈祷班
  • Миньян
  • Minján
  • מניין
  • 민얀
  • O Despertar da Juventude
  • El despertar de la juventud
  • 我的G本教義

Seen Minyan?

FAQ

Minyan FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Minyan?

Minyan runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).

When was Minyan released?

Minyan was released on October 22, 2021.

Who directed Minyan?

Minyan was directed by Eric Steel.

More films by Eric Steel

Who is in the cast of Minyan?

Minyan stars Mark Margolis as Itzik, Ron Rifkin as Josef and Brooke Bloom as Rachel, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Minyan make at the box office?

Minyan grossed $13,861 worldwide ($11,451 domestic, $2,410 international).

How is Minyan rated?

Minyan has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic and 49% on TMDB.

Does Minyan have a post-credit scene?

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

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