Trending Now - Cannes Premiere of 'the Birthday Party' Earns 12-minute Applause
WHO:
Variety - Léa Mysius is noted as the writer-director of The Birthday Party, marking her third feature film and her first time at Cannes.
Deadline - Léa Mysius is the writer-director of The Birthday Party.
Variety - The film features a cast that includes Hafsia Herzi, Benoît Magimel, and Monica Bellucci.
WHAT:
Little White Lies - The Birthday Party is described as a "handsome but inert thriller."
Deadline - The Birthday Party earned a 12-minute ovation at its premiere.
Deadline - The film is described as a home-invasion thriller.
Variety - The Birthday Party is characterized as a lackluster film, compared to "Funny Games."
WHERE:
Deadline - The premiere took place at the Cannes Film Festival in the Grand Théâtre Lumière.
WHEN:
Deadline - The premiere occurred on a Friday evening during the Cannes Film Festival.
Deadline - The Birthday Party was the last world-premiere screening in the festival's 22-strong competition lineup.
WHY:
Variety - The film is characterized as a "head-scratching letdown" despite its cast, which includes a "murderer’s row of European stars."
Variety - The film is noted as a letdown considering its star-studded cast.
HOW:
Deadline - The audience's cheers during the screening of The Birthday Party occurred twice, indicating moments of engagement.
Deadline - The audience broke into cheers twice during the screening of The Birthday Party.
(UPDATED May 22, 2026 23:19 UTC)
Léa Mysius has made her mark at Cannes with her third feature film, The Birthday Party, which she both wrote and directed. While the film features a stellar cast of European stars, it has been described as a "handsome but inert thriller" and a "head-scratching letdown." Interestingly, the audience did show some engagement, cheering twice during the screening, highlighting moments that resonated with viewers.
--
(UPDATED May 22, 2026 21:30 UTC)
The Birthday Party, a home-invasion thriller written and directed by Léa Mysius, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a 12-minute ovation and cheers from the audience during the screening. The film features a star-studded cast that includes Hafsia Herzi, Benoît Magimel, and Monica Bellucci, but has been described as lackluster, especially when compared to "Funny Games." Notably, it was the last world-premiere screening in the festival's competition lineup, which featured a total of 22 films.