The Lovers (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Lovers is a 2017 comedy directed by Azazel Jacobs, starring Tracy Letts, Debra Winger and Aidan Gillen. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and earned $2.2 million worldwide on a $50 million budget. Critics gave it 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.6/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- Azazel Jacobs
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English
- Budget
- $50M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Lovers About?
The premise of The Lovers without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A long-married couple, played by Tracy Letts and Debra Winger, finds their passionless marriage heading towards divorce. Unexpectedly, a spark reignites their relationship, leading them to impulsively begin an affair. This reckless decision throws them into a humorous and chaotic situation as they attempt to navigate the complications of infidelity and the relationships they’ve recently established.
The Lovers Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- death of a lover
- two time periods
- actor plays two roles
- eternal love
- repeated scene
- lost ring
- india
- story within a story
- interconnecting rings
- time travel
- stolen ring
- interracial romance
+38 more Show fewer
- nonlinear timeline
- interracial relationship
- blood dripping onto someone's face
- panther
- panther licking human blood
- praying
- forgery
- forged letter
- forewarning
- stealing a ring
- theft
- scissors
- knocked off a horse by a tree limb
- armor
- stealing a horse
- helicopter
- revolving door
- deception
- encampment
- suspense
- hit in the face
- woman hit in the face
- euthanasia
- screaming
- wedding anniversary
- talking to the camera
- death of a king
- marine archaeologist
- crying woman
- epic
- year 2020
- captain
- british east india company
- brain dead
- boston massachusetts
- muder
- year 1778
- betrayal
The Lovers Cast
Tracy Letts leads the cast, with Debra Winger and Aidan Gillen. Directed by Azazel Jacobs; 6 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Azazel Jacobs
Also Starring in The Lovers
· 2 moreMore from Azazel Jacobs
More films directed by Azazel Jacobs, best-rated first: His Three Daughters, French Exit, Momma's Man and Terri.
The Lovers Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Lovers 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 71/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in sensory experience (50).
The Lovers Echo Score Breakdown
While The Lovers draws strength from its confident direction and nuanced performances, it occasionally falters in its narrative pacing. Many critics praised its smart comedic tone and engaging exploration of mature romance, noting its subtle wit and character interplay. User responses highlighted thin structural elements and uneven momentum, as well as a distracting orchestral underscore. The film's blend of charm and occasional awkwardness results in a modestly appealing comedy-drama with a mixed but generally positive resonance.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
In terms of art and craft, The Lovers benefits from clear directorial choices and consistent visual presentation. Reviews emphasize Jacobs’s controlled framing and tidy production design, while the camera’s unobtrusive style supports intimate scenes. Critics noted occasional theatrical shifts in staging, and some users found editing uneven. Overall, the film’s visual coherence remains a steady asset.
- Character & Emotion 85
When it comes to character and emotion, the film excels through richly drawn performances. Debra Winger and Tracy Letts project layered wit and disappointment, and supporting roles add depth to family dynamics. Critics celebrated the actors’ chemistry and authentic rapport. Some viewers noted fluctuating character arcs, yet the central couple’s emotional resonance endures strongly.
- Story & Flow 60
In terms of story and flow, The Lovers presents a familiar premise filtered through mature perspectives. Critics found its blend of comedy and cynicism engaging, but several reviews pointed to an uneven pace and a conclusion that divides opinions. User feedback frequently cited thin plotting and abrupt transitions. The net effect is a narrative that intrigues more than it satisfies.
- Sensory Experience 50
When evaluating the sensory experience, The Lovers pairs unobtrusive visuals with a prominent orchestral score. While some critics appreciated the film’s subtle soundscapes and cohesive visual tone, user commentary often criticized the music as overly soap-opera–like and the sound design as intrusive. Despite neat cinematography and clear props, the soundtrack’s pendulum shift can distract from immersion.
- Rewatch Factor 65
Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s mature themes and performances suggest potential for repeat viewings. Critics noted enduring appeal in its adult-centric humor and character interplay, though the slow pacing may limit its allure on subsequent viewings. Audience feedback raised concerns about its modest narrative depth. Consequently, the film’s lasting appeal remains moderate, inviting selective revisits rather than frequent replays.
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IMDb 4.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 81% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 42%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 76 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 54% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.2 /5
2 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 1.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Lovers Plot Summary
What happens in The Lovers from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Mary and Michael are a married couple living under the same roof but already emotionally estranged, each carrying a long-running affair—she with Robert and he with Lucy. They have promised to end their marriage after a visit from their son, Joel, and his new girlfriend Erin, hoping the upcoming trip will formalize the distance between them. Yet a spontaneous early-morning kiss between Mary and Michael shatters that plan: what begins as a secret rekindling soon evolves into a renewed, ardent connection, full of intimate moments and a surprising surge of feeling. Meanwhile, their lovers grow increasingly needy and pushy, which makes Mary and Michael harder to tolerate and harder to resist their own resurfacing emotions.
Full summary
The whole story of The Lovers, scene by scene
The Lovers Box Office & Budget
The Lovers grossed $2.2 million worldwide on a $50 million budget. $2.2 million came from the US and Canada and $21,562 (1%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$2.2M
- US & Canada
- $2.2M
- International
- $21.6K
- Budget
- $50M
The Lovers Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Lovers.
How Well Do You Know The Lovers?
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
Who is Mary's extramarital lover?
Cars in The Lovers
9 cars on screen, including the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta A6 Typ 5K and the 1986 Volvo 240.
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2011 Volkswagen Jetta A6 Typ 5K Important role -
1986 Volvo 240 Minor role -
1997 Jeep Cherokee Background role -
2008 Subaru Impreza Background role
The Lovers Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “연인들” and “Los amantes”.
- Also known as
-
- 연인들
- Los amantes
- Aşıklar
- Любовники
- Kochankowie
- Os Amantes
- המאהבים
- Die Liebenden
- Mīlnieki
- 我們的秘密戀人
- 那些爱人
- Szeretők
+4 more Show fewer
- The lovers - Ritrovare l'amore
- Įsimylėjėliai
- Коханці
- รักที่หวนคืน
Seen The Lovers?
Movies Like The Lovers
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Two Lovers, The Lovers and The Lover.
The Lovers FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Lovers, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Lovers?
The Lovers runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
When was The Lovers released?
The Lovers was released on May 5, 2017.
Who directed The Lovers?
The Lovers was directed by Azazel Jacobs.
More films by Azazel Jacobs Who is in the cast of The Lovers?
The Lovers stars Tracy Letts, Debra Winger and Aidan Gillen, among 6 credited actors.
How much did The Lovers make at the box office?
The Lovers grossed $2.2 million worldwide ($2.2 million domestic, $21,562 international) on a budget of $50 million.
How is The Lovers rated?
The Lovers has 4.6/10 on IMDb, 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic and 54% on TMDB.
Does The Lovers have a post-credit scene?
No. The Lovers has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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