Ballad of a Small Player

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Ballad of a Small Player

R

2025

1h 42m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

49%

Tomatometer

150 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler lying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.

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Critics Consensus

Going all in with a committed Colin Farrell and a memorably opulent presentation of Macau, Ballad of a Small Player too often squanders its virtues by doubling down on excess to diminishing returns.

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Audience Says

The vibrant cinematography can’t compensate for the film’s murky plot, leaving viewers wondering if Ballad of a Small Player was built on a house of cards.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Nov 10, 2025

Colin is just outstanding in this film. He's fully and completely committed to the character.

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Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (LAist)

Nov 10, 2025

It's very loud, sleazy, lurid, and decadent -- and I enjoyed it.

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Will Sloan

Sight & Sound

Nov 4, 2025

Farrell commits with an energetic physical performance, and Berger’s camera revels in all the flaws of the star’s middle-age handsomeness, but their efforts strain what is little more than a simple, feel-good redemption story.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Jul 22, 2026

2/4

...an increasingly erratic endeavor that fares best within its briskly-paced, engaging first half...

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Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

Feb 4, 2026

3/5

The film never quite coheres as a whole, and its twists are unlikely to astonish, but Farrell remains a constant source of fascination.

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Alfred Castaneda

Shade Studios

Jan 20, 2026

There’s a twist, but overall, it’s remarkably uneven in a way that All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave weren’t.

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Deal Mae In

Oct 19, 2025

Saw the twist coming, so only half a star off. Colin Farrell is a raw nerve in this, with his character’s blurry need for self-implosion redeemed by his capacity for change. If his world feels decadently claustrophobic when he is at his worst, just wait, the payoff is worth the slow burn.

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Paul O

@pjkeys 1 day ago

Well paced story. CF gives a good performance. It is refreshing to see situations that would typically be resolved with violence in other movies be resolved with character dialogue and personal interaction.

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Mark D

@surfnsailor Sep 14, 2026

If you honestly want more from a film than this delivers, then I question your wisdom wasting your time seeking out better. You will not find it. Not the acting, story line, writing, characters, sets, cultural background....This is a great film on every level. Set aside your shallow criticisms and petty ideas and enjoy it for what it is.

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Scott E

@RT19581245 Sep 5, 2026

Terrible ending ruined it.

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Nathaniel H

@nshamilt Aug 27, 2026

Great performances, beautiful cinematography, and a good story. Sad but good film

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Kate M

@kate4joy Aug 15, 2026

Excellent acting/ character portrayals. Dramatically depicts the addictive obsession and the need for cleansing to gain freedom

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Edward Berger

Director

Colin Farrell

Lord Doyle

Fala Chen

Dao Ming

Tilda Swinton

Blithe

Deanie Ip

Actor

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Ballad of a Small Player: Trailer 1

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Ballad of a Small Player: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler lying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.

Director: Edward Berger
Producer: Edward Berger, Mike Goodridge, Matthew James Wilkinson
Screenwriter: Rowan Joffe
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Stigma Films, Good Chaos
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 29, 2025
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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