The Apprentice (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
The Apprentice is a 2024 biographical drama directed by Ali Abbasi, starring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump, Maria Bakalova and Charlie Carrick. It runs 2 hours and earned $17.3 million worldwide on a $15 million budget. It was nominated for 2 Oscars. Critics gave it 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h (120 min)
- Director
- Ali Abbasi
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Gidden Media
- Budget
- $15M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Apprentice About?
The premise of The Apprentice without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
This film portrays the early career of Donald Trump, detailing his ascent in the competitive New York real estate market. Under the mentorship of lawyer Roy Cohn, Trump enters into a pivotal agreement that profoundly influences his future and ultimately impacts American politics.
The Apprentice Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- based on true story
- donald trump character
- ivana trump character
- lawyer
- sex scene
- roy cohn character
- corruption
- 1970s
- new york city
- crooked lawyer
- marriage
- aids
+38 more Show fewer
- real estate business
- gay character
- politics
- 1980s
- docudrama drama
- father son relationship
- brother brother relationship
- trump casino
- mayor of new york city
- rape
- 20th century
- blackmail
- year 1982
- rolls royce silver cloud
- model
- aspen colorado
- party
- wedding
- death of brother
- female frontal nudity
- female full frontal nudity
- taking drugs
- female nudity
- oral sex
- trump tower manhattan new york city
- prenuptial agreement
- ed koch character
- friendship
- rupert murdoch character
- based on real people
- f word
- topless nudity
- george steinbrenner character
- mike wallace character
- female model
- girl on top
- female pubic hair
- pubic hair
The Apprentice Cast & Characters
Sebastian Stan leads the cast as Donald Trump, with Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump and Charlie Carrick as Freddy Trump. Directed by Ali Abbasi; 20 actors are credited in all.
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Director Ali Abbasi
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Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump -
Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump -
Charlie Carrick as Freddy Trump -
Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn
Also Starring in The Apprentice
· 16 more- Martin Donovan Fred Trump
- Catherine McNally Mary Anne Trump
- Bruce Beaton Andy Warhol
- Joe Pingue Fat Tony Salerno
- Ron Lea Victor Palmieri
- Mark Rendall Roger Stone
- Ben Sullivan Russell Eldridge
- Ian D. Clark Ed Koch
- Edie Inksetter Barbara Katz
- Michael Hough Kinney (Reporter #1)
- Valerie O'Connor Rona Barrett
- James Madge Tom Bolan
- Robert J. Tavenor Reporter #2
- Raechel Fisher Reporter #3
- Jim Monaco Al Formicola
- Stefanie Martino Reporter #4
The Apprentice Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Apprentice 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (70).
The Apprentice Echo Score Breakdown
In general, The Apprentice delivers compelling performances and a polished visual style but is somewhat restrained in narrative scope. Reviews praise the lead actors and production design while noting that the film occasionally feels dutiful and reductive in its thematic exploration. Sentiment highlights strong emotional moments and immersive period detail tempered by uneven pacing and a tendency to underexplore subplots. The balance of admiration for the effective character portrayals against criticisms of monotony yields a net impression of a well-crafted yet somewhat limited biopic.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 75
In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits meticulous production design and precise cinematography that evoke its period setting. Editors maintain clarity in intercutting scenes, although the pacing sometimes feels dutiful. Visual compositions are consistently engaging, from color palette to framing choices. Overall, the technical aspects contribute to a polished yet occasionally conventional aesthetic.
- Character & Emotion 90
When it comes to character and emotion, the performances are uniformly strong, with nuanced portrayals that capture vulnerability and menace. Lead actors convey subtle shifts in confidence and ego, supported by a capable ensemble. The relationships feel authentic, fostering emotional resonance despite occasional reductive treatment. The net effect is a richly realized character study.
- Story & Flow 70
In terms of story and flow, the narrative offers a clear origin arc and thematic coherence around power and influence. Engagement is sustained through dramatic set pieces, though the film’s focus on certain relationships leads to uneven pacing and moments of monotony. While the plot structure is solid, underexploration of secondary storylines leaves the overall momentum somewhat constrained.
- Sensory Experience 75
When it comes to sensory experience, the film employs a restrained yet evocative visual style, using muted tones and dynamic camera movement to immerse viewers in its era. The sound design and score enhance dramatic tension without overshadowing dialogue. While these elements consistently evoke atmosphere, they rarely break new ground, offering a cohesive but familiar sensory palette.
- Rewatch Factor 70
When it comes to rewatch value, the film’s strong character work and period detail encourage subsequent viewings, especially for fans of the lead performances. Memorable moments and emotional beats reward repeat engagement, though the film’s limited narrative scope and occasional pacing lulls may reduce appeal for some audiences. Overall, it retains a moderate lasting intrigue.
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IMDb 7.1 /10
73830 votes
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 64 Metascore
User score 6.8
See on Metacritic
The Apprentice Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The Apprentice 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 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film opens with a gripping flashback to Richard Nixon’s notorious “I am not a crook” address, where he defiantly claimed his openness to investigations into his misdeeds, arguing that his success was purely well-deserved. Fast forward to 1973, we find a young Donald Trump (portrayed by Sebastian Stan) dining at an upscale restaurant in New York City with a stunning date. As he glances around, he identifies various affluent personalities, spotting the ruthless lawyer Roy Cohn, who is recognized for prosecuting the Rosenbergs, a couple caught in the web of espionage during the Cold War. Intrigued by Cohn’s fearsome reputation, Trump is introduced to Cohn’s circle after revealing his lineage as the son of real estate mogul Fred Trump (played by Martin Donovan).
Full summary
The whole story of The Apprentice, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The Apprentice Box Office & Budget
The Apprentice grossed $17.3 million worldwide on a $15 million budget, 1.2 times what it cost. $4 million came from the US and Canada and $13.3 million (77%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$17.3M
1.2× its budget
- US & Canada
- $4M
- International
- $13.3M
- Budget
- $15M
The Apprentice Awards & Nominations
The Apprentice was nominated for 2 Oscars. The 15 nominations come from 8 ceremonies.
15 nominations8 ceremonies
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Spirit Awards 2025 3 nominations- Nominated Best Director – Ali Abbasi
- Nominated Best Editing
- Nominated Best Lead Performance – Sebastian Stan
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NAACP Image Awards 2025 3 nominations- Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Sebastian Stan
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Jeremy Strong
- Nominated Best Casting
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BAFTA 2025 3 nominations- Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Sebastian Stan
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Jeremy Strong
- Nominated Best Casting
-
Oscars 2025 2 nominations- Nominated Actor in a Leading Role – Sebastian Stan
- Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role – Jeremy Strong
Show all 8 ceremonies Show fewer ceremonies
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IFTA Awards 2025 1 nomination- Nominated Best Film
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Actor Awards (SAG) 2025 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Jeremy Strong
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Artios Awards 2025 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Studio or Independent – Drama
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Golden Globes 2025 1 nomination- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture (Supporting Actor) – Jeremy Strong
The Apprentice Trailers & Videos
21 videos: 2 trailers, 3 teasers, 10 clips and 6 featurettes.
- Trailer International Trailer
- Teaser :30 Spot
- Teaser Acclaim :15
- Teaser TV Spot
How Well Do You Know The Apprentice?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which significant historical address does the film open with?
Cars in The Apprentice
26 cars on screen, including the 1990 Cadillac Brougham Stretched Limousine and the 1984 Cadillac Sedan DeVille.
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1990 Cadillac Brougham Stretched Limousine Important role -
1984 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Important role -
1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Important role -
1978 Checker Taxicab Minor role
The Apprentice Also Known As
31 alternative titles, including “学徒” and “狂人法則”.
- Also known as
-
- 学徒
- 狂人法則
- L'apprenti
- 어프렌티스: 트럼프의 탄생
- The Apprentice: Priča o Trumpu
- 어프렌티스
- O Aprendiz
- The Apprentice - Alle origini di Trump
- 飞黄腾达
- Wybraniec
- The Apprentice: Příběh Trumpa
- El Aprendiz
+19 more Show fewer
- Учень. Історія Трампа
- The Apprentice – A Trump-sztori
- המתמחה
- The Apprentice (La historia de Trump)
- Trump'ın Hikayesi
- The Apprentice - The Trump Story, შეგირდი
- 飛黃騰達
- Стажантът
- O Aprendiz - A História de Trump
- Ученик. Восхождение Трампа
- กว่าจะเป็นลุง
- Vajenec
- Mokinys
- Māceklis
- Pripravnik: Priča o Trumpu
- The Apprentice: Povestea originii lui Trump
- アプレンティス:ドナルド・トランプの創り方
- Mantlipärija: Trumpi lugu
- The Apprentice: Príbeh Trumpa
Seen The Apprentice?
Movies Like The Apprentice
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Trump: An American Dream, Trump: What’s The Deal? and The Trump Show.
Articles About The Apprentice
4 articles about The Apprentice. The latest: “The Ultimate 2025 Oscars Nominations Guide: Surprises, Snubs, and Must-Know Insights”.
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Culture -
Culture2025 Oscars Nominations: Musicals, Horror, and Hollywood’s Biggest Surprises
The 2025 Oscar nominations promise a thrilling contest. Here’s a closer look at this year’s biggest contenders, snubs, and surprises. 6 min read -
Golden Globes2025 Golden Globe Nominations: Surprises, Snubs, and the Next Big Oscar Clues
A deep dive into the surprises, snubs, and game-changing nominations for the 2025 Golden Globes. Explore which films and series stunned critics, which stars got snubbed, and how these nominations may shape the Oscars race. 6 min read
The Apprentice FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Apprentice, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Apprentice?
The Apprentice runs 2 hours (120 minutes).
When was The Apprentice released?
The Apprentice was released on October 11, 2024.
Who directed The Apprentice?
The Apprentice was directed by Ali Abbasi.
More films by Ali Abbasi Who is in the cast of The Apprentice?
The Apprentice stars Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump, Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump and Charlie Carrick as Freddy Trump, among 20 credited actors.
How much did The Apprentice make at the box office?
The Apprentice grossed $17.3 million worldwide ($4 million domestic, $13.3 million international) on a budget of $15 million.
How is The Apprentice rated?
The Apprentice has 7.1/10 on IMDb and 64 on Metacritic.
Was The Apprentice nominated for any awards?
The Apprentice received 15 nominations across 8 ceremonies.
Does The Apprentice have a post-credit scene?
No. The Apprentice has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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