The Stranger (2025 film)
2025 film by François Ozon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Stranger (French: L'Étranger) is a 2025 drama film written and directed by François Ozon, based on the 1942 novel The Stranger by Albert Camus. Benjamin Voisin stars in the lead role of Meursault, alongside Rebecca Marder, Pierre Lottin, Swann Arlaud and Denis Lavant.[4][5]
| The Stranger | |
|---|---|
French theatrical release poster | |
| French | L'Étranger |
| Directed by | François Ozon |
| Screenplay by | François Ozon[1] |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | François Ozon |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Manu Dacosse |
| Edited by | Clément Selitzki |
| Music by | Fatima Al Qadiri |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Gaumont |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 122 minutes[2] |
| Countries |
|
| Language | French |
| Box office | $9 million[3] |
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 2 September 2025, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion.[6] It was theatrically released in France by Gaumont on 29 October.
Plot
Cast
- Benjamin Voisin as Meursault
- Rebecca Marder as Marie Cardona
- Pierre Lottin as Raymond Sintès
- Denis Lavant as Salamano
- Swann Arlaud as the Priest
- Mireille Perrier as Mother
- Christophe Malavoy
- Nicolas Vaude
- Jean-Charles Clichet
- Hajar Bouzaouit as Djemila
Production
The film is an adaptation of Albert Camus's 1942 novella The Stranger, which centers on a detached and indifferent Frenchman in French Algeria, who, weeks after his mother's funeral, kills an unnamed Arab man in Algiers.[7] The ensuing trial explores both the crime and his character.[4] It is considered a landmark work of existentialism and is widely regarded as Camus's masterpiece.[8] It is also ranked as one of the most widely read French novels in the world and has been translated into 75 languages. A 1967 film adaptation by Italian filmmaker Luchino Visconti starred Marcello Mastroianni as Meursault.[9]
In March 2025, Benjamin Voisin was announced in the principal role.[10] Ozon produced the film through his own company FOZ,[4] in co-production with Gaumont, France 2 Cinéma, Macassar Productions and Belgium's Scope Pictures.[11] Principal photography began in Morocco in April 2025, at which time Rebecca Marder, Pierre Lottin, Swann Arlaud and Denis Lavant were announced to have joined the cast.[4]
Release
The Stranger was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival,[12] where it had its world premiere on 2 September 2025.[6]
In April 2025, international sales were acquired by Gaumont. In May 2025, the company presented the film at the Marché du Film in Cannes to be acquired by distributors around the world.[4] Gaumont is scheduled to theatrically release the film in France on 29 October 2025.[11] Music Box Films acquired US distribution rights for a release in 2026.[13] It will be released in the United Kingdom in 2026.[14]
Reception
Box office
The film had 752k admissions at the French box office,[15] grossing $9 million.[3]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 35 critics' reviews are positive.[16] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 84 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[17]
Damon Wise for Deadline writes that the film "is a perfectly crafted but somewhat laborious stab at the book’s dark heart."[18]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venice Film Festival | 6 September 2025 | Golden Lion | François Ozon | Nominated | [6] |
| Lumière Awards | 18 January 2026 | Best Film | The Stranger | Won | [19] |
| Best Director | François Ozon | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Benjamin Voisin | Won | |||
| Best Screenplay | François Ozon | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Manuel Dacosse | Won | |||
| Best Music | Fatima Al Qadiri | Nominated |
