IMDb 7.1 2018 HD

Bad Times at the El Royale

Bad Times at the El Royale

2018
Crime Drama Mystery Thriller
141 min R USA
6.845 / 10
7.1 IMDB

Lake Tahoe, 1969. Seven strangers, each one with a secret to bury, meet at El Royale, a decadent motel with a dark past. In the course of a…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Paul Barry / Chad Belair / Jason Halley / Regan Kosior / Amanda Petura / Susan Lambie / Drew Goddard
Starring
Jeff Bridges / Cynthia Erivo / Lewis Pullman / Dakota Johnson / Cailee Spaeny / Jon Hamm / Chris Hemsworth / Nick Offerman

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

atmospheric mysterious compelling tense stylish intricate character-driven intriguing noir deliberate dark engaging

Reviews

P
Penelope Davies
Apr 11, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that knows exactly what it wants to be: a stylish, character-driven mystery with a touch of the operatic. The El Royale motel is a superb setting, evoking a bygone era of faded glamour and…

J
Julian Croft
Apr 11, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Bad Times at the El Royale presents a fascinating premise: seven strangers, each with a secret, converge on a desolate motel. The film boasts a talented cast, with Jeff Bridges and Dakota Johnson making their mark. The direction…

I
Isabelle Moreau
Apr 11, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A masterclass in ensemble storytelling, Bad Times at the El Royale is a captivating dive into the dark corners of human nature. The film’s commitment to its 1960s setting is impeccable, from the production design to the underlying…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Apr 11, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This is a film that clearly revels in its own aesthetic. Set against the backdrop of a decaying El Royale motel in 1969, it assembles a compelling cast for a night of secrets and potential redemption. Jeff Bridges…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 11, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Bad Times at the El Royale is a stylish and atmospheric thriller that oozes cool. The El Royale motel, a character in its own right, provides a perfect, isolated stage for a convergence of morally ambiguous individuals. The…

FAQs

Audiences can anticipate a deliberate and layered narrative. The film unfolds gradually, revealing character backstories and plot twists in stages. The pacing is designed to build suspense, allowing the mysteries surrounding each guest and the motel itself to unravel organically. It’s a film that rewards patience and close attention to detail.