The Empire (2025): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Empire is a 2025 adventure drama directed by Bruno Dumont, starring Fabrice Luchini as Belzébuth, Camille Cottin and Lyna Khoudri. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $29,684 worldwide on a $8 million budget. Critics gave it 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 54 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- Bruno Dumont
- Original language
-
French
- Studio
- Tessalit Productions
- Budget
- $8M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Empire About?
The premise of The Empire without spoilers.
A special baby's birth in a peaceful fishing village in Northern France triggers a hidden conflict between extraterrestrial forces. Two opposing forces from deep space, known as One and Zero, are drawn into a struggle to restore their empires, threatening the village and the child at the center of the unfolding events.
The Empire Themes & Keywords
· 24 tags- parody
- parody comedy
- dramedy drama
- village
- apocalypse
- space
- galaxy
- space sci fi
- space adventure
- reference to star wars
- nudity
- written by director
+12 more Show fewer
- fisherman
- gendarme
- female rear nudity
- motor boat
- beach
- rear nudity
- boat
- female nudity
- female frontal nudity
- skinny dipping
- outdoor nudity
- woman swims nude
The Empire Cast & Characters
Fabrice Luchini leads the cast as Belzébuth, with Camille Cottin as La Reine and Lyna Khoudri as Line. Directed by Bruno Dumont; 20 actors are credited in all.
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Director Bruno Dumont
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Fabrice Luchini as Belzébuth -
Camille Cottin as La Reine -
Lyna Khoudri as Line -
Anamaria Vartolomei as Jane de Baecque
Also Starring in The Empire
· 16 more- Julien Manier Rudy
- Bernard Pruvost Commandant Van der Weyden
- Philippe Jore Lieutenant Carpentier
- Brandon Vlieghe Jony
- Anne Tardivon La mère de Jony
- Marie Vasez Lou
- Cédric Fortin Roland Deroo
- Annick Lefèvre Gisèle, la mère de Rudy
- Tony Devanne Ami Rudy 1 éberlué
- Giovanny Dupetit Ami Rudy 2 en larmes
- Giovanni Boutillier Ami Rudy 3 malin
- Olivier Delattaignant Gros baigneur décapité
- Bruno Darras Gendarme 1, Chevalier
- Gino Evrard Gendarme 2
- Annick Bultel Mme Deroo
- Natacha Oliveira da Costa Journaliste télé
More from Bruno Dumont
More films directed by Bruno Dumont, best-rated first: Li'l Quinquin, Humanité, Hadewijch and Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc.
The Empire Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Empire 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 54 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).
The Empire Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, The Empire shows remarkable visual ambition yet is hindered by uneven pacing and diluted comedic impact. Critics and users alike praise its effects-driven action and dreamlike cinematography but frequently note narrative meandering and simplistic satirical binaries. While unconventional reimagining of mythological themes yields sporadic intrigue, inconsistent tone and underdeveloped emotional stakes prevent cohesive engagement. In sum, the film’s technical mastery contrasts with a fragmented structure, making it memorable for its style more than its substance.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 85
In terms of art and craft, the film excels in its production design and cinematography. Critics praise its spectacular effects-driven sequences and dreamlike framing of natural settings. User reactions cite impressive set pieces and a rich architectural palette drawn from Gothic and Renaissance influences. Overall, the film’s visual construction and technical execution consistently stand out as its strongest elements.
- Character & Emotion 60
When it comes to character and emotion, the film presents a mixed impression. Some observers note a humane satiric undercurrent and occasional depth in its portrayal of opposing factions. However, many mention thinly sketched figures and underdeveloped interpersonal dynamics that limit emotional engagement. Overall, character work remains serviceable but rarely achieves significant resonance or lasting empathy.
- Story & Flow 50
Regarding story and flow, the film adopts an unconventional satirical premise but often falters in coherence and pacing. Critics and users frequently point to meandering narrative threads, simplistic binary conflicts, and inconsistent comedic tone that undercut engagement. While its mythological reimagining and occasional surprises offer moments of intrigue, the overall structure lacks the clarity and momentum needed to fully captivate. In sum, the narrative remains uneven and occasionally perplexing.
- Sensory Experience 80
In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers a compelling audiovisual tapestry. Reviewers highlight a reworked neo-classical score, immersive sound design, and visually arresting style that blend conventional and surreal imagery. Users also cite impressive special effects and an eclectic musical backdrop based on Bach and Purcell arrangements. Overall, the movie creates a rich and often striking sensory atmosphere despite intermittent tonal shifts.
- Rewatch Factor 45
When considering rewatch factor, the film’s novelty and visual flair offer initial intrigue but diminish on subsequent viewings. The shock value of its eccentric imagery and satirical gestures tends to wear thin once its structural shortcomings become more apparent. Limited character depth and repetitive pacing reduce incentives to revisit. Overall, the movie struggles to sustain lasting appeal beyond a first, curiosity-driven experience.
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IMDb 5.1 /10
1778 votes
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 58% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 87%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 54 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 55% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.8 /5
11477 ratings
See on Letterboxd
The Empire Box Office & Budget
The Empire grossed $29,684 worldwide on a $8 million budget. $20,221 came from the US and Canada and $9,463 (32%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$29.7K
- US & Canada
- $20.2K
- International
- $9.5K
- Budget
- $8M
The Empire Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “엠파이어” and “L'impero”.
- Also known as
-
- 엠파이어
- L'impero
- 腥際大帝國
- 帝国
- האימפריה
- Imperium
- Империя
- İmparatorluk
- Das Imperium
Seen The Empire?
Movies Like The Empire
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Empire of Desire, The Phantom Empire and Empire of the Ants.
The Empire FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of The Empire, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Empire?
The Empire runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was The Empire released?
The Empire was released on March 7, 2025.
Who directed The Empire?
The Empire was directed by Bruno Dumont.
More films by Bruno Dumont Who is in the cast of The Empire?
The Empire stars Fabrice Luchini as Belzébuth, Camille Cottin as La Reine and Lyna Khoudri as Line, among 20 credited actors.
How much did The Empire make at the box office?
The Empire grossed $29,684 worldwide ($20,221 domestic, $9,463 international) on a budget of $8 million.
How is The Empire rated?
The Empire has 5.1/10 on IMDb, 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, 54 on Metacritic and 55% on TMDB.
Does The Empire have a post-credit scene?
No. The Empire has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Empire in?
The original language of The Empire is French.
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