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Drama thriller

Red Sparrow (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Red Sparrow (2018) movie poster

Red Sparrow is a 2018 drama thriller directed by Francis Lawrence, starring Jennifer Lawrence as Dominika Egorova, Joely Richardson and Matthias Schoenaerts. It is based on Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews. It runs 2 hours 20 minutes and earned $151.6 million worldwide on a $69 million budget. Critics gave it 45% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
45%
worldwide gross
$151.6M
Echo Score
55
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Red Sparrow (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 20m (140 min)
Director
Francis Lawrence
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$69M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Red Sparrow About?

The premise of Red Sparrow without spoilers, adapted from Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Former ballerina Dominika Egorova sacrifices her promising career to protect her family, entering the Sparrow School, a clandestine program that trains intelligence operatives in the arts of seduction and manipulation. As Russia’s most lethal Sparrow agent, she’s deployed on a dangerous mission, navigating a complex world of espionage and deception. Dominika finds herself entangled in a treacherous web, facing impossible choices and confronting the devastating consequences of her actions, threatening her own life and the safety of those she cares about.

Red Sparrow Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • female assassin
  • female spy
  • spy
  • femme fatale
  • seduction
  • secret agent
  • female nudity
  • torture
  • ballerina
  • assassin
  • female star appears nude
  • secret mission
+38 more
  • intelligence agency
  • intelligence agent
  • undercover agent
  • russian spy
  • spy thriller
  • deception
  • accident
  • public nudity
  • woman in a shower
  • clothed male naked female scene
  • murder
  • training school
  • brutality
  • russian woman
  • based on novel
  • rogue agent
  • manipulation
  • woman undresses in public
  • spy film
  • sexual violence
  • female stripping
  • female rear nudity
  • bolshoi ballet
  • broken leg
  • uncle niece relationship
  • sex in a hotel room
  • politician
  • airport
  • stripper
  • revenge
  • female full frontal nudity
  • bird in title
  • attempted rape
  • woman undresses for a man
  • tied feet
  • male nudity
  • male frontal nudity
  • male full frontal nudity
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Cast & crew

Red Sparrow Cast & Characters

Jennifer Lawrence leads the cast as Dominika Egorova, with Joely Richardson as Nina Egorova and Matthias Schoenaerts as Vanya Egorov. Directed by Francis Lawrence; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Red Sparrow

· 9 more
From the director

More from Francis Lawrence

More films directed by Francis Lawrence, best-rated first: The Long Walk, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, I Am Legend and Slumberland.

Full filmography
Ratings

Red Sparrow Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Red Sparrow 45% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 55/100, strongest in art & craft (65) and weakest in story & flow (45).

55 /100

Red Sparrow Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Red Sparrow presents a compelling central performance within an uneven narrative structure. The film’s art direction and raw visual style draw attention, but inconsistent pacing and convoluted plotting limit sustained engagement. The lead performance anchors the film despite shallow secondary characters and variable tonal shifts. The sensory impact is notable for its stark brutality, though some sequences feel gratuitously uncomfortable. In sum, the film offers striking moments amid a disjointed espionage 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, Red Sparrow demonstrates moments of precise framing and a subdued color palette that enhance its oppressive atmosphere. The production design effectively evokes cold and austere settings, while the editing occasionally undercuts narrative momentum. Direction shows flair in creating tense interactions, but tonal inconsistency in second-half scenes detracts from overall cohesion. Overall, art direction registers as competent yet uneven.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film is anchored by a confident lead performance that conveys internal resolve with subtlety. Supporting roles vary in depth, with some secondary figures lacking emotional resonance and chemistry. The protagonist’s arc garners interest, but uneven character development and fleeting connections hinder audience investment. Overall, character engagement oscillates between strong central portrayal and underdeveloped ensemble interactions.

  • Story & Flow 45

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative ambition is clear in its espionage twists and thematic tension. However, convoluted plot turns and a protracted midsection undermine coherence and pacing. The identification of double agents and shifting loyalties generates occasional intrigue, but overcomplicated structure results in confusion. While moments of originality emerge, the overall storyline feels disjointed and labors under its own complexity.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    Regarding sensory experience, the film delivers a stark sound design and a haunting score that amplify its brutal set pieces. Visual style employs a restrained palette that reinforces the film’s somber mood, and select scenes achieve potent intensity. Yet, the frequent depiction of graphic violence occasionally feels excessive and alienating. Overall, sensory elements create a memorable atmosphere despite moments of gratuitous discomfort.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    Concerning rewatch factor, Red Sparrow offers intermittent suspense and notable performances that may merit repeat viewings for genre enthusiasts. Yet the film’s uncomfortable content and uneven pacing can diminish lasting appeal on subsequent watches. While individual scenes of tension and craft hold interest, persistent narrative convolution and tonal disparity limit its replay value. In summary, the film possesses modest rewatch potential tempered by its flaws.

Plot

Red Sparrow Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Red Sparrow from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In contemporary Russia, Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence), an acclaimed ballerina, is devoted to supporting her ailing mother. After suffering a career-ending injury, her uncle, Vanya Egorov (Matthias Schoenaerts), reveals that her fall was no accident; it was a calculated move by her dance partner to pave the way for his girlfriend. Seeking vengeance, Dominika retaliates by inflicting a serious injury on him at an inopportune moment.

Full summary

The whole story of Red Sparrow, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Red Sparrow Box Office & Budget

Red Sparrow grossed $151.6 million worldwide on a $69 million budget, 2.2 times what it cost. $46.9 million came from the US and Canada and $104.7 million (69%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$151.6M

2.2× its budget

US & Canada
$46.9M
International
$104.7M
Budget
$69M
US & Canada 31% Rest of the world 69%
Videos

Red Sparrow Trailers & Videos

12 videos: 2 trailers, 6 teasers, 1 clip and 3 featurettes.

All 12 videos
Official Teaser Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Teaser Red Sparrow | "She's Out of Your League" TV Commercial | 20th Century FOX
  • Teaser Red Sparrow | "Determine Weakness. Extract Information." TV Commercial | 20th Century FOX
  • Teaser Red Sparrow | "They Call Them Sparrows" TV Commercial | 20th Century FOX
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Red Sparrow?

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 career-ending event does Dominika Egorova suffer from?

Cars

Cars in Red Sparrow

42 cars on screen, including the 2016 BMW 740Li G12 and the 2017 Nissan NV300.

All 42 cars
  • 2016 BMW 740Li G12 in Red Sparrow 2016 BMW 740Li G12 Important role
  • 2017 Nissan NV300 in Red Sparrow 2017 Nissan NV300 Important role
  • 2014 Audi A3 Limousine in Red Sparrow 2014 Audi A3 Limousine Minor role
  • 2016 BMW 7 G12 in Red Sparrow 2016 BMW 7 G12 Minor role
Details

Red Sparrow Also Known As

37 alternative titles, including “Operación Red Sparrow” and “Operação Red Sparrow”.

Also known as
  • Operación Red Sparrow
  • Operação Red Sparrow
  • Harabeli i kuq
  • Le moineau rouge
  • Rudá volavka
  • Punane varblane
  • Gorrión rojo
  • Crveni vrabac
  • Dror 'adom
  • Czerwona jaskólka
  • A Agente Vermelha
  • Izdaja
+25 more
  • 레드 스패로
  • Red Sparrow - Der Lockvogel
  • Kızıl Serçe
  • 紅雀特工
  • Το Κόκκινο Σπουργίτι
  • Qırmızı Sərçə
  • Vrabia roșie
  • Красный воробей
  • דרור אדום
  • Vörös veréb
  • Червената лястовица
  • Издаја
  • Червоний горобець
  • العصفور الأحمر
  • 紅雀
  • Czerwona jaskółka
  • 红雀
  • Červená volavka
  • Sarkanais zvirbulis
  • レッド・スパロー
  • Raudonasis žvirblis
  • Rdeči vrabec
  • Điệp Vụ Chim Sẻ Đỏ
  • เรด สแปร์โรว์ หญิงร้อนพิฆาต, წითელი ბეღურა
  • گنجشک قرمز

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FAQ

Red Sparrow FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Red Sparrow, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Red Sparrow?

Red Sparrow runs 2 hours 20 minutes (140 minutes).

When was Red Sparrow released?

Red Sparrow was released on March 2, 2018.

Who directed Red Sparrow?

Red Sparrow was directed by Francis Lawrence.

More films by Francis Lawrence

Who is in the cast of Red Sparrow?

Red Sparrow stars Jennifer Lawrence as Dominika Egorova, Joely Richardson as Nina Egorova and Matthias Schoenaerts as Vanya Egorov, among 13 credited actors.

How much did Red Sparrow make at the box office?

Red Sparrow grossed $151.6 million worldwide ($46.9 million domestic, $104.7 million international) on a budget of $69 million.

How is Red Sparrow rated?

Red Sparrow has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.

Is Red Sparrow based on a book?

Yes. Red Sparrow is adapted from Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews.

Does Red Sparrow have a post-credit scene?

No. Red Sparrow has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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