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Celluloid
DramaBiography

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Directed by Julian Schnabel · 2007 ·

Answer Summary

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) earns a 87% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics (94%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (85%).

Quick Verdict

Averaged from five public sources (critic, audience, Metascore, Letterboxd, IMDb). See how we calculate scores.

87%
Celluloid Score Recommended

Five-source breakdown

94% Critic Score
85% Audience
92 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.2
8 IMDb /10
Runtime
1h 52m
Cast
Mathieu Amalric , Emmanuelle Seigner , Marie-Josée Croze

Why this score?

  • Strong critic approval (94% positive).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (85%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (92/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.2/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, biography pick
  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Is The Diving Bell and the Butterfly worth watching?

    Yes — The Diving Bell and the Butterfly earns a 87% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

    Critics Consensus

    Schnabel transforms paralysis into poetry through subjective camera and luminous empathy.

    Celluloid Critics Consensus

    Critics (94%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (85%).

    What is The Diving Bell and the Butterfly about?

    Editor Jean-Dominique Bauby dictates his memoir by blinking one eye after a stroke leaves him with locked-in syndrome.

    Critic Reviews

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