The Bad Batch (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 58m (118 min)
- Director
- Ana Lily Amirpour
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Screen Media Films
- Budget
- $6M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
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Director Ana Lily Amirpour
Also Starring in The Bad Batch
· 7 moreMore 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.
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).
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.
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IMDb 5.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 45% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 31%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 62 Metascore
User score 5.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 53% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.6 /5
59 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$201.9K
- US & Canada
- $180.9K
- International
- $21K
- Budget
- $6M
The Bad Batch Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer THE BAD BATCH [Official Trailer] – June 23rd 2017://NEON
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
- 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
What is the name of the harsh environment where Arlen is sent?
Cars in The Bad Batch
8 cars on screen, including the Honda CN 250 Helix and the Honda CN 250 Helix.
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Honda CN 250 Helix Important role -
Honda CN 250 Helix Important role -
Western Elegante Important role -
1972 Chevrolet El Camino Minor role
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 Show fewer
- 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?
Movies Like The Bad Batch
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Badlanders, Cannibal Apocalypse and Splinter.
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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