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Drama

The Apparition (2018): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Apparition (2018) movie poster

The Apparition is a 2018 drama directed by Xavier Giannoli, starring Vincent Lindon as Jacques Mayano, Galatéa Bellugi and Elina Löwensohn. It runs 2 hours 24 minutes and earned $3.6 million worldwide on a $8.9 million budget. Critics gave it 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
73%
worldwide gross
$3.6M
Echo Score
58
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The Apparition (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 24m (144 min)
Director
Xavier Giannoli
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$8.9M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Apparition About?

The premise of The Apparition without spoilers.

A journalist named Jacques becomes involved in a Vatican investigation into a reported Virgin Mary apparition in a small French village. Tasked with verifying the event, he encounters Anna, a young woman deeply connected to the phenomenon. As Jacques explores the situation, his professional objectivity is tested, and he grapples with a personal crisis of faith, questioning his beliefs and values.

The Apparition Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • journalist
  • marian apparition
  • virgin mary statue
  • photographer
  • camera
  • blood
  • death
  • airplane
  • coffin
  • chapter headings
  • photograph
  • doctor
+38 more
  • telephone call
  • reference to google
  • google search
  • internet search
  • reference to wikipedia
  • rome italy
  • vatican
  • investigation
  • teenager
  • teenage girl
  • 16 year old
  • bus
  • mountain
  • priest
  • catholic priest
  • faith
  • religion
  • video call
  • skyping
  • skype
  • interview
  • bible
  • reference to lourdes
  • statue
  • church
  • chapel
  • shopping mall
  • letter
  • lawyer
  • female topless nudity
  • voice over
  • helicopter
  • pilgrim
  • bishop
  • reporter
  • syrian war
  • 2010s
  • formal inquiry
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Cast & crew

The Apparition Cast & Characters

Vincent Lindon leads the cast as Jacques Mayano, with Galatéa Bellugi as Anna and Elina Löwensohn as Docteur de Villeneuve. Directed by Xavier Giannoli; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Apparition

· 6 more
From the director

More from Xavier Giannoli

More films directed by Xavier Giannoli, best-rated first: Lost Illusions, Marguerite, Superstar and In the Beginning.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Apparition Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Apparition 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 58/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).

58 /100

The Apparition Echo Score Breakdown

The Apparition receives a mixed response reflective of its intriguing premise and measured execution. Critics and viewers alike note the film’s deliberate visual tone and strong central performances, particularly from Lindon and Bellugi, yet many observations highlight its excessive length and unresolved thematic threads. The narrative’s gradual pacing yields moments of mesmeric atmosphere but also occasions of disengagement. On balance, the film registers as an ambitious effort that ultimately feels uneven in its delivery.

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

  • Art & Craft 60

    In terms of art and craft, The Apparition delivers a carefully composed visual style with deliberate framing and restrained editing that cultivates a contemplative mood. The cinematography emphasizes natural light and measured camera movement, contributing to a slow, immersive atmosphere. Production design supports the ecclesiastical setting with authenticity. Despite these strengths, the extended sequences sometimes feel overlong, reducing narrative momentum.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film benefits from nuanced performances that anchor its exploration of faith. Vincent Lindon conveys quiet determination through subtle gestures, while Galatéa Bellugi imbues her role with an ethereal presence. Their chemistry adds depth to the central relationship, fostering emotional investment. However, limited character development for secondary figures leaves portions of the cast feeling underutilized and diminishes broader resonance.

  • Story & Flow 45

    Regarding story and flow, The Apparition is built on a distinct concept that initially intrigues, but narrative coherence declines as multiple subplots compete for attention. The film’s pacing is deliberate and sometimes meandering, leading to a sense of structural imbalance. The final twist struggles to integrate with prior developments, weakening overall thematic impact. As a result, the storyline feels fragmented and fails to sustain engagement consistently.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    In terms of sensory experience, the film generates a subdued yet immersive atmosphere through its restrained sound design and unobtrusive score. The visual palette is understated, with muted tones that reinforce the solemn subject matter. Carefully calibrated acoustics and ambience heighten moments of introspection. While these elements support a cohesive aesthetic, the lack of pronounced musical motifs reduces the sensory impact and leaves few standout auditory moments.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    With respect to rewatch factor, the film’s philosophical underpinnings and thematic questions about faith offer potential for deeper analysis on subsequent viewings. Early sequences yield fresh insights into the investigative framework, and certain visual compositions invite repeat observation. However, the uneven pacing and unresolved narrative threads limit its lasting appeal, making it difficult to sustain interest beyond the initial viewing experience.

Box office

The Apparition Box Office & Budget

The Apparition grossed $3.6 million worldwide on a $8.9 million budget, 40% of what it cost. $28,293 came from the US and Canada and $3.5 million (99%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.6M

40% of its budget back

US & Canada
$28.3K
International
$3.5M
Budget
$8.9M
US & Canada 1% Rest of the world 99%
Videos

The Apparition Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Apparition.

Official Trailer
Details

The Apparition Also Known As

19 alternative titles, including “Âvlenie” and “Το Όραμα”.

Also known as
  • Âvlenie
  • Το Όραμα
  • Åbenbaringen
  • Явление
  • A Aparição
  • Видението
  • La aparición
  • L'apparizione
  • Parādīšanās
  • 显灵
  • Tajemnica objawienia
  • A jelenés
+7 more
  • Apsireiškimas
  • Die Erscheinung
  • Zjevení
  • Zjavenie
  • L’aparició
  • L'apparition
  • Uppenbarelsen

Seen The Apparition?

FAQ

The Apparition FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is The Apparition?

The Apparition runs 2 hours 24 minutes (144 minutes).

When was The Apparition released?

The Apparition was released on September 7, 2018.

Who directed The Apparition?

The Apparition was directed by Xavier Giannoli.

More films by Xavier Giannoli

Who is in the cast of The Apparition?

The Apparition stars Vincent Lindon as Jacques Mayano, Galatéa Bellugi as Anna and Elina Löwensohn as Docteur de Villeneuve, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Apparition make at the box office?

The Apparition grossed $3.6 million worldwide ($28,293 domestic, $3.5 million international) on a budget of $8.9 million.

How is The Apparition rated?

The Apparition has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Does The Apparition have a post-credit scene?

No. The Apparition has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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