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The Student (2017): Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Student (2017) movie poster

The Student is a 2017 drama directed by Kirill Serebrennikov. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $318,123 worldwide. Critics gave it 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.5/10.

IMDb rating
4.5/10
worldwide gross
$318.1K
Echo Score
46
Metascore
76
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The Student (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 58m (118 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
Russian
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Student About?

The premise of The Student without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Driven by a profound Christian faith, Veniamin's beliefs lead to a series of conflicts within his community. His passionate challenge to the values of those around him results in increasingly erratic and controversial behavior. A tense situation arises during a sex education lesson, prompting Veniamin to take a dramatic stand against what he perceives as immoral behavior. The resulting commotion forces authorities to intervene and attempt to manage his fervent actions.

The Student Themes & Keywords

· 27 tags
  • melodrama
  • legal thriller
  • mock trial
  • trying to make up for past mistake
  • failing grade
  • ethics professor
  • self defense
  • lifetime movie
  • law professor
  • student
  • teacher
  • threats
+15 more
  • intimidation
  • switched medication
  • making amends
  • change final grade
  • sociopath
  • bending the rules
  • deja vu
  • ethics
  • daddy issue
  • torment
  • university
  • murder
  • account drained
  • law student
  • wrongful conviction
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Crew

The Director of The Student

Directed by Kirill Serebrennikov.

From the director

More from Kirill Serebrennikov

More films directed by Kirill Serebrennikov, best-rated first: Petrov's Flu, Leto, Limonov: The Ballad and The Disappearance of Josef Mengele.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Student Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Student 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 46/100, strongest in art & craft (53) and weakest in rewatch factor (38).

46 /100

The Student Echo Score Breakdown

The Student elicits a mixed reception that balances commendation for its visual ambition with criticism of its uneven execution. Critics emphasize its compelling blend of stark realism and allegorical imagery, noting strong directorial vision and hypnotic sequences. However, several viewers point to budgetary constraints and inconsistent visual polish that undermine the immersive quality. While the film stimulates discussion about ideology and tolerance, these aesthetic fluctuations temper its overall impact. Ultimately, The Student presents intriguing artistic impulses but remains a divisive experience with moderate consensus around its merits.

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

  • Art & Craft 53

    In terms of art and craft, the film demonstrates striking moments of atmospheric composition and deliberate framing. Critics praise its dreamlike transitions and moody color palette, while some viewers perceive the production values as cheap or poorly shot. The contrast between polished sequences and rougher visuals reduces overall cohesion. Consequently, the art direction shows ambition tempered by sporadic technical inconsistencies.

  • Character & Emotion 48

    Regarding character and emotion, there is recognition of a central performance that conveys fervent conviction without overt caricature. Critics highlight nuanced portrayals and emotional restraint, yet users frequently describe performances as unconvincing and scripts as shallow. This divergence creates a sense of uneven depth: some characters resonate with authenticity, while others lack sufficient development. Overall, the emotional engagement remains inconsistent.

  • Story & Flow 40

    When it comes to story and flow, the narrative is praised for its thematic boldness and allegorical resonance about intolerance and ideological conflict. Critics find the pacing measured and tension steadily mounting, but some audiences criticize the plot as disjointed, thin, or ludicrous. The unresolved conclusion divides opinion, leaving some viewers intrigued by ambiguity and others frustrated by lack of payoff. Net impression: a narrative with compelling ideas hampered by inconsistent coherence.

  • Sensory Experience 50

    In terms of sensory experience, the film offers moments of hypnotic soundscapes and a haunting score that reinforce its allegorical tone. Critics commend the effective blend of sound design with dynamic imagery, whereas several viewers note a cheap or uneven visual style and limited technical polish. This duality yields an audiovisual landscape that is intermittently evocative but also occasionally undercut by production limitations. Overall, the sensory impact is moderate.

  • Rewatch Factor 38

    As for rewatch factor, the film’s provocative themes and striking individual sequences invite contemplation on beliefs and dogma. Still, the uneven execution and unresolved ending frequently discourage multiple viewings. While some appreciate revisiting its symbolic scenes, many viewers find limited enjoyment upon repeat exposure. The lack of narrative closure and fluctuating technical quality constrains its lasting appeal, resulting in moderate replay value at best.

Plot

The Student Plot Summary

What happens in The Student from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Veniamin Yuzhin, nicknamed Venia, is a high school student in a quiet suburb of Russia dealing with a fragile family situation: his parents’ divorce is fresh, and his father has disappeared. His mother works three jobs to keep him in school and maintain a modest home, and Venia searches for guidance in the Bible, carrying a small pocket edition that he reads with intense, selective focus. This obsession bleeds into school life, where his frequent moral lectures and biblical quotes interrupt lessons and draw the attention of the principal, who must repeatedly address Venia’s behavior.

Full summary

The whole story of The Student, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Student Box Office

The Student grossed $318,123 worldwide. $1,126 came from the US and Canada and $316,997 (100%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$318.1K

US & Canada
$1.1K
International
$317K
US & Canada 0% Rest of the world 100%
Videos

The Student Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Student.

The Student - Official Trailer - MarVista Entertainment
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Student?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  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

What is the main character Veniamin Yuzhin’s nickname in the film?

Cars

Cars in The Student

3 cars on screen, including the 2008 Daewoo BS 106 and the 2006 Hyundai Universe.

  • 2008 Daewoo BS 106 in The Student 2008 Daewoo BS 106 Minor role
  • 2006 Hyundai Universe in The Student 2006 Hyundai Universe Minor role
  • 2012 Kia Bongo III in The Student 2012 Kia Bongo III Background role
Details

The Student Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “(M)uchenik” and “(M)ucenicul”.

Also known as
  • (M)uchenik
  • (M)ucenicul
  • Вучань
  • Māceklis
  • Ο Μαθητής
  • Mártírok
  • Uczeń
  • Muceník
  • (M)učedník
  • El discípulo
  • Der die Zeichen liest
  • Parola di Dio
+14 more
  • El estudiante
  • Учень
  • Õpilane
  • 스튜던트
  • Disippelen
  • Şagird
  • Le Disciple
  • Ο Πιστός
  • М(ученик)
  • Öğrenci
  • 门徒
  • O Estudante
  • Mokinys
  • ザ・スチューデント

Seen The Student?

FAQ

The Student FAQ: Box Office, Runtime & Release Date

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

How long is The Student?

The Student runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).

When was The Student released?

The Student was released on April 21, 2017.

Who directed The Student?

The Student was directed by Kirill Serebrennikov.

More films by Kirill Serebrennikov

How much did The Student make at the box office?

The Student grossed $318,123 worldwide ($1,126 domestic, $316,997 international).

How is The Student rated?

The Student has 4.5/10 on IMDb, 76 on Metacritic, 58% on TMDB and 3.5/5 on Letterboxd.

Does The Student have a post-credit scene?

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

What language is The Student in?

The original language of The Student is Russian.

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