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A Prophet

Play trailer Poster for A Prophet R 2010 2h 29m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
96% Tomatometer 164 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
This acclaimed crime drama follows Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), a delinquent young Muslim man, who is struggling to get by in a French prison. When he is taken under the wing of powerful Corsican mob boss Cesar Luciani (Niels Arestrup), he begins performing regular assignments for him, proving himself invaluable to the imposing criminal. As Malik rises in the mob ranks, he gains more power, but also more enemies, a situation that eventually brings conflict with his mentor.
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A Prophet

A Prophet

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Critics Consensus

Featuring an impressive star turn by newcomer Tahar Rahim, A Prophet is a French gangster film filled with arresting, immediate details.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator Aug 30, 2018
Usually, I don't much like films in which males throw violence at any problem that comes their way... But this is such an intensely mature piece of work featuring such intensely mature performances that I was too involved to let it bother me. Go to Full Review Ed Koch The Atlantic Jan 13, 2018
A Prophet is not a fabulous film, but it is well worth seeing. Although it is 2 hours 29 minutes long and its story is not surprising, it is always riveting. Go to Full Review Amy Taubin Film Comment Magazine Jul 12, 2013
But with its lush Alexandre Desplat score, deeply shadowed compositions, and fluid, understated camera movement, A Prophet is distinctly an Audiard construction. Go to Full Review Belen Prieto Espinof Jul 16, 2026
5/5
With its restrained staging, constant tension, and stunning realism, the film has established itself as a landmark of contemporary European cinema and one of the most important works in Audiard's filmography. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Michael Leader Den of Geek May 7, 2024
4/5
A Prophet is an early contender for 2010's best film. It successfully marries engaging entertainment with art-house sensibilities in a way that few films do of late, maintaining intelligent complexity and thematic richness... Go to Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Jul 19, 2022
A Prophet is not casual entertainment, you have to ready yourself to bear it… overwhelming and at time almost mystical. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Will B. @mrmoviewatcherwill123 Jan 9, 2026 Great movie! Just wish it wasn’t in French - one of my least favorite languages. See more Scott R @ScottR Oct 5, 2025 NYT 100 21st Century movies list. It was a tough watch at times. So gritty and hard that I often wanted to give up. However, it was still informative. Showing an aspect of the FRE jails and their mafia structures / class systems. SLC DVD. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 8, 2025 Success in 2 hours and 29 minutes!!!!!!!! Rated R for Language, Drug Material, Nudity, Sexual Content and Strong Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Erik B @ErikB85 Apr 16, 2025 Doesn't get any better than this, gritty, smart, perfect See more Phillip D @phildub Mar 1, 2025 Had to watch it in a few sittings, but it was amazing. Very glad I stumbled across it. See more Alejandro I @RT53628821 Feb 17, 2025 EMILIA PEREZ LO PEOR EN LA HISTORIA DEL CINE!!! See more Read all reviews
A Prophet

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Cast & Crew

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Jacques Audiard

Director

Tahar Rahim

Malik El Djebena

Niels Arestrup

César Luciani

Adel Bencherif

Ryad

Reda Kateb

Jordi

Hichem Yacoubi

Reyeb

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A Prophet

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Movie Info

Synopsis This acclaimed crime drama follows Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), a delinquent young Muslim man, who is struggling to get by in a French prison. When he is taken under the wing of powerful Corsican mob boss Cesar Luciani (Niels Arestrup), he begins performing regular assignments for him, proving himself invaluable to the imposing criminal. As Malik rises in the mob ranks, he gains more power, but also more enemies, a situation that eventually brings conflict with his mentor.
Director
Jacques Audiard
Producer
Pascal Caucheteux, Grégoire Sorlat
Screenwriter
Thomas Bidegain, Jacques Audiard, Abdel Raouf Dafri, Nicolas Peufaillit
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Chic Films, Celluloid Dreams, UGC Images, Why Not Productions, Page 114, BIM Distribuzione, France 2 Cinéma
Rating
R (Language|Drug Material|Nudity|Sexual Content|Strong Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 26, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.1M
Runtime
2h 29m
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