Is The Beguiled Worth Watching?
Answer: Maybe not, The Beguiled is likely a skip if you enjoy Drama movies.
It features a runtime of 93 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
The Beguiled Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2017, The Beguiled emerges as a significant entry in the Drama domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of During the Civil War, at a Southern girls’ boarding school, young women take in an injured enemy soldier. Unlike standard genre fare, The Beguiled attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Beguiled features a noteworthy lineup led by Colin Farrell . Supported by the likes of Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Beguiled (2017) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.9/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
The Beguiled Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: The Beguiled is a Drama film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through nuanced character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. During the Civil War, at a Southern girls’ boarding school, young women take in an injured enemy soldier. As they provide refuge and tend to his wounds, the house is taken over with sexual tension and dangerous rivalries, and taboos are broken in an unexpected turn of events. The screenplay takes time to develop its characters, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's themes.
The Beguiled Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: The Beguiled attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Beguiled reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Beguiled?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Drama films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
The Beguiled Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $10.5M |
| Worldwide Gross | $27.9M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
The Beguiled Budget
The estimated production budget for The Beguiled is $10.5M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of The Beguiled
- Colin Farrell – Corporal McBurney
- Nicole Kidman – Miss Martha
- Kirsten Dunst – Edwina
- Elle Fanning – Alicia
- Oona Laurence – Amy
Top Highlights
Colin FarrellCorporal McBurney
Nicole KidmanMiss Martha
Kirsten DunstEdwina
Elle FanningAlicia
Oona LaurenceAmy
Angourie RiceJane
Addison RieckeMarie
Emma HowardEmily
Wayne PéreCaptain
Matt StoryConfederate Soldier
Where to Watch The Beguiled Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
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Amazon VideoParents Guide & Age Rating
The Beguiled is rated R. It is intended for mature audiences only.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.9/10, and global collection metrics, The Beguiled stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2017 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Beguiled movie hit or flop?
The Beguiled has received mixed reviews with a 5.9/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is The Beguiled worth watching?
The Beguiled is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Drama movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch The Beguiled online?
The Beguiled may be available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, or Amazon Prime Video. Specific streaming availability can vary by country.
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Critic Reviews for The Beguiled
**The lust and the destruction!** I neither read the book, nor seen the original film. It was a small slice of the American civil war. But did not focused on the actual war. A fictional drama that followed an injured soldier who sheltered in a girls school was looked after well by the stayed back teachers and students. While he was recovering, fallen in love with one of the women. But everybody else too had a little crush on him since he's the one man around. That causes a bump, following a twist in the tale, all comes to halt. A simple and nice drama. Best picks for the roles. But Kristen Dunst did not sync-in with the rest of the girls. Nice clothings too, a perfect recreation of the mid 19th century. I enjoyed it, good for watching at once, but I bet those who watched both the version would go for the old one. Especially for Clint Eastwood. Though Colin Ferrell was not bad in this. Not the best film from Sofia Coppola compared with her others, definitely not worst either. **7/10**
A well acted Civil War drama, but one that perhaps would have played better on the stage of a theatre than the screen of a cinema. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
