IMDb 6.9 2002 HD

The Dancer Upstairs

The Dancer Upstairs

2002
Crime Drama Romance Thriller
132 min R USA
6.078 / 10
6.9 IMDB

A police detective in a South American country is dedicated to hunting down a revolutionary guerilla leader.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director John Malkovich
Starring
Javier Bardem / Juan Diego Botto / Laura Morante / Elvira Mínguez / Alexandra Lencastre / Oliver Cotton / Luis Miguel Cintra / Javier Manrique

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

intense brooding political obsessive atmospheric character-driven deliberate grim nuanced thought-provoking somber compelling

Reviews

F
Fiona Sinclair
May 10, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This is a film that settles into your bones. 'The Dancer Upstairs' presents a detective, played with understated power by Javier Bardem, whose life is defined by the hunt for a revolutionary leader. The South American setting is…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 10, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

'The Dancer Upstairs' is a masterclass in suspenseful character drama, driven by a phenomenal performance from Javier Bardem. As a detective on the verge of obsession, Bardem captures the profound psychological toll of his relentless pursuit. The film's…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 10, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

In 'The Dancer Upstairs,' Javier Bardem delivers a performance of compelling stoicism as a detective pursuing a shadowy revolutionary. The film's strength lies in its oppressive atmosphere and its refusal to simplify the complexities of political conflict. However,…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 10, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This South American thriller offers a compelling character study wrapped in political intrigue. Bardem is superb, embodying the weariness and unwavering resolve of a detective locked in a protracted cat-and-mouse game. The film’s tone is consistently grim and…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 10, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Javier Bardem anchors 'The Dancer Upstairs' with a performance of quiet intensity as a detective consumed by his hunt for a elusive guerrilla leader. The film, set in a South American nation, cultivates a palpable sense of unease…

FAQs

The film seems to cultivate a mood of persistent tension and introspection. The narrative of a detective's long, dedicated pursuit of a revolutionary figure suggests a tone that is both serious and perhaps melancholic, exploring the psychological ramifications of prolonged conflict and the moral ambiguities faced by those involved in maintaining order.