The Competition (2018): Cast & Ratings
The Competition is a 2018 romantic comedy starring Thora Birch as Lauren, Claire Coffee and Chris Klein. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes. Critics gave it 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Gravitas Ventures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Competition About?
The premise of The Competition without spoilers.
Lauren, a blogger known for her rigorous anti-cheating formula, finds her convictions challenged when her sister, Gena, becomes the subject of her scrutiny. A well-meaning friend, Calvin, further complicates matters by questioning her beliefs. As Lauren grapples with the complexities of science and romance, she must examine her own reservations and anxieties about relationships and consider whether to embrace the possibility of love.
The Competition Themes & Keywords
· 2 tags- unlit cigarette
- cigarette smoking
The Competition Cast & Characters
Thora Birch leads the cast as Lauren, with Claire Coffee as Gena and Chris Klein as Calvin Chesney.
-
Thora Birch as Lauren - Claire Coffee as Gena
-
Chris Klein as Calvin Chesney -
Michael Draper as Simon
Also Starring in The Competition
· 11 more- Jason Tobias Minister Dooley
- Gabrielle Stone Ashley
- David Blue Jacob
- Harvey Lowry Suburban Dad 1
- Chris Ihlenfeldt Bar Patron
- Kimberly Stanphill Venus and Heather Decker
- Tiffany Fallon Corina
- Jasmine Fontes Danielle
- Tim Harrold
- Kelsey Tucker
- Riley Keating
The Competition Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Competition 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 25/100, strongest in rewatch factor (35) and weakest in sensory experience (20).
The Competition Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, The Competition struggles to engage with an underdeveloped premise and flat execution across most fronts. While a few viewers found occasional enjoyment in its contrived sincerity, the predominant response highlights lack of humor, thin characters, and uninspired direction. The narrative feels predictable and fails to build meaningful tension or emotional investment. Visual and auditory elements offer little distinction beyond generic background music. In sum, the film leaves minimal lasting impression and seldom rewards rewatching.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 30
In terms of cinematography and direction, The Competition lacks distinct visual style or coherent editing. Reviewers noted uneven pacing and uninspired production design that fails to support the narrative. The filmmaking often feels routine, with minimal stylistic flair or cohesive visual language. Overall, the execution falls short of engaging the viewer’s attention.
- Character & Emotion 25
When it comes to acting and emotional resonance, performances are largely perceived as flat and unconvincing. Multiple viewers cited wooden delivery and minimal chemistry between leads, while a solitary perspective acknowledged a nuanced turn by the lead actress. Nevertheless, character motivations remain underexplored, resulting in limited empathy or emotional investment. As a result, the portrayal of relationships feels superficial and fails to establish compelling emotional stakes.
- Story & Flow 30
In terms of narrative coherence and pacing, the plot is criticized for predictability and lack of dramatic payoff. Observers described the romantic conflict as familiar and the climax devoid of suspense, undermining engagement. While a few moments generated mild amusement, the storyline overall adheres too closely to convention, limiting its originality and capacity to maintain momentum.
- Sensory Experience 20
When evaluating soundtrack and sound design, the film’s score is largely deemed intrusive and overused. Many cited monotonous background music in nearly every scene as distracting and cheapening the narrative. Visual aesthetics offer little cohesion beyond standard lighting and set choices. Consequently, the sensory elements rarely enhance immersion or support emotional tone.
- Rewatch Factor 35
In terms of replay value, The Competition seldom invites repeat viewings due to its predictable storyline and uninspired execution. A minority noted modest enjoyment on a first watch, but the lack of memorable moments and emotional resonance diminishes lasting appeal. Overall, subsequent viewings are unlikely to yield new insights or appreciable enjoyment.
-
IMDb 4.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 20% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 53%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 41% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.6 /5
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Competition Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Official Trailer 2
The Competition Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “Състезанието” and “A Competição”.
- Also known as
-
- Състезанието
- A Competição
- 爱情比赛
- 愛情比賽
- La competizione
- 6 měsíců stačí, drahoušku
- Соревнование
- 더 컴패티션
Seen The Competition?
Movies Like The Competition
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Losing Control, Love Is Not a Game, But a Joke and The Trouble with Romance.
The Competition FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Competition, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Competition?
The Competition runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was The Competition released?
The Competition was released on January 26, 2018.
Who is in the cast of The Competition?
The Competition stars Thora Birch as Lauren, Claire Coffee as Gena and Chris Klein as Calvin Chesney, among 15 credited actors.
How is The Competition rated?
The Competition has 4.5/10 on IMDb, 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, 41% on TMDB and 2.6/5 on Letterboxd.
Does The Competition have a post-credit scene?
No. The Competition has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
