Bad Times at the El Royale

2018, Drama/Crime, 2h 21m

256 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Smart, stylish, and packed with solid performances, Bad Times at the El Royale delivers pure popcorn fun with the salty tang of social subtext. Read critic reviews

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Bad Times at the El Royale Videos

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Movie Info

The El Royale is run-down hotel that sits on the border between California and Nevada. It soon becomes a seedy battleground when seven strangers -- a cleric, a soul singer, a traveling salesman, two sisters, the manager and the mysterious Billy Lee -- converge on a fateful night for one last shot at redemption before everything goes wrong.
  • Rating:
    R (Language|Brief Nudity|Some Drug Content|Strong Violence)
  • Genre:
    Drama, Crime, Mystery & thriller
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Drew Goddard
  • Producer:
    Jeremy Latcham, Drew Goddard
  • Writer:
    Drew Goddard
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $17.8M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    20th Century Fox
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby Atmos
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Jeff Bridges
Father Daniel Flynn
Cynthia Erivo
Darlene Sweet
Jon Hamm
Laramie Seymour Sullivan
Dakota Johnson
Emily Summerspring
Cailee Spaeny
Rose
Lewis Pullman
Miles Miller
Chris Hemsworth
Billy Lee
Nick Offerman
Felix O'Kelly
Drew Goddard
Director
Drew Goddard
Screenwriter
Jeremy Latcham
Producer
Drew Goddard
Producer
Mary McLaglen
Executive Producer
Seamus McGarvey
Cinematography
Lisa Lassek
Film Editing
Michael Giacchino
Original Music
Martin Whist
Production Design
Danny Glicker
Costume Design
Carmen Cuba
Casting
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Bad Times at the El Royale

All Critics (256) | Top Critics (55) | Fresh (190) | Rotten (66)
Full Review… Ben Sachs Chicago Reader Full Review… Manohla Dargis New York Times Full Review… Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com Full Review… Jonathan Romney Film Comment Magazine Full Review… Stephen Romei The Australian Full Review… Katie Walsh Tribune News Service Full Review… Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Full Review… Kate Robertson Stuff.co.nz Full Review… Taylor Baker Drink in the Movies Full Review… Filipe Freitas Always Good Movies Full Review… Lonita Cook KCTV5 News at 9 Full Review… Richard Crouse Richard Crouse
View All Critic Reviews (256)

Audience Reviews for Bad Times at the El Royale

  • May 30, 2019
    Drew Goddard's original fluidity in Bad Times at the El Royale is both thrilling and smart. The film's intriguing characters, groovy vibe and surprising narrative is an underrated success that should be revered more than it is being resented. 4.2/5
    Eugene B Super Reviewer
  • Apr 30, 2019
    From writer/director Drew Goddard comes the thrilling noir crime drama Bad Times at the El Royale. The story follows seven strangers at a hotel built on the California/Nevada border who each has a secret, and before long things turn deadly. Starring Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, and Chris Hemsworth, the cast is quite impressive and delivers really strong performance; especially Bridges. And Goddard's directing style adds a lot of intrigue and tension. He also uses a Tarantino-esque narrative, breaking the story into character chapters, which enhances the mystery of who the characters are and what's going on at the hotel. Additionally, the set designs, costumes, and music do an excellent job at setting an atmospheric mood and tone. Bad Times at the El Royale is a well-crafted and compelling film that's full of suspense.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 19, 2019
    More often than not, the fragmented, time-jump-y form of storytelling (a la Tarantino) doesn't do it for me. But Bad Times at the El Royale nails the format, and just about everything else while it's at it.
    Gimly M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 11, 2019
    Glad to see that Cynthia Erivo's star continues to rise and I've seen worse Tarantino knockoffs but this movie is just too long and smug for its own good.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

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