Ballad of a Small Player

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2:17

Ballad of a Small Player

R

2025

1h 42m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

49%

Tomatometer

150 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

250+ 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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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Nov 10

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

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

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Will Sloan

Sight & Sound

Nov 4

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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Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

Feb 4

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

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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James Croot

The Post NZ

Jan 2

It’s not perfect, a mid-section interlude is a touch ponderous and a late revelation lacks the emotional impact it probably should have, but this Ballad is more proof of why both Berger and Farrell are currently at the top of their game.

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Deal Mae In

Oct 19

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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Michael T.

@RT93724514 Mar 30

I loved watching CF in this.

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Bill T.

@btreakle Mar 11

“Ballad of small player” I really like this film even though it didn’t really get high marks from some of the other movie sites. Colin Farrell does a really good job of portraying a habitual problem gambler. Some parts were a little slow but if you stay with it and really watch it to the end I think you will agree that it wasn’t a bad film after all.

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Nikolas M

@Nikolasmav Mar 1

The film is long, slow and predictable.. I really would not recommend

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A L.

@Hottestforehead Feb 28

Collin! Great acting!

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Gordon H

@14motorcycles Feb 24

Good intrigue with an unbelievable ending that fell flat.

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Edward Berger

Director

Colin Farrell

Lord Doyle

Fala Chen

Dao Ming

Tilda Swinton

Blithe

Deanie Ip

Actor

Alex Jennings

Actor

Ballad of a Small Player: Trailer 1

2:17

Ballad of a Small Player: Teaser Trailer

1:13

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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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