| The Apprentice | |
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_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ali Abbasi |
| Written by | Gabriel Sherman |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Kasper Tuxen |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Martin Dirkov |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 122 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | $16 million[2] |
| Box office | $17.3 million[3][4] |
The Apprentice is a 2024independent[5][6]biographical drama film starringSebastian Stan asDonald Trump. The plot examines Trump making a career as areal estate businessman inNew York City in the 1970s and 1980s, highlighting his relationship with attorneyRoy Cohn. Directed byAli Abbasi, written byGabriel Sherman, the film also starsJeremy Strong as Cohn,Martin Donovan as Trump's fatherFred, andMaria Bakalova as Trump's first wife,Ivana.
Aninternational co-production betweenCanada,Denmark,Ireland, and theUnited States, the biopic was announced in May 2018, but languished until Abbasi, Stan, and Strong joined in 2023. It premiered at the77th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2024, and impressed the critics, sparking an eight-minute standing ovation,[7] and "feverish media attention". However, the film struggled to find American distribution due to its subject matter and an attempt by Trump's legal team to block its release.[8] Briarcliff eventually bought the rights, and theatrically released it on October 11, 2024.[9] The film grossed $17 million on a $16 million budget.
The film received praise from critics for its acting, directing, and editing; Trump himself, meanwhile, described it as a "defamatory, politically disgusting hatchet job" intended to harm his ultimately successful2024 presidential campaign.[10] For their performances, Stan and Strong each received wide acclaim and recognition, including respective nominations forLead Actor andSupporting Actor at the97th Academy Awards.
In 1973, the youngDonald Trump, after pointing out various wealthy people to his date, meetsRoy Cohn, notorious at the time as former chief counsel toJoseph McCarthy, at a New York City social club. Trump complains that the federal government is investigating his real-estate mogul father,Fred Trump, for discrimination against African-American tenants; Cohn offers to help.
After Cohn blackmails the lead prosecutor with photos of him with acabana boy, the prosecutor settles the case for little, despite evidence of racial discrimination. Trump eventually descends further into Cohn's orbit, seeing him as a better mentor than his father. Cohn teaches Trump about dressing well and media relations, and offers his "three rules": always attack, never admit wrongdoing, and always claim victory, even if defeated. Trump attends a decadent Cohn party, where he walks in on Cohn (whose homosexuality is anopen secret) having anorgy.
Trump wants to develop the derelict midtownCommodore Hotel, nearGrand Central Terminal, into aHyatt. Cohn, using blackmail audiotapes of officials, helps Trump obtain a $160 milliontax abatement for the project, outraging advocates for the poor. Trump does not ask Fred, with whom he has a tense relationship, for permission to build.
Trump develops the luxuriousTrump Tower, belittling Fred's smaller achievements, and the media begins to treat him as a successful mogul. Cohn criticizes unions andwelfare queens, presenting himself as a guardian of the American spirit, while attacking rules, morals, and truth. During theReagan era, Trump says the United States needs to be stronger instead of disrespected by foreign nations. Trump andRoger Stone approve of one of Reagan's slogans, "Let's Make America Great Again".
Against Cohn's advice, Trump proceeds with some real estate developments, such as theTrump Taj Mahal inAtlantic City, causing losses. Fred is ashamed of his eldest son,Fred Jr., for becoming an airline pilot withTWA, considering it akin to being "a bus driver with wings". Fred Jr. spirals into alcoholism, derailing his career, while theTrump family distances themselves from his self-destruction, and he eventually dies, devastating the family. His mother,Mary Anne, is agonized by this, and by Donald's attempts to manipulate his father'sdementia to gain control of his siblings' inheritance to pay off mounting debts.
Trump meets Czech modelIvana Zelníčková, gets her admitted to his club after she is turned away, pays for her expenses, then pursues her toAspen, Colorado, to ask her on a date. They eventually wed. She becomes an influential figure in the success ofThe Trump Organization. However, Trump grows resentful of Ivana overshadowing his fame and tells her he is no longer attracted to her (though not mentioning his various affairs). She complains of her breast enlargement he requested and calls him fat and bald, so he rapes her. Now addicted to amphetamines to help control his weight, Donald is discouraged from using them by his doctor, with whom he discusses his obesity andbaldness. Trump has contentious relations with the new mayor,Ed Koch.
While facing disbarment, Cohn developsAIDS but publicly denies it. His lover Russell also develops AIDS, and Cohn asks Trump to put Russell up at the Hyatt. Trump eventually evicts Russell, claiming that guests complained, and refuses to approach Cohn, who berates Trump on the street, calling him an ungrateful fraud. After Russell dies, Trump takes Cohn toMar-a-Lago in Florida and celebrates his birthday. He gives Cohn Trump-branded diamond cufflinks, but Ivana informs Cohn during dinner that the diamonds arezirconium knockoffs. When the cake arrives, Cohn weeps and excuses himself from the table.
Cohn dies in 1986. Trump undergoes liposuction and scalp-reduction surgeries. He meets withTony Schwartz, the ghostwriter of his autobiography,The Art of the Deal, and misquotes Cohn's three rules as his own. Trump muses about becomingPresident of the United States, talks about the genetic superiority of winners, and expatiates his greatness while looking out toward anAmerican flag waving against the backdrop of the New York skyline.
The film was first announced in May 2018.[11]Gabriel Sherman, who had coveredDonald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign as a journalist,[12] was announced to be writing the screenplay.[11] Sherman wanted to tellDonald Trump's "origin story" after speaking about the relationship between Trump andRoy Cohn with "people who had worked for Trump since the '80s".[13] During these conversations, Sherman learned about how Cohn had mentored Trump, who during his 2016 campaign, employed "strategies" that had been taught to him by Cohn.[13] In 2022,Sebastian Stan signed on to play Donald Trump. To prepare for the role duringpre-production, Stan listened to tapes of a younger Trump's voice as he did daily tasks, even practicing how his mouth moves, having a talent for imitating people since childhood. In addition to this, Stan thought about how he was told about theAmerican Dream when, after moving from Romania to the United States, his mother took him to see New York City's skyscrapers.[14]
In October 2023,Ali Abbasi was confirmed to be joining the film as director and, as initially reported, co-writer.[15] However, it was later confirmed that Sherman would be the film's sole writer. According to Abbasi, producers had shared the script with multiple filmmakers, includingPaul Thomas Anderson andClint Eastwood, who had turned down the offer to direct, seeing the film as a "business risk".[16][17] In anticipation of filming, Stan consumedpeanut butter and jelly sandwiches andCoca-Colas to gain weight. When the film got temporarily suspended, he started bulking up in order to reprise his role asBucky Barnes in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) filmThunderbolts*, but had to frustratingly reverse course when thatMarvel Studios production got suspended as well due to the2023 Writers Guild of America andSAG-AFTRA strikes.[14] The film beganprincipal photography in November 2023 inToronto, where Stan, Strong and Bakalova were announced as the lead roles.[18][19] Filmingwrapped on January 28, 2024. In February 2024, it was announced thatMartin Donovan had joined the cast portrayingFred Trump.[20] The film is ajoint production ofCanada,Denmark,Ireland and theUnited States.[21]
In September 2024, after financier Kinematics, backed by Trump supporter Dan Snyder, exitedThe Apprentice due to creative differences, independent production and distribution company Rich Spirit, founded by James Shani, stepped in to fill the financial gap. Initially an early investor with a $500,000 contribution, Shani acquired Kinematics' stake and secured additional private investment to support the film's release. This acquisition occurred when other studios were hesitant to distribute the film, fearing potential retaliation from Donald Trump.[22]Steven Cheung, Trump's then-chief campaign spokesperson said: "We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers," he added "This 'film' is pure malicious defamation, should not see the light of day".
Rich Spirit expanded into distribution through this acquisition, partnering with Briarcliff Entertainment forThe Apprentice's domestic release on October 11, 2024. The company is focused on independent films, genre cinema, and international productions, with an emphasis on bold, original storytelling and grassroots marketing strategies. Shani, a USC alumnus, previously worked in music videos and commercial production before moving into film financing and distribution.
In collaboration with Briarcliff CEO Tom Ortenberg, Shani launched an awards campaign forThe Apprentice, targeting multiple Academy Award categories, including Best Director (Ali Abbasi) and acting nominations for Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong. Rich Spirit also planned an extended marketing strategy through 2025, featuring university screenings and community activations.
The success ofThe Apprentice positioned Rich Spirit as an emerging boutique studio, aiming to acquire and distribute three to four films per year, prioritizing projects that resonate with younger and international audiences. The company has since engaged in discussions for future acquisitions, including a potential partnership on another Briarcliff release.
In October 2024, Abbasi described the film as "a movie about a human being".[23] Strong characterized it as "a humanistic interrogation and investigation of these people. Ali is not makingThe Great Dictator — it's not a farce, it's not a cartoon. We're trying to hold a mirror up to this world and these individuals and try to understand how we got here".[24]
The Apprentice was submitted at the2024 Cannes Film Festival, held from May 14 to 25, 2024.[25] It was included in competition for thePalme d'Or in April 2024, alongside 18 other films,[26] and had its world premiere on May 20, 2024, at the festival.[27] It also screened at the51st Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2024,[28] and the2024 BFI London Film Festival on October 15, 2024.[29]
Following the departure of financier Kinematics, Rich Spirit, an independent production and distribution company founded by James Shani, stepped in to provide additional financing for the film and supported its domestic release. Initially an early investor, Shani acquired a majority stake in the project and partnered with Briarcliff Entertainment to ensure its theatrical distribution.[citation needed]
StudioCanal acquiredBritish andIrish distribution rights to the film prior to its world premiere at Cannes.[30] In June 2024, after much difficulty in finding a domestic distributor over concerns regarding its content as well as an attempt by Trump's legal team to block its release,Tom Ortenberg'sBriarcliff Entertainment was reported to be close to acquiring American distribution rights for a fall 2024 release, a deal that was confirmed in August 2024.[31][32] The film was distributed in Australia byMadman Films.[33]
On September 3, 2024, a crowdfunding campaign onKickstarter was launched to help prolong the film's theatrical release in the US, with rewards including props worn in the film and VIP tickets to attend the film's premiere in New York City.[34] The first trailer for the film was released on September 10, 2024, coinciding withthe presidential debate between Trump andKamala Harris.[35]
The Apprentice was released theatrically in Australia on October 10, 2024,[36] and in the US on October 11, with limited marketing costs (including no TV spots).[37][38] The film was released onpremium video on demand (PVOD) on November 1, 2024.[39] Following its97th Academy Awards nominations, Briarcliff announced a re-release in theaters beginning on January 31, 2025.[40]
The Apprentice grossed $4 million in the United States and Canada, and $13.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $17.3 million.[3]
In the United States and Canada,The Apprentice was released alongsideTerrifier 3,Piece by Piece,My Hero Academia: You're Next, and the wide expansion ofSaturday Night, and was projected to gross $1–3 million from 1,740 theaters in its opening weekend.[41] The film made $590,000 on its first day, including $150,000 from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $1.6 million, finishing 10th.[42][43] Anthony D'Alessandro ofDeadline Hollywood said Briarcliff Entertainment struggled to market the film because of a limited marketing spend, despite its controversies with the former president; iSpot, which tracks TV spots, said there were no spots registered forThe Apprentice, and theatrical trailers supposed to be attached toWolfs were reduced after that film scaled back its release. Furthermore, Briarcliff could not start booking theaters and fully promoting the film until Labor Day weekend, which complicated its rollout.[37]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 83% of 242 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Instead of cross-examining its subject,The Apprentice gives Sebastian Stan the chance to shine in a simplistic yet entertaining foray into the world of a young Trump."[44]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 64 out of 100, based on 54 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[45] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B–" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed byPostTrak gave it a 71% overall positive score, with 46% saying they would definitely recommend it.[37] OnAlloCiné, the film received an average rating of 3.6 out of 5, based on 30 reviews from French critics.[46]
David Rooney inThe Hollywood Reporter praised Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong's performances in the film with Stan "going beyond impersonation to capture the essence of the man". Beyond the portrayal of Trump and Cohn, Rooney writes that the film examines the rise of 'winners' and 'losers' thinking in American life from the cynicism of theNixon years to the rise of corporate greed during theReagan presidency in the 1980s.[47]The Times'Kevin Maher gave the film 4/5 stars, writing, "This is the Donald Trump movie that you never knew you needed: full of compassionate feeling yet ruthless in analysis."[48] James Croot ofStuff also gave the film 4/5 stars, calling it "an engrossing mentor-mentee tale (à laThe Color of Money orWall Street: Money Never Sleeps) that showcases two, quite frankly, amazing performances."[49]
Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian gave the film 2/5 stars, writing, "Director Ali Abbasi has given us fascinating monsters in the past withHoly Spider andBorder but the monstrosity here is almost sentimental, a cartoon Xeroxed from many other satirical Trump takes and knowing prophetic echoes of his political future."[50]
Roger Stonetweeted of Strong, "I knew Roy Cohn. Roy Cohn was a friend of mine. As much as I hate to say it, this guy deserves an Oscar".[51] He added, "I am, however, much better looking than the guy they had playing me" (Rendall).[52]
Trump described the film as "a cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job" and described those involved in it as "human scum".[72]
BillionaireDan Snyder, formerly the owner of theWashington Commanders NFL team, invested money in the production ofThe Apprentice with the impression that the film would be a positive portrayal of Trump. Snyder is a close friend of Trump who donated $1.1 million to his inaugural committee andTrump Victory Committee in 2016 and $100,000 to his2020 presidential campaign. After seeing a cut of the film in February 2024, Snyder was said to be furious, and lawyers for the Snyder-backed Kinematics production company sought to stop the release of the film.[73]
The film includes controversial scenes, including those that depict Trump violently raping his first wife, Ivana, abusingamphetamines to lose weight, and undergoingliposuction andplastic surgery to remove a bald spot.[74][75] The rape scene was based on divorce records. In a deposition under oath, rendered during their divorce proceedings, Ivana accused Donald of rape and of pulling out her hair by the handful when his plastic surgery to alter his hairline failed.[76] In 2015 Ivana Trump issued a statement clarifying earlier allegations made during her 1989 divorce proceedings. She claimed that her use of the term "rape" was not meant in a literal or criminal sense and was made during a time of high emotion, stating "Donald and I are the best of friends, and together we have raised three children that we love and are very proud of. I have nothing but fondness for Donald, and I wish him the best of luck on his campaign. [...] I have recently read some comments attributed to me from nearly 30 years ago at a time of very high tension during my divorce from Donald. The story is totally without merit. Donald and I are the best of friends and he would never rape me."[77][78][79] Sherman cited the Trump biographyLost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J. Trump, byHarry Hurt, as the main source for Trump's use of amphetamines and said, "There's been other reporting over the years that Trump, in the '80s, took these pills that essentially are amphetamines, and they kind of give you manic energy...It's always been one of the explanations for why he went on this deal-making binge...I felt it was one of the themes of the film—as Trump gains more power, he loses touch with his own humanity. I thought of the diet pills as him trying to develop this superpower of never needing to sleep."[80]
On May 20, 2024,Variety reported thatSteven Cheung, the communications director ofTrump's 2024 presidential campaign, threatened legal action over the film.[74] On May 24,Variety reported that Trump's attorneys sent acease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers, seeking to block "all marketing, distribution, and publication of the Movie."[81] The film's producers responded to the letter by issuing a statement saying, "The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide."[82]
Subsequent to this, Abbasi offered to screen the film for Trump, believing that he might approve of its depiction of him.[83] He also said that realistic films need to be produced about the threat offascism.[84]
In September 2024, Dan Snyder and his production company Kinematics sold its stake in the film, citing creative differences. Snyder was reportedly motivated to depart because of the film's unflattering and controversial portrayal of the central figure.[85] The stake was acquired by James Shani and his production company Rich Spirit, which was already involved in the film with an original investment of $500,000.[86]
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