The biographical drama The Apprentice, starring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong as Trump’s former mentor Roy Cohn, will debut digitally on November 1. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was picked up for U.S. theatrical release by Briarcliff Entertainment, opening in theaters on October 11.
The Apprentice is set against the frenzied backdrop of the 1970s and ’80s New York City real estate boom. The film follows the early business years of Trump and his close association with the infamous lawyer Roy Cohn. The film has gained an 80% rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics, who have referred to it as “a simplistic yet entertaining take on a young Donald Trump.” The film has gained an 83% “fresh” rating from the audiences.
The Apprentice is set to have a PVOD release on platforms like Prime Video, AppleTV, and VUDU, and rental and buy options will be available just a few days before the Nov 5 U.S. presidential election. Rental and purchase prices are estimated to fall between $14.99 and $29.99.
Since its launch, Trump has said The Apprentice was “phony and common” as well as inherently politicized. It claimed Truth Social that the movie was a “gross hatchet job” intended to ruin his life.
Even though the film did nothing to lift box office returns, raking in around $4.6 million compared to its $16 million production budget, this streaming debut may be just the niche where it needs to thrive. After all, the movie has sparked much controversy surrounding the dynamic relationship between Trump and Cohn, especially considering the current political fragility and the fact that Trump is still running for the presidency.
Critics have argued that the movie doesn’t go into the depth of its themes but rather becomes a strong character study of one of the most polarizing figures in America. Sebastian Stan gives an outstanding performance and captures Trump at the formative stages of career.
As the elections are approaching in 2024, the movie release is going to be an object of attention and will probably be looked into in terms of its potential impact on the public’s perception of Trump. Since he is one of the key figures of the Republican Party, the film also reflects the fight by Trump against media representations he thinks are unfavorable. The filmmakers even face a lawsuit from Trump’s campaign, highlighting how much the entertainment industry has a contentious relationship with him.
As streams open for The Apprentice, the film is likely to contribute to a much broader narrative concerning Trump’s legacy and influence as voters head to the polls. Cinema, politics, and public opinion remain quite significant to the American electoral landscape; therefore, The Apprentice represents an important release in these trying times.
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