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Alpha

Play trailer 2:11 Poster for Alpha R Mar 2026 2h 2m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
58% Tomatometer 106 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Alpha, a troubled 13-year-old lives with her single mom. Their world collapses the day she returns from school with a tattoo on her arm.

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Critics Consensus

Strong performances and a visually striking finale notwithstanding, Alpha ultimately frustrates with its unwieldy structure and imbalanced blend of fantastical and realistic elements.

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Critics Reviews

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Christy Lemire FilmWeek (LAist) 17h
This movie is terrible and a huge letdown. Go to Full Review
Tim Cogshell FilmWeek (LAist) 17h
What this movie has going for it are good performances -- deeply, deeply moving performances. Go to Full Review
Joey Shapiro Chicago Reader Apr 13
Even if the pieces that make up Alpha never quite fit together, it’s still extraordinary on a scene-by-scene basis. Go to Full Review
JD Duran InSession Film 1d
B+
Obviously working as an HIV allegory, however I think you could argue that needles/disease is just a conduit for what it's really about in terms of that panic and suffocating anxiety you feel you're deathly afraid of getting sick. Go to Full Review
John Serba Decider Apr 28
Alpha is ambitious, but still a disappointment. Go to Full Review
Jesse Hassenger Polygon Apr 16
B+
Unlike so many horror filmmakers, Ducourneau doesn’t seem fixated on inherited trauma, so much as the ongoing trauma of living in an imperfect world with a deeply fallible body. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Chris Apr 13 Although a bit confusing at times, it’s beautiful, emotional, and gritty. See more Cary Apr 2 So complex and moving! Terrific acting! See more Kyle Apr 1 While not like the previous films of Julia Docournau in terms of its ambiguity, it is no less powerful in terms of emotional weight. Well shot, and interesting twist towards the end makes for a great emotionally heart wrenching film. See more Roy J Apr 1 Can't believe a 2-time Palme d'Or winner made this. Boring, messy, and amateurish. See more Ghederick Eshmont Mar 27 Julia Ducournau is amongst the world’s best filmmakers, though Alpha has some jagged edges & misfires, it’s still quite mesmerizing See more James Mar 27 Interesting Story that goes to Lynch-land See more Read all reviews
Alpha

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Alpha

Alpha: Exclusive Movie Clip - What Happens to You, Happens to Me Alpha: Exclusive Movie Clip - What Happens to You, Happens to Me 2:00 View more videos

Movie Info

Synopsis Alpha, a troubled 13-year-old lives with her single mom. Their world collapses the day she returns from school with a tattoo on her arm.
Director
Julia Ducournau
Producer
Éric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer
Screenwriter
Julia Ducournau
Distributor
NEON
Production Co
Mandarin et Compagnie, Kallouche Cinéma, Frakas Productions
Rating
R (Language|Drug Content|Sexual Material|Some Underage Drinking)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
French
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 27, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 14, 2026
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital