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Sci-fi romantic film

The Bad Batch (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Bad Batch (2017) movie poster

The Bad Batch is a 2017 sci-fi romantic film directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, starring Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey and Diego Luna. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $201,890 worldwide on a $6 million budget. Critics gave it 45% on Rotten Tomatoes and 62 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.

IMDb rating
5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
45%
worldwide gross
$201.9K
Echo Score
55
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The Bad Batch (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 58m (118 min)
Genres
Sci-Fi , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$6M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Bad Batch About?

The premise of The Bad Batch without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Stranded in the desolate Texas wilderness, Arlen finds herself a captive of a brutal tribe known for their cannibalistic practices. To survive, she must draw upon her inner strength and adapt to the harsh realities of her situation. As she confronts unimaginable horrors, Arlen discovers that the concepts of right and wrong become distorted in this savage environment, forcing her to question everything she believes.

The Bad Batch Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • cannibal
  • amputation
  • exile
  • cannibalism
  • dismemberment
  • cult leader
  • crawling
  • desert
  • amputee
  • tattooed man
  • isolated community
  • outcast
+38 more
  • dystopia
  • arm sawed off
  • leg sawed off
  • severed leg
  • severed arm
  • pet rabbit
  • little girl
  • banishment
  • garbage dump
  • illegal immigrant
  • hermit
  • drug trip
  • harem
  • muscleman
  • bodybuilder
  • title directed by female
  • drug use
  • bound in chains
  • cauterizing a wound
  • junkyard
  • crow
  • skateboard
  • butchering a human body
  • begging for one's life
  • prosthetic leg
  • garbage picking
  • rabbit
  • time lapse photography
  • saguaro cactus
  • sketching a portrait
  • double amputee
  • american flag
  • hidden compartment
  • title written by female
  • female protagonist
  • stranded in the desert
  • hallucination
  • father daughter relationship
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Cast & crew

The Bad Batch Cast

Keanu Reeves leads the cast, with Jim Carrey and Diego Luna. Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour; 11 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Ana Lily Amirpour

More films directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, best-rated first: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, Homemade and Hairy.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Bad Batch Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Bad Batch 45% on Rotten Tomatoes and 62 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 55/100, strongest in sensory experience (82) and weakest in story & flow (35).

55 /100

The Bad Batch Echo Score Breakdown

The Bad Batch presents a striking visual identity that is undermined by narrative incoherence and shallow character work. Across reviews, many praised Amirpour’s imaginative cinematography and atmospheric production design while lamenting the disjointed plot structure and underdeveloped character motivations. Some critics highlighted its bold allegorical ambition and moments of grounded humor, though most experienced the pacing as uneven and thematic threads as undernourished. Overall, the film leaves a lasting sensory imprint but struggles to engage through coherent narrative and emotional depth.

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

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of cinematography and production design, the film excels with its vivid color palette and striking desert vistas. Direction embraces low-angle framing and hallucinatory editing techniques that sustain visual interest. Even the costume and set details reinforce the dystopian atmosphere without distraction. These elements combine to deliver a memorable sense of place, underscoring the film’s strongest creative achievement.

  • Character & Emotion 48

    In terms of character depth and emotional resonance, the film largely underutilizes its ensemble, offering limited insight into individual motivations and relationships. While occasional moments of grounded humor and compassion hint at richer interpersonal connections—particularly in Miami Man’s gestures—most arcs feel thinly sketched. As a result, emotional investment remains elusive, and character dynamics fail to sustain lasting engagement.

  • Story & Flow 35

    In terms of plot coherence and pacing, the narrative often drifts through episodic scenarios without clear progression or resolution. Critics and audiences alike noted its fragmented structure, uneven pacing, and overreliance on allegorical gestures at the expense of engagement. Despite sporadic originality in its thematic ambition, the film’s flow remains disjointed, leaving the viewer with minimal narrative momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 82

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film delivers a compelling audiovisual tapestry through its immersive sound design, dynamic score, and cohesive color grading. The interplay of music and environmental sounds enhances tension, while rapid editing sequences during drug-induced scenes evoke a disorienting dreamlike state. Visual stylization remains consistent throughout, reinforcing thematic contrasts. Thus, the sensory impact stands as a clear highlight of the production.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    In terms of replay value, the film’s striking visuals may invite repeated viewings for stylistic appreciation, yet its narrative ambiguity and uneven pacing limit lasting appeal. Although some viewers might revisit particular set pieces or atmospheric sequences, the lack of cohesive story and underdeveloped character arcs tend to diminish overall enjoyment on subsequent viewings. Thus, rewatch potential remains modest.

Plot

The Bad Batch Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Bad Batch 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

A young woman named Arlen finds herself exiled to a harsh desert landscape in Texas, a place where individuals deemed undesirable by the government, referred to as the “bad batch,” must survive on their own. A glaring sign makes it clear that this area is outside the United States, where American laws and citizenship are rendered void. Shortly after her arrival, Arlen is kidnapped by two women driving a golf cart. When she regains consciousness, she discovers she is chained up, and one of the women brutally amputates her right arm and leg. In a daring act of cunning, Arlen manages to deceive her captor, gains her freedom, and escapes while crawling on a skateboard.

Full summary

The whole story of The Bad Batch, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Bad Batch Box Office & Budget

The Bad Batch grossed $201,890 worldwide on a $6 million budget. $180,851 came from the US and Canada and $21,039 (10%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$201.9K

US & Canada
$180.9K
International
$21K
Budget
$6M
US & Canada 90% Rest of the world 10%
Videos

The Bad Batch Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

THE BAD BATCH [Official Teaser] – Summer 2017://NEON
  • Trailer THE BAD BATCH [Official Trailer] – June 23rd 2017://NEON
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Bad Batch?

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 is the name of the harsh environment where Arlen is sent?

Cars

Cars in The Bad Batch

8 cars on screen, including the Honda CN 250 Helix and the Honda CN 250 Helix.

All 8 cars
  • Honda CN 250 Helix in The Bad Batch Honda CN 250 Helix Important role
  • Honda CN 250 Helix in The Bad Batch Honda CN 250 Helix Important role
  • Western Elegante in The Bad Batch Western Elegante Important role
  • 1972 Chevrolet El Camino in The Bad Batch 1972 Chevrolet El Camino Minor role
Details

The Bad Batch Also Known As

22 alternative titles, including “Amor carnal” and “Amores Canibais”.

Also known as
  • Amor carnal
  • Amores Canibais
  • Amor carnal (The Bad Batch)
  • 버려진 자들의 땅
  • 生存者
  • Amores Caníbales
  • マッドタウン:2017
  • The Bad Batch:2017
  • 食人愛情
  • Yemekle Oynanmaz
  • Плохая партия
  • Гадна гомила
+10 more
  • Outsiderka
  • 劣质爱情
  • Le clan maudit
  • Лоша партида
  • The Bad Batch - Terra Sem Lei
  • マッドタウン
  • Šílení kanibalové
  • Погана партія
  • חברה רעה
  • Kẻ Bị Khai Trừ

Seen The Bad Batch?

FAQ

The Bad Batch FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is The Bad Batch?

The Bad Batch runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).

When was The Bad Batch released?

The Bad Batch was released on June 23, 2017.

Who directed The Bad Batch?

The Bad Batch was directed by Ana Lily Amirpour.

More films by Ana Lily Amirpour

Who is in the cast of The Bad Batch?

The Bad Batch stars Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey and Diego Luna, among 11 credited actors.

How much did The Bad Batch make at the box office?

The Bad Batch grossed $201,890 worldwide ($180,851 domestic, $21,039 international) on a budget of $6 million.

How is The Bad Batch rated?

The Bad Batch has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62 on Metacritic and 53% on TMDB.

Does The Bad Batch have a post-credit scene?

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

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