Thoroughbreds (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Thoroughbreds is a 2018 drama thriller directed by Cory Finley, starring Anya Taylor-Joy as Lily, Olivia Cooke and Paul Sparks. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $3.2 million worldwide on a $6 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best First Screenplay at the Spirit Awards 2019. Critics gave it 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 32m (92 min)
- Director
- Cory Finley
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Focus Features
- Budget
- $6M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Thoroughbreds About?
The premise of Thoroughbreds without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In the wealthy Connecticut suburbs, Lily and Amanda, two teenage friends from very different backgrounds, reconnect and forge a complicated bond. United by a shared rejection of societal expectations, they devise a risky plan against Lily's controlling stepfather. As their scheme unfolds, they confront their darkest desires and explore the destructive nature of ambition in this darkly comedic thriller.
Thoroughbreds Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- female best friends
- stepfather stepdaughter relationship
- rich girl
- taking the blame for a friend
- framed for murder
- getting away with murder
- manipulative woman
- emotionless woman
- mental illness
- female psychopath
- knife
- murderess
+38 more Show fewer
- blackmail
- female protagonist
- psycho girl
- twisted logic
- online gambling
- drug dealer
- betrayal
- stepdaughter considering killing stepfather
- woman woman relationship
- rohypnol
- teenage girl as protagonist
- teenage protagonist
- tanning bed
- stepdaughter murders stepfather
- lipstick
- legs
- lack of empathy
- female sociopath
- guy friend
- betrayed by best friend
- spiked drink
- female psychiatric patient
- letter to friend
- apocalyptic vision
- taking the blame for another's crime
- cruel friend
- watching a movie
- crying on cue
- female nihilist
- suv
- sunglasses
- garden
- sea view
- servant
- maid
- fireplace
- painting
- mirror
Thoroughbreds Cast & Characters
Anya Taylor-Joy leads the cast as Lily, with Olivia Cooke as Amanda and Paul Sparks as Mark. Directed by Cory Finley; 14 actors are credited in all.
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Director Cory Finley
-
Anya Taylor-Joy as Lily -
Olivia Cooke as Amanda -
Paul Sparks as Mark -
Anton Yelchin as Tim
Also Starring in Thoroughbreds
· 10 more- Francie Swift Cynthia
- Svetlana Orlova Cleaning Lady
- Kaili Vernoff Karen
- Stephanie Atkinson Knitting Therapist
- Leah Procito
- Chaunty Spillane
- Lauren Laperriere
- Max Ripley
- Odin Lowe
- Thomas Dings
More from Cory Finley
More films directed by Cory Finley, best-rated first: Bad Education, Landscape with Invisible Hand and Bad Education.
Thoroughbreds Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Thoroughbreds 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (60).
Thoroughbreds Echo Score Breakdown
Thoroughbreds excels as a darkly humorous psychological drama with strong technical craft and performances. In terms of cinematography and direction, the film consistently delivers polished visuals and measured pacing, while the lead performances establish a compelling amoral dynamic. The narrative occasionally feels deliberate and slow, with some thematic ambiguity in its resolution. Sound design and the unconventional score heighten its unsettling tone. Overall, the film offers a memorable character-driven experience with moderate replay value.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
The film's art and craft are marked by polished direction and visual consistency. Cinematography employs controlled framing and an understated color palette that reinforces the tense atmosphere. Production design and costuming create a cohesive period feel, while measured editing maintains deliberate pacing. Despite occasional stylistic restraint, the visual approach consistently supports the film's dark tonal balance.
- Character & Emotion 80
When it comes to character and emotion, performances stand out for sharp chemistry and nuanced portrayal. The leads convey an effective tension through subtle exchanges, giving depth to their morally ambiguous relationship. Secondary roles deliver solid support, though emotional resonance sometimes feels intentionally cool. Overall, the cast’s work underlines the story’s central dynamic with credible conviction.
- Story & Flow 60
In terms of story and flow, the film balances dark humor with deliberate pacing but occasionally feels slow. Plot coherence emerges through planned setups and a clear structural arc, though thematic ambiguity leaves some narrative threads unresolved. Pacing is measured, at times dampening engagement, yet originality in character motivations sustains interest. Overall, impression: a cautiously engaging tale that prizes mood over momentum.
- Sensory Experience 75
In terms of sensory experience, the film employs an unsettling soundscape and precise visual style. The score melds electronic pulses with ambient audio cues to heighten tension, while production design and color grading ensure visual cohesion. Measured shot composition reinforces psychological unease. Overall, these elements form an immersive framework that complements the film’s tone.
- Rewatch Factor 70
Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s dark wit and character dynamic encourage repeat viewings. Subtle dialogue layers and ambiguous narrative details can reveal new interpretations on subsequent watches. The deliberate pacing and measured tonal shifts remain compelling, though the slow pace may deter some viewers. Overall, the film offers moderate replay value for audiences attuned to its style.
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IMDb 6.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 87% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 68%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 75 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 64% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
1.1K ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.2 /5
See on Movie Insider
Thoroughbreds Plot Summary
What happens in Thoroughbreds from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film begins with Amanda (Olivia Cooke) in a stable, tenderly petting her horse, Honeymooner, before she pulls out a knife from her bag. Shortly after, she arrives at the home of her childhood friend Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy) for tutoring. Here, Amanda confesses her emotional struggles, revealing that her inability to feel genuine emotions has pushed her away from Lily, explaining their fractured friendship. To Amanda’s surprise, she learns that her mother has been paying Lily to spend time with her, rather than just teaching her.
Eventually, Amanda meets Lily’s disrespectful stepfather Mark (Paul Sparks), who constantly engages in rowing exercises, much to Lily’s irritation. As they discuss Mark’s unkind nature, Amanda encourages Lily to consider an extreme suggestion: to kill him. Lily dismisses the notion, labeling it as foolish.
Full summary
The whole story of Thoroughbreds, scene by scene
Thoroughbreds Box Office & Budget
Thoroughbreds grossed $3.2 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, 53% of what it cost. $3.1 million came from the US and Canada and $114,650 (4%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$3.2M
53% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $3.1M
- International
- $114.7K
- Budget
- $6M
Thoroughbreds Awards & Nominations
Thoroughbreds earned 1 award nomination, including Best First Screenplay at the Spirit Awards 2019.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Spirit Awards 2019 1 nomination- Nominated Best First Screenplay
Thoroughbreds Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 1 clip and 1 featurette.
- Trailer Official Trailer 2
- Teaser 'Hitman' Promo
- Clip
- Featurette 'Meet Cory Finley' Featurette
How Well Do You Know Thoroughbreds?
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 does Amanda first reveal when she reunites with Lily?
Cars in Thoroughbreds
9 cars on screen, including the Land-Rover Range Rover Sport and the unknown.
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Land-Rover Range Rover Sport Important role -
unknown Important role -
2013 Aston Martin DB9 Volante Minor role -
2014 BMW X5 F15 Minor role
Thoroughbreds Also Known As
28 alternative titles, including “서러브레드” and “Vollblüter”.
- Also known as
-
- 서러브레드
- Vollblüter
- Purasangre
- Čistokrevné zlo
- Safkan
- גזעיות
- Pur-sang
- Amiche di sangue
- Чистокровные
- 良种动物
- Чистокровні
- Telivérek
+16 more Show fewer
- Pur sang
- 純種動物
- Φίλες Εξ Αίματος
- Puro-sangue
- Чистокръвни
- Bine-crescute
- חברות בסיכון
- Panny z dobrych domów
- Čistokrevní
- Otravný príbuzný
- Pura sangre
- Kế Hoạch Giết Dượng
- サラブレッド
- سلالة ماهرة
- สวยพันธุ์เหี้ยม
- Rasni
Seen Thoroughbreds?
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Thoroughbreds FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Thoroughbreds, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Thoroughbreds?
Thoroughbreds runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).
When was Thoroughbreds released?
Thoroughbreds was released on March 9, 2018.
Who directed Thoroughbreds?
Thoroughbreds was directed by Cory Finley.
More films by Cory Finley Who is in the cast of Thoroughbreds?
Thoroughbreds stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Lily, Olivia Cooke as Amanda and Paul Sparks as Mark, among 14 credited actors.
How much did Thoroughbreds make at the box office?
Thoroughbreds grossed $3.2 million worldwide ($3.1 million domestic, $114,650 international) on a budget of $6 million.
How is Thoroughbreds rated?
Thoroughbreds has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.
Was Thoroughbreds nominated for any awards?
Thoroughbreds received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Thoroughbreds have a post-credit scene?
No. Thoroughbreds has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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