The Apprentice (2024 film)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 10:29:43 AM Wikipedia source
The Apprentice is a 2024 independent biographical drama film starring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump. The plot examines Trump making a career as a real estate businessman in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s, highlighting his relationship with attorney Roy Cohn. Directed by Ali Abbasi and written by Gabriel Sherman, the film also stars Jeremy Strong as Cohn, Martin Donovan as Trump's father Fred, and Maria Bakalova as Trump's first wife, Ivana. An international co-production between Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and the United States, the biopic was announced in May 2018, but languished until Abbasi, Stan, and Strong joined in 2023. It premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2024, and impressed the critics, sparking an eight-minute standing ovation, 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. Briarcliff eventually bought the rights, and theatrically released it on October 11, 2024. 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 successful 2024 presidential campaign. For their performances, Stan and Strong each received wide acclaim and recognition, including respective nominations for Lead Actor and Supporting Actor at the 97th Academy Awards.
Infobox
Directed by
Ali Abbasi
Written by
Gabriel Sherman
Produced by
mw- Ali Abbasi Louis Tisné Ruth Treacy Julianne Forde Jacob Jarek Daniel Bekerman
Starring
Sebastian Stan Jeremy Strong Martin Donovan Maria Bakalova
Cinematography
Kasper Tuxen
Edited by
Olivier Bugge Coutté Olivia Neergaard-Holm
Music by
Martin Dirkov
Productioncompanies
Scythia Films Profile Pictures Tailored Films
Distributed by
Rich Spirit Mongrel Media (Canada) StudioCanal (Ireland) Nordisk Film (Denmark) Briarcliff Entertainment (United States)
Release dates
May 20, 2024 (2024-05-20) (Cannes) October 11, 2024 (2024-10-11) (Canada and United States) October 17, 2024 (2024-10-17) (Denmark) October 18, 2024 (2024-10-18) (Ireland)
Running time
122 minutes
Countries
Canada Denmark Ireland United States
Language
English
Budget
$16 million
Box office
$17.3 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
Award
Cannes Film Festival
Date of ceremony
May 25, 2024
Category
Palme d'Or
Recipient(s)
Ali Abbasi
Result
Nominated
Astra Film Awards
Astra Film Awards
Award
Astra Film Awards
Date of ceremony
December 8, 2024
Category
Best Indie Feature
Recipient(s)
The Apprentice
Result
Nominated
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle
Award
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle
Date of ceremony
December 15, 2024
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Recipient(s)
Jeremy Strong
Result
Nominated
Toronto Film Critics Association
Toronto Film Critics Association
Award
Toronto Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
December 15, 2024
Category
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle
Florida Film Critics Circle
Award
Florida Film Critics Circle
Date of ceremony
December 20, 2024
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Recipient(s)
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Date of ceremony
January 5, 2025
Category
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Recipient(s)
Sebastian Stan
Result
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Award
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Date of ceremony
Jeremy Strong
Category
Nominated
Austin Film Critics Association
Austin Film Critics Association
Award
Austin Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
January 6, 2025
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Robert Awards
Robert Awards
Award
Robert Awards
Date of ceremony
1 February 2025
Category
Best English Language Film
Recipient(s)
The Apprentice
Result
Won
London Film Critics Circle
London Film Critics Circle
Award
London Film Critics Circle
Date of ceremony
February 2, 2025
Category
Supporting Actor of the Year
Recipient(s)
Jeremy Strong
Result
Nominated
Artios Awards
Artios Awards
Award
Artios Awards
Date of ceremony
February 12, 2025
Category
Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Feature Studio or Independent (Drama)
Recipient(s)
Carmen Cuba, Stephanie Gorin, and Brendan Wilcocks
Result
Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Date of ceremony
February 16, 2025
Category
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Recipient(s)
Sebastian Stan
Result
Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Award
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Date of ceremony
Jeremy Strong
Category
Nominated
Best Casting
Best Casting
Award
Best Casting
Date of ceremony
Carmen Cuba and Stephanie Gorin
Category
Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards
Independent Spirit Awards
Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Date of ceremony
February 22, 2025
Category
Best Director
Recipient(s)
Ali Abbasi
Result
Nominated
Best Lead Performance
Best Lead Performance
Award
Best Lead Performance
Date of ceremony
Sebastian Stan
Category
Nominated
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Date of ceremony
Olivier Bugge Coutté and Olivia Neergaard-Holm
Category
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Award
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Date of ceremony
February 23, 2025
Category
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Recipient(s)
Jeremy Strong
Result
Nominated
César Awards
César Awards
Award
César Awards
Date of ceremony
February 28, 2025
Category
Best Foreign Film
Recipient(s)
The Apprentice
Result
Nominated
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Date of ceremony
March 2, 2025
Category
Best Actor
Recipient(s)
Sebastian Stan
Result
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Date of ceremony
Jeremy Strong
Category
Nominated
Canadian Screen Awards
Canadian Screen Awards
Award
Canadian Screen Awards
Date of ceremony
May 30 - June 1, 2025
Category
Best Motion Picture
Recipient(s)
Daniel Bekerman
Result
Won
Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film
Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film
Award
Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film
Date of ceremony
Sebastian Stan
Category
Won
Best Supporting Performance in a Drama Film
Best Supporting Performance in a Drama Film
Award
Best Supporting Performance in a Drama Film
Date of ceremony
Jeremy Strong
Category
Won
Best Makeup
Best Makeup
Award
Best Makeup
Date of ceremony
Colin Penman, Brandi Boulet, Sean Sansom
Category
Won
Best Hair
Best Hair
Award
Best Hair
Date of ceremony
Michelle Côté, Charlotte Delaet, Sandra Kelly
Category
Won
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Cannes Film Festival | May 25, 2024 | Palme d'Or | Ali Abbasi | Nominated | |
| Astra Film Awards | December 8, 2024 | Best Indie Feature | The Apprentice | Nominated | |
| San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle | December 15, 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |
| Toronto Film Critics Association | December 15, 2024 | Outstanding Supporting Performance | Nominated | ||
| Florida Film Critics Circle | December 20, 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | January 5, 2025 | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Sebastian Stan | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |||
| Austin Film Critics Association | January 6, 2025 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
| Robert Awards | 1 February 2025 | Best English Language Film | The Apprentice | Won | |
| London Film Critics Circle | February 2, 2025 | Supporting Actor of the Year | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |
| Artios Awards | February 12, 2025 | Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Feature Studio or Independent (Drama) | Carmen Cuba, Stephanie Gorin, and Brendan Wilcocks | Nominated | |
| British Academy Film Awards | February 16, 2025 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Sebastian Stan | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |||
| Best Casting | Carmen Cuba and Stephanie Gorin | Nominated | |||
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 22, 2025 | Best Director | Ali Abbasi | Nominated | |
| Best Lead Performance | Sebastian Stan | Nominated | |||
| Best Editing | Olivier Bugge Coutté and Olivia Neergaard-Holm | Nominated | |||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | February 23, 2025 | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |
| César Awards | February 28, 2025 | Best Foreign Film | The Apprentice | Nominated | |
| Academy Awards | March 2, 2025 | Best Actor | Sebastian Stan | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |||
| Canadian Screen Awards | May 30 - June 1, 2025 | Best Motion Picture | Daniel Bekerman | Won | |
| Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film | Sebastian Stan | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Performance in a Drama Film | Jeremy Strong | Won | |||
| Best Makeup | Colin Penman, Brandi Boulet, Sean Sansom | Won | |||
| Best Hair | Michelle Côté, Charlotte Delaet, Sandra Kelly | Won |
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