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Drama thriller

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

Planetarium (2017) movie poster

Planetarium is a 2017 drama thriller directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, starring Natalie Portman, Louis Garrel and Amira Casar. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $546,584 worldwide. Critics gave it 15% on Rotten Tomatoes and 44 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.6/10.

IMDb rating
4.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
15%
worldwide gross
$546.6K
Echo Score
49
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Planetarium (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller , Fantasy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Planetarium About?

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

In Paris, two sisters with a reputation for possessing unusual abilities find themselves at the center of a captivating performance on the city’s vibrant stage. A visionary film producer becomes intrigued by their enigmatic presence and rumored connections to the supernatural. As he delves deeper into their world, he is drawn into a mesmerizing journey where the boundaries of reality become increasingly unclear, and long-held secrets threaten to surface.

Planetarium Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • nude woman sunbathing
  • female rear nudity
  • female star appears nude
  • two women in a bathtub
  • two women bathing together
  • female nudity
  • skinny dipping
  • unscrupulous woman
  • death of sister
  • letter
  • cinema
  • seance
+38 more
  • medium
  • paris france
  • male full frontal nudity
  • male rear nudity
  • male frontal nudity
  • telephone switchboard operator
  • drinking from a bottle
  • lipstick on a mirror
  • female protagonist
  • psycho sexual
  • concentration camp
  • cynical ending
  • seeing dead people
  • seeing ghosts
  • female medium
  • anticlimactic ending
  • psychological drama
  • holocaust
  • world war two
  • nazi germany
  • manipulator
  • film maker
  • ambitious actress
  • film director
  • eccentric director
  • private seance
  • telephone call
  • sisters working together
  • paranormal investigator
  • pre war
  • fascism
  • reference to the holocaust
  • woman wears a slip
  • france
  • paranormal investigation
  • jail visit
  • board of directors
  • fired from a job
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Cast & crew

Planetarium Cast

Natalie Portman leads the cast, with Louis Garrel and Amira Casar. Directed by Rebecca Zlotowski; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Rebecca Zlotowski

More films directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, best-rated first: A Private Life, An Easy Girl, A Private Life and Other People's Children.

Full filmography
Ratings

Planetarium Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Planetarium 15% on Rotten Tomatoes and 44 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 49/100, strongest in sensory experience (70) and weakest in story & flow (30).

49 /100

Planetarium Echo Score Breakdown

In Planetarium, the most notable strength resides in its ambitious visual and auditory presentation, while its narrative cohesion and character development remain uneven. Across reviews, the film’s direction and production design receive praise for evocative nighttime Paris sequences and a lulling séance atmosphere, yet its plot often fragments into disjointed strands without clear momentum. Character relationships are noted as underdeveloped, contributing to a sense of aimlessness. Consequently, the film offers a striking mood but an inconsistent overall experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of art and craft, Planetarium demonstrates a confident visual ambition tempered by uneven execution. The production design evokes a refined period ambiance, with meticulously composed nighttime Paris shots that convey atmospheric depth. Direction occasionally yields hauntingly singular tableaux, yet some genre detours undermine cohesion. Editing fluctuations contribute to tonal shifts that distract from the film’s formal ambitions. Overall, the visual framework impresses, though consistency is lacking.

  • Character & Emotion 45

    When it comes to character and emotion, Planetarium offers capable performances yet struggles with depth. The leads convey subtle presence, but their emotional arcs remain ambiguous, limiting resonance. Chemistry between protagonists circulates in intriguing register, though they seldom reach full dimensionality. Moments of interpersonal tension surface, yet underdeveloped backstories hamper meaningful attachment. Overall, character work falls short of sustaining emotional investment.

  • Story & Flow 30

    In terms of story and flow, Planetarium’s narrative structure frequently feels fragmented and undernourished. Reviews cite uneven pacing that oscillates between languid sequences and abrupt tonal shifts, impeding momentum. Plot threads converge without clear resolution, leaving substantive themes undeveloped. While conceptual ideas show intrigue, the film’s disjointed progression undermines engagement. Ultimately, the story’s lack of coherence detracts from the viewing experience.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    In terms of sensory experience, Planetarium excels in crafting an evocative atmosphere through its visual style and sound design. The score underscores a lulling séance mood, while ambient audio details enhance tension. Visual motifs of nighttime Paris offer enigmatic richness and thematic cohesion. Occasional tonal inconsistencies dilute immersion, but overall the film’s sensory palette remains its most compelling element.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    When considering rewatch factor, Planetarium’s disjointed narrative and underdeveloped characters limit its repeat appeal. The film’s most noteworthy sequences rely on atmosphere rather than cohesive storytelling, which may not sustain interest on subsequent viewings. While the visual and auditory mood retains occasional intrigue, the lack of narrative resolution diminishes lasting appeal. In sum, the film offers modest replay value.

Plot

Planetarium Plot Summary

What happens in Planetarium from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the late 1930s, two American sisters, Laura and Kate Barlow, embark on a journey to France to showcase their unique talent of performing séances at various cabarets. In these performances, Laura takes on the role of the host while Kate, with her innate ability, channels spirits, captivating audiences with their act. Their public séance catches the eye of French film producer Andre Korben, who, impressed by what he witnesses, invites them for a more intimate private session. During this encounter, he becomes enchanted by a spirit that appears, igniting a spark of creativity within him.

Full summary

The whole story of Planetarium, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Planetarium Box Office

Planetarium grossed $546,584 worldwide. $3,262 came from the US and Canada and $543,322 (99%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$546.6K

US & Canada
$3.3K
International
$543.3K
US & Canada 1% Rest of the world 99%
Videos

Planetarium Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Planetarium.

Planetarium - Trailer with English subtitles
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Planetarium?

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 are the first names of the two American sisters who are the main characters?

Cars

Cars in Planetarium

9 cars on screen, including the 1935 Hotchkiss 480 Biarritz and the 1939 unknown.

All 9 cars
  • 1935 Hotchkiss 480 Biarritz in Planetarium 1935 Hotchkiss 480 Biarritz Important role
  • 1939 unknown in Planetarium 1939 unknown Minor role
  • 1950 Citroën 11 BL in Planetarium 1950 Citroën 11 BL Background role
  • Citroën 11 BL Cabriolet in Planetarium Citroën 11 BL Cabriolet Background role
Details

Planetarium Also Known As

15 alternative titles, including “플라네타륨” and “Além da ilusão”.

Also known as
  • 플라네타륨
  • Além da ilusão
  • Das Geheimnis der zwei Schwestern
  • The Summoning
  • Planetário
  • Планетариум
  • Planetárium
  • Планетаріум
  • 通靈美人
  • Πλανητάριο
  • 플래니테리엄
  • Conexión de Amor
+3 more
  • 天文馆
  • プラネタリウム
  • Planétarium

Seen Planetarium?

FAQ

Planetarium FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Planetarium?

Planetarium runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was Planetarium released?

Planetarium was released on August 11, 2017.

Who directed Planetarium?

Planetarium was directed by Rebecca Zlotowski.

More films by Rebecca Zlotowski

Who is in the cast of Planetarium?

Planetarium stars Natalie Portman, Louis Garrel and Amira Casar, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Planetarium make at the box office?

Planetarium grossed $546,584 worldwide ($3,262 domestic, $543,322 international).

How is Planetarium rated?

Planetarium has 4.6/10 on IMDb, 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, 44 on Metacritic and 46% on TMDB.

Does Planetarium have a post-credit scene?

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

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