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IMDbPro

Apt Pupil

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
39K
YOUR RATING
Brad Renfro in Apt Pupil (1998)
Trailer for Apt Pupil
Play trailer2:32
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
A boy blackmails his neighbor after suspecting him to be a Nazi war criminal.A boy blackmails his neighbor after suspecting him to be a Nazi war criminal.A boy blackmails his neighbor after suspecting him to be a Nazi war criminal.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
39K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bryan Singer
  • Writers
    • Stephen King(novella "Apt Pupil")
    • Brandon Boyce(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ian McKellen
    • Brad Renfro
    • Joshua Jackson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bryan Singer
  • Writers
    • Stephen King(novella "Apt Pupil")
    • Brandon Boyce(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ian McKellen
    • Brad Renfro
    • Joshua Jackson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 286User reviews
    • 75Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 10 nominations

    Videos2

    Apt Pupil
    Trailer 2:32
    Apt Pupil
    Apt Pupil
    Trailer 0:31
    Apt Pupil

    Photos178

    Ian McKellen in Apt Pupil (1998)
    Ian McKellen in Apt Pupil (1998)
    Ian McKellen in Apt Pupil (1998)
    Todd & Kurt
    Brad Renfro as Todd
    Ian McKellen as Kurt Dussander
    Todd & Edward
    Director Bryan Singer
    Brad Renfro and Ian McKellen in Apt Pupil (1998)
    Brad Renfro and Ian McKellen in Apt Pupil (1998)
    Brad Renfro in Apt Pupil (1998)
    Poster for video release, 1 sheet movie poster

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ian McKellen
    Ian McKellen
    • Kurt Dussanderas Kurt Dussander
    Brad Renfro
    Brad Renfro
    • Todd Bowdenas Todd Bowden
    Joshua Jackson
    Joshua Jackson
    • Joeyas Joey
    Mickey Cottrell
    Mickey Cottrell
    • Sociology Teacheras Sociology Teacher
    Michael Reid MacKay
    Michael Reid MacKay
    • Nightmare Victimas Nightmare Victim
    Ann Dowd
    Ann Dowd
    • Monica Bowdenas Monica Bowden
    Bruce Davison
    Bruce Davison
    • Richard Bowdenas Richard Bowden
    James Karen
    James Karen
    • Victor Bowdenas Victor Bowden
    Marjorie Lovett
    Marjorie Lovett
    • Agnes Bowdenas Agnes Bowden
    David Cooley
    • Gym Teacheras Gym Teacher
    Blake Anthony Tibbetts
    • Teammateas Teammate
    Heather McComb
    Heather McComb
    • Becky Traskas Becky Trask
    Katherine Malone
    • Studentas Student
    Grace Sinden
    • Secretaryas Secretary
    David Schwimmer
    David Schwimmer
    • Edward Frenchas Edward French
    Anthony Moore
    • Umpireas Umpire
    Elias Koteas
    Elias Koteas
    • Archieas Archie
    Kevin Spirtas
    Kevin Spirtas
    • Paramedicas Paramedic
    • Director
      • Bryan Singer
    • Writers
      • Stephen King(novella "Apt Pupil")
      • Brandon Boyce(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Brad Renfro was only fourteen at the time of filming.
    • Goofs
      A 3-point line is visible on the school's basketball court. The setting of the movie is 1984 and the 3-point line wasn't introduced to the high school game until 1987.
    • Quotes

      Todd Bowden: Have you lost your mind? What the hell were you thinking, 'Grandpa'?

      Kurt Dussander: What are you so excited about?

      Todd Bowden: Oh, you've got some fucking balls! I could have screwed you up, anything could have happened!

      Kurt Dussander: You played it beautifully, boy. I knew you would.

      Todd Bowden: Are you fucking drunk? I could have busted you right there!

      Kurt Dussander: Yes, you could have, but you did not. Now, why was that? Your Edward French is not going to give you any more trouble, so now you are upset because the only way you can make things right is to work.

      Todd Bowden: I'm upset because you had that asshole thinking I can do something that can't be done!

      Kurt Dussander: Oh, but it can. And it will. You will simply have to work. No more stories. No more screwing around.

      Todd Bowden: I don't take orders from you.

      Kurt Dussander: [sniggers] You do now.

      Todd Bowden: Oh, you think so? Yeah, well, don't forget I could walk right in there and pick up that phone...

      Kurt Dussander: And do what? Do you really think that I would stand aside and let you turn me in without dragging you with me, do you? Your American self confidence is so bloated you've forgotten the reality of the situation. 90,000 died in Patin. To the whole world, I am a monster. And you have known about me all this time. If I'm caught, when those reporters stick their microphones in my face it will be your name that I will repeat over and over again. Todd Bowden, Todd Bowden... Todd Bowden, yes, that was his name. For how long, for months, almost a year, he wanted to know everything. That was how he put it, yes, everything.

      Todd Bowden: You're crazy. They'll never believe you.

      Kurt Dussander: It doesn't matter. Oh, you're going to be infamous, boy, take my word for it. And do you know what such a scandal can do? It never goes away. Not for you, not for your parents. And besides, lying to judges and reporters isn't as easy as you think. You'd have to be brilliant. Can you do that? I know I can.

    • Crazy credits
      The film has a 1997 copyright date in the credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Beloved/Happiness/Practical Magic/Love Is the Devil/The Cruise (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Tristan Und Isolde
      Written by Richard Wagner

      Performed by Carlos Kleiber and The Bayeurth Festival Orchestra

      Courtesy of Koch International by arrangement with Source/Q

    User reviews286

    Review
    Top review
    If you read the novella, don't bother
    I read the novella in high school, and I found it scary, disturbing, and a real grabber - I couldn't put it down until I was done.

    As for the movie version, I'm sorry to say it doesn't work. While there have been much worse Stephen King adaptations, this is still pretty weak. Someone else here said it's been sugarcoated, and I agree. It's been watered down so much, that character's actions that were easy to understand in the book become "Whaa - why did he do that?" here. The ending is the worst part - though I can understand why they may not have been able to recreate the novella's original ending onscreen, couldn't they have thought of a new ending that was better than the one they used here?

    The acting is good, one of the few things that works here.

    In short: if you have read the novella, do NOT watch this movie - you'll be horrified in a way the filmmakers didn't intend. The positive comments here seem to come from people who haven't read the novella. I still wouldn't recommend this movie even for non-readers, but if you must watch this movie, I strongly urge you to read the novella after you've seen the movie. It'll really open your eyes (in more ways than one), and you'll see how much better the movie could have been.
    helpful•73
    33
    • Wizard-8
    • Apr 19, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 23, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • France
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • El aprendíz
    • Filming locations
      • Eliot Middle School - 2184 N. Lake Avenue, Altadena, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Phoenix Pictures
      • Bad Hat Harry Productions
      • Canal+ Droits Audiovisuels
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $14,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,863,193
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,583,151
      • Oct 25, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,863,193
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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