The Lobster (2015)

7.1R118 minDirector: Yorgos Lanthimos

2015 film by Yorgos Lanthimos

The Lobster is a 2015 absurdist black comedy-drama film directed and co-produced by Yorgos Lanthimos, from a screenplay by Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou. It stars Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Olivia Colman, Ashley Jensen, Ariane Labed, Angeliki Papoulia, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Michael Smiley, and Ben Whishaw. The film follows a newly single bachelor who moves into a hotel with other singles, who are all obliged to find a romantic partner within 45 days; otherwise, they will be transformed into animals.

The film was announced in October 2013, with Jason Clarke originally cast in the lead role. After Clarke left production, Farrell replaced him by February 2014, with Weisz also joining the cast after Elizabeth Olsen dropped out. The rest of the cast was rounded out by March as principal photography began, which concluded in May. Filming largely took place in Dublin and County Kerry. The film is a co-production by Ireland, the United Kingdom, Greece, France, and the Netherlands.

The Lobster premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival on 15 May, where it competed for the Palme d'Or and won the Jury Prize. It was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 16 October 2015, grossing $18 million on a $4 million budget. The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for its screenplay, humor, originality, and thematic content, and was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 89th Academy Awards and for Outstanding British Film at the 69th British Academy Film Awards.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Lobster about?
The Lobster (2015) — A love story set in a dystopian near future where single people are arrested and transferred to a creepy hotel. There they are obliged to find a matching mate in 45 days. If they fail, they are transformed into an animal and released into the woods.
Is The Lobster based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Lobster scary?
Content rating: R. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.