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The Stranger

Play trailer 1:54 Poster for The Stranger Now Playing 2h 0m Drama Crime Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 53 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
In French Algeria, Meursault drifts through life and love with mysterious detachment. When he stands accused of murdering an Arab man, indifference is his only alibi in François Ozon's fresh take on Albert Camus's classic novel.
The Stranger

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Critics Consensus

Cleverly contextualizing Albert Camus' existentialist classic within a modern political lens, François Ozon's The Stranger is as intriguing to mull over as it is beautiful to look at.

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Critics Reviews

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Danny Leigh Financial Times 2d
4/5
Ozon’s visual language is flawless. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian 4d
5/5
François Ozon’s lustrously beautiful and superbly realised monochrome version of Albert Camus’s novella L’Etranger has an almost supernaturally detailed sense of period and place. Go to Full Review
Hannah Pettit London Evening Standard 4d
4/5
Ozon therefore amplifies the connection between the colonial setting and Meursault’s acceptance of the absurd... It’s an appropriate choice and results in a fresh, more politically aware re-telling. Go to Full Review
Dulcie Pearce The Sun (UK) 1d
4/5
Director François Ozon has taken a truly tricky protagonist and made him a must-watch. Go to Full Review
Christopher Llewellyn Reed Film Festival Today 2d
3.5/5
"The Stranger" may remain detached, but it thoroughly engages the mind and eyes. Go to Full Review
Hilary A White Irish Independent 2d
5/5
By provoking us to peer at these dark borders of guilt and absolution, Ozon delivers the perfect Camus adaptation. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Melissa 20h Hypnotic retelling of Camus novella. See more Michael Apr 4 Great retells by of Camus’s novel. Acting was superb and I am a huge Ozon fan. See more Moody C @MoodyC 3d Nothing happens till 2nd hr & only got interesting during last half hr court trial. Protagonist’s is indifferent to everything & so lives a somewat boring life as 1st hr shows hence quite boring viewing for audience as well. His talk with priest is quite interesting & thought provoking. It’s a good movie but cud be made shorter with better editing. I saw a dude walk out right before murder scene lol oh well, that’s when it started to pick up. For those wondering purpose of life, you’re not alone! See more Runa R @runa.r Apr 3 Interesting film, and a good portrayal of Camus’ character, showing us what it means to accept reality as it is, without adhering to any rules. Benjamin Voisin is excellent in the role. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Apr 3 The worldwide gross is $7,000,000.00. See more dlma1 M @dlma1 Dec 25 I saw this one at the AFI Film Festival in Hollywood. French film of Camus's existentialist novel about an apathetic Frenchman whose total indifference to life causes tragic results. Very well acted by the handsome Benjamin Voisin in the titular role. The rest of the cast provides good support. Direction is adequate and the period recreations are very good. The film follows the novel very well and comes recommended for fans of the novel. 7/10. See more Read all reviews
The Stranger

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Movie Info

Synopsis In French Algeria, Meursault drifts through life and love with mysterious detachment. When he stands accused of murdering an Arab man, indifference is his only alibi in François Ozon's fresh take on Albert Camus's classic novel.
Director
François Ozon
Producer
François Ozon
Screenwriter
François Ozon
Distributor
Music Box Films
Production Co
Gaumont, FOZ, France 2 Cinéma
Genre
Drama, Crime
Original Language
French
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 3, 2026, Limited
Runtime
2h 0m