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IMDbPro

Apt Pupil

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
40K
YOUR RATING
Brad Renfro in Apt Pupil (1998)
Trailer for Apt Pupil
Play trailer2:32
2 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaThriller

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.

  • Director
    • Bryan Singer
  • Writers
    • Stephen King
    • Brandon Boyce
  • Stars
    • Ian McKellen
    • Brad Renfro
    • Joshua Jackson
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    40K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Bryan Singer
    • Writers
      • Stephen King
      • Brandon Boyce
    • Stars
      • Ian McKellen
      • Brad Renfro
      • Joshua Jackson
    • 292User reviews
    • 79Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 10 nominations

    Videos2

    Apt Pupil
    Trailer 2:32
    Watch Apt Pupil
    Apt Pupil
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch 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 Dussander
    Brad Renfro
    Brad Renfro
    • Todd Bowden
    Joshua Jackson
    Joshua Jackson
    • Joey
    Mickey Cottrell
    Mickey Cottrell
    • Sociology Teacher
    Michael Reid MacKay
    Michael Reid MacKay
    • Nightmare Victim
    Ann Dowd
    Ann Dowd
    • Monica Bowden
    Bruce Davison
    Bruce Davison
    • Richard Bowden
    James Karen
    James Karen
    • Victor Bowden
    Marjorie Lovett
    Marjorie Lovett
    • Agnes Bowden
    David Cooley
    • Gym Teacher
    Blake Anthony Tibbetts
    • Teammate
    Heather McComb
    Heather McComb
    • Becky Trask
    Katherine Malone
    • Student
    Grace Sinden
    • Secretary
    David Schwimmer
    David Schwimmer
    • Edward French
    Anthony Moore
    • Umpire
    Elias Koteas
    Elias Koteas
    • Archie
    Kevin Spirtas
    Kevin Spirtas
    • Paramedic
    • Director
      • Bryan Singer
    • Writers
      • Stephen King
      • Brandon Boyce
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Brad Renfro was only fourteen at the time of filming.
    • Goofs
      When Todd is walking down the hall to give Kurt Dussander the costume, the dolly track is visible on the floor in the hall.
    • 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.
    • Alternate versions
      According to the Technical Specifications link for this film, there is a one minute longer version available in Argentina (total time 1 hr 52 min (112 min)).
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: 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 reviews292

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Groan
    I sincerely hope Imdb is merely falsely reporting a rumor that Stephen King sold the film rights to Apt Pupil for $1, because Apt Pupil is one of the worst screen adaptations of a King novel. It ranks up there with Children of the Corn and, perhaps ironically worst of all, King's "Maximum Overdrive."

    Apt Pupil is one of the most chilling King works I've ever read with only Children of the Corn being scarier. It's a cat-and-mouse story of a cocky, smart American kid who discovers that man who lives near him is actually a fugitive NAZI--one of the evil high-ranking officers that has thwarted the authorities for decades. But instead of doing the obvious right thing and turning him in, the boy engages in a deadly quid-pro-quo game of blackmail: he tells "Arthur Denker"--real name Kurt Dussander--to tell him everything that is too explicit for the war books and magazines.

    The novel has a very dark ending, which you'd expect when a person makes a critically terrible decision and then tries endlessly to cover it up. This movie almost completely sanitizes it. Further, Brad Renfro was a horrible miscast as Todd Bowden. He acts nothing like the Bowden in the book. The pacing for this film was all wrong and never allows any of the characters to sufficiently develop. Only Ian McKellan and the well-intentioned efforts of David Schwimmer save this film from being a total skunk.
    helpful•17
    15
    • rpzowie
    • Mar 31, 2004

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    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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