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Drama

Sundown (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Sundown (2022) movie poster

Sundown is a 2022 drama directed by Michel Franco, starring Tim Roth as Neil Bennett, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Samuel Bottomley. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes and earned $992,148 worldwide. Critics gave it 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
78%
worldwide gross
$992.1K
Echo Score
64
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Sundown (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 23m (83 min)
Director
Michel Franco
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Sundown About?

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

A wealthy family's vacation in Mexico is unexpectedly cut short by an unfolding crisis, forcing them to confront long-held tensions. As the Bennetts struggle to adjust to the sudden change, carefully constructed family dynamics are disrupted. Secrets and lies surface, threatening to unravel their unity and expose the fragile foundation of their relationships. The unfolding events force them to examine the hidden truths within their clan.

Sundown Themes & Keywords

· 29 tags
  • brother and sister
  • acapulco
  • vacation
  • mexico
  • male frontal nudity
  • male nudity
  • vacation in mexico
  • rich family
  • emergency
  • tourist
  • husband wife relationship
  • family vacation
+17 more
  • airport
  • jetski
  • shooting at a car
  • written by director
  • brief male nudity
  • family relationships
  • death of mother
  • r rated
  • brief male frontal nudity
  • male full frontal nudity
  • male rear nudity
  • prison shower
  • pubic hair
  • male pubic hair
  • female nudity
  • female topless nudity
  • senos desnudos
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Cast & crew

Sundown Cast & Characters

Tim Roth leads the cast as Neil Bennett, with Charlotte Gainsbourg as Alice Bennett and Samuel Bottomley as Colin Bennett. Directed by Michel Franco; 8 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Michel Franco

More films directed by Michel Franco, best-rated first: Memory, Chronic, New Order and Dreams.

Full filmography
Ratings

Sundown Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Sundown 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 64/100, strongest in art & craft (78) and weakest in story & flow (48).

64 /100

Sundown Echo Score Breakdown

Sundown presents a brooding portrait that divides opinion, with strengths in visual presentation and Tim Roth’s restrained performance but struggles in narrative coherence and emotional engagement. Critics commend its cinematography and atmospheric setting, while many viewers criticize its meandering plot and lack of clear character motivation. The film’s tonal consistency is praised by some, yet its sparse storytelling leaves a portion of the audience disconnected. Consequently, the movie offers a compelling yet uneven experience, reflected in its middling score.

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

  • Art & Craft 78

    Artistic execution stands out through the film’s meticulous cinematography and evocative depiction of Acapulo’s contrasting locales. Reviewers note Yves Cape’s ability to capture both the mundane and seductive qualities of the setting, creating a vivid sense of place. While editing remains unobtrusive, the visual craft consistently enhances the film’s atmosphere, earning a solid appraisal.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    Character work hinges on Tim Roth’s nuanced, restrained performance, which many critics describe as mesmerizing and emotionally resonant. The portrayal conveys a weary inner life with minimal dialogue, drawing attention to subtle facial cues. However, several viewers find the central figure opaque and difficult to empathize with, tempering the overall impact.

  • Story & Flow 48

    Storytelling suffers from uneven pacing and an opaque narrative structure that withholds crucial information until the finale. Critics acknowledge occasional intrigue but criticize the meandering progression and lack of satisfying resolution. Audience feedback reinforces this view, highlighting confusion over character motivations and a feeling of unfinished thematic exploration.

  • Sensory Experience 72

    Sensory elements receive praise for their atmospheric soundscape and visual composition, which together reinforce the film’s bleak tone. The soundtrack subtly underscores tension while the cinematography captures stark contrasts between touristy and hostile environments. Though not groundbreaking, these components cohesively support the mood and enrich the viewing experience.

  • Rewatch Factor 52

    Rewatch potential is limited by the film’s deliberate opacity and unresolved narrative threads, which diminish repeat enjoyment for many viewers. Some appreciate the lingering dread and calculated performances that reward attentive viewing, yet the overall sense of tedium and lack of closure reduces incentive to revisit. Consequently, the film offers modest replay value.

Plot

Sundown Plot Summary

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

Spoilers ahead

Neil Bennett, a quiet man from London, is on vacation in Acapulco with his sister Alice Bennett and her two children, Colin Bennett and Alexa Bennett. Surrounded by a luxurious hotel, pristine beaches, and gourmet meals, the family keeps up a busy schedule of upscale activities while Neil driftingly watches from the sidelines, a contrast to the others’ appetite for leisure and spectacle.

Full summary

The whole story of Sundown, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Sundown Box Office

Sundown grossed $992,148 worldwide. $229,922 came from the US and Canada and $762,226 (77%) from the rest of the world.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$992.1K

US & Canada
$229.9K
International
$762.2K
US & Canada 23% Rest of the world 77%
Videos

Sundown Trailers & Videos

9 videos: 2 trailers, 2 teasers, 4 clips and 1 featurette.

All 9 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer UK Trailer
  • Teaser :30 Cutdown
  • Teaser :15 Cutdown
  • Clip Phone Call
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Sundown?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  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

In which Mexican city does the Bennett family spend their vacation?

Details

Sundown Also Known As

13 alternative titles, including “선다운” and “Crepúsculo”.

Also known as
  • 선다운
  • Crepúsculo
  • 썬다운
  • Закат
  • 日落
  • Ao Cair do Sol
  • שקיעה
  • Gün Batımı
  • Sundown - Geheimnisse in Acapulco
  • Sundown: Secretos en Acapulco
  • Západ slunce
  • 日落灣城
+1 more
  • Saulėlydis

Seen Sundown?

FAQ

Sundown FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Sundown?

Sundown runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).

When was Sundown released?

Sundown was released on January 28, 2022.

Who directed Sundown?

Sundown was directed by Michel Franco.

More films by Michel Franco

Who is in the cast of Sundown?

Sundown stars Tim Roth as Neil Bennett, Charlotte Gainsbourg as Alice Bennett and Samuel Bottomley as Colin Bennett, among 8 credited actors.

How much did Sundown make at the box office?

Sundown grossed $992,148 worldwide ($229,922 domestic, $762,226 international).

How is Sundown rated?

Sundown has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.

Does Sundown have a post-credit scene?

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

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