Colette

Play trailer

1:27

Colette

R

2018

1h 51m

Biography

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

224 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

After moving to Paris, author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette agrees to ghostwrite a semi-autobiographical novel for her husband. Its success soon inspires her to fight for creative ownership and overcome the societal constraints of the early 20th century.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Formally familiar but a brilliant match for its lead, Colette is a thoroughly entertaining biopic and an overdue testament to Keira Knightley's underrated gifts.

Read Critics Reviews

Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

Mar 3, 2020

The movie's treatment of her same-sex affairs may be as tasteful as the set design, but the film is an absorbing introduction to a trailblazing artist.

Go to Full Review

Cathy Brennan

Time Out

Sep 20, 2019

4/5

Keira Knightley is magnetic in a Paris-set period drama with a dollop of queer feminist energy.

Go to Full Review

Ryan Gilbey

New Statesman

Jan 26, 2019

[Keira Knightley] gets far more to do and is infinitely better at it than usual in the brisk new period piece Colette

Go to Full Review

Ankit Ojha

Cinema Elite

Jul 9, 2024

4/5

What viewers end up with, fortunately, is the journey of a woman toward empowerment and freedom from societal norms that possesses the power to render them breathless and with a strange desire to conquer the world.

Go to Full Review

Brian T. Carney

Washington Blade

Dec 7, 2022

Keira Knightley shines as the famous French author who bravely explores both her emerging literary voice and her bisexuality.

Go to Full Review

Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

Aug 23, 2022

Everything happens in a documentary capsule, one of mourning, of crying let loose, of memory, but above all, of Resistance. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

SIMAS C

@simas_eros Oct 17, 2026

A very interesting film about the life of Claudine Colette—a brilliant early 20th-century writer with a penchant for erotic narratives—who lived in the shadow of her husband (also a writer) until she broke free to become one of the most famous French authors of all time, crafting stories based on her own intimate life and experiences that were highly unconventional for the era.

See more

Camille C

@RT45915064 Oct 18, 2025

As a bisexual woman, I really wanted to love this movie. Unfortunately, it feels like the bisexuality was filmed for an audience that I am not a part of. Keira saves the movie, truly.

See more

Madam D

@Madam1948 Jul 4, 2025

Seen this twice it is so good. Great watching a young woman learn about her true self & end up making it big. Not many movies are so inspiring to females!

See more

steve d

@RT35616104 Dec 6, 2022

Big Eyes for writers. a fascinating film, well told.

See more

georgan g

@RT98616417 Oct 6, 2022

This film is open about the way bi/lesbian women had to live 100 years ago. The heroine is a role model for the modern woman, not just about sexuality, but to find who they are and live their authentic self.

See more

William K

@Koolbill Sep 28, 2022

Absolutely captivating. Keira Knightly is superb, the production is ultra-beautiful and the story line is fascinating - especially in light of the fact that it's based on historic events and people. I can't say enough about how riveting this film was.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Wash Westmoreland

Director

Keira Knightley

Colette

Dominic West

Willy

Denise Gough

Missy

Fiona Shaw

Sido

Eleanor Tomlinson

Georgie Raoul-Duval

Seberg

36%

49%

Seberg

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Seberg

Mary Queen of Scots

62%

41%

Mary Queen of Scots

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Mary Queen of Scots

Jackie

87%

60%

Jackie

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Jackie

The White Crow

68%

80%

The White Crow

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The White Crow

Mr. Turner

96%

56%

Mr. Turner

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The House with a Clock in Its Walls Ticks Along Tolerably

Colette: Trailer 2

1:27

Now Playing

Colette: Trailer 1

2:30

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

After moving to Paris, author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette agrees to ghostwrite a semi-autobiographical novel for her husband. Its success soon inspires her to fight for creative ownership and overcome the societal constraints of the early 20th century.

Director: Wash Westmoreland
Producer: Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Michel Litvak, Gary Michael Walters
Screenwriter: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Distributor: Bleecker Street Media, 30West
Production Co: Killer Films, Number 9 Films
Rating: R (Some Sexuality/Nudity)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 4, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.1M
Runtime: 1h 51m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings