Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Drama

Playground (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Playground (2022) movie poster

Playground is a 2022 drama directed by Laura Wandel, starring Maya Vanderbeque as Nora, Günter Duret and Simon Caudry. It runs 1 hour 12 minutes and earned $222,843 worldwide on a $1 million budget. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Stream it on Film Movement Plus and Hoopla, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
100%
worldwide gross
$222.8K
Echo Score
85
Playground (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 12m (72 min)
Director
Laura Wandel
Genre
Drama
Original language
French
Budget
$1M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Playground About?

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

A poignant drama follows a seven-year-old girl navigating the challenges of grade school, desperately seeking acceptance. Her journey becomes a heartbreaking struggle against bullying and neglect as she tries to protect her older brother. The film exposes the harsh realities of childhood cruelty and the difficult circumstances faced by vulnerable children when adults fail to provide adequate protection.

Playground Themes & Keywords

· 25 tags
  • bully
  • title directed by female
  • school
  • gymnastics
  • swimming pool
  • toilet
  • bullying
  • 7 year old
  • little girl
  • little boy
  • cruelty
  • written by director
+13 more
  • f rated
  • triple f rated
  • children
  • brother sister relationship
  • crying
  • crying girl
  • schoolyard
  • schoolteacher
  • classroom
  • aggression
  • underwater scene
  • short haired female
  • elementary school
Where to watch

Where to Watch Playground

Stream it on Film Movement Plus and Hoopla, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Playground Cast & Characters

Maya Vanderbeque leads the cast as Nora, with Günter Duret as Abel and Simon Caudry as Antoine. Directed by Laura Wandel; 7 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Playground

· 3 more
Ratings

Playground Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Playground 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (75).

85 /100

Playground Echo Score Breakdown

Playground delivers a stark, child‑centered portrait of school bullying that resonates through its unflinching realism. Critics highlight its tightly crafted direction and the visceral impact of its low‑angle cinematography, while audiences respond to the emotional weight of the young performances. The film’s tight runtime intensifies its claustrophobic atmosphere, though some note occasional repetition. Overall, the work stands as a powerful, if unsettling, debut.

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

  • Art & Craft 85

    Regarding art and craft, the film’s direction employs a consistently measured pacing and precise framing that immerses viewers at a child’s eye level. Critics commend the sensitive camera work that captures nuanced gestures, while the editing sustains tension across a brief 72‑minute span. A few reviewers note that the narrative occasionally overextends, yet the overall visual execution remains strong.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    In terms of character and emotion, the young leads deliver remarkably nuanced performances that convey fear, anger, and fragile resilience. Reviewers repeatedly highlight the chemistry between Maya Vanderbeque and Günter Duret, describing it as extraordinary. The supporting adults are rendered with understated pathos, reinforcing the children’s perspective. While one user found the child’s face tiring, the consensus affirms the depth of the portrayals.

  • Story & Flow 78

    The story centers on everyday school cruelty, presenting a tightly focused narrative that unfolds almost entirely on the playground. Critics praise its insight into bullying dynamics and its measured pacing, though some note a slight slackening after the initial intensity. User feedback mentions occasional repetition that can feel tedious, yet the film’s realistic arc and emotional stakes keep the plot largely engaging.

  • Sensory Experience 84

    Sensory experience is shaped by the film’s restrained sound design and visual perspective. Reviewers highlight the use of low‑angle shots and ambient school noises that create an immersive child‑scale world, while moments of silence amplify tension. Some viewers find the lack of a conventional score unsettling, yet the cohesive audiovisual approach heightens the film’s stark realism.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    Rewatch value stems from the film’s lingering emotional impact and its stark depiction of bullying, which encourages repeated reflection. While its unrelenting tone and occasional repetitive sequences can be taxing, many viewers find the authenticity and child‑level perspective compelling enough to revisit for deeper understanding. The concise runtime aids accessibility, though the intensity may limit frequent viewings.

Plot

Playground Plot Summary

What happens in Playground from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Nora Maya Vanderbeque is a bright, young elementary school student who shares a close bond with her older brother Günter Duret Abel as they navigate the social currents of their classroom and the wider school world. The siblings rely on each other as they move through friendships, games, and the subtle power dynamics that shape kid life, especially in how peers treat Abel. Together they must figure out how to read the room, how to stand up for one another, and how to survive a system that often feels stacked against them.

Full summary

The whole story of Playground, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Playground Box Office & Budget

Playground grossed $222,843 worldwide on a $1 million budget, 22% of what it cost.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$222.8K

22% of its budget back

International
$222.8K
Budget
$1M
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Playground?

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

Who is the young protagonist who watches her older brother struggle with bullying at school?

Details

Playground Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “La naissance des arbres” and “下課後的祕密”.

Also known as
  • La naissance des arbres
  • 下課後的祕密
  • 플레이그라운드
  • Невидимый мир
  • 童一个世界
  • Un pequeño mundo
  • מגרש משחקים, უხილავი სამყარო
  • Hřiště
  • Στην Αυλή του Σχολείου
  • Il patto del silenzio
  • Leikkikenttä
  • Plac zabaw
+2 more
  • Igrišče
  • Playground/校庭

Seen Playground?

FAQ

Playground FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

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

How long is Playground?

Playground runs 1 hour 12 minutes (72 minutes).

When was Playground released?

Playground was released on February 11, 2022.

Who directed Playground?

Playground was directed by Laura Wandel.

More films by Laura Wandel

Who is in the cast of Playground?

Playground stars Maya Vanderbeque as Nora, Günter Duret as Abel and Simon Caudry as Antoine, among 7 credited actors.

Where can I watch Playground?

In the US, Playground is streaming on Film Movement Plus and Hoopla and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Playground make at the box office?

Playground grossed $222,843 worldwide on a budget of $1 million.

How is Playground rated?

Playground has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic and 86% on TMDB.

Does Playground have a post-credit scene?

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

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app