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Celluloid
Drama Cannes 2025 Editor's Pick

The Plague Review (2025) — 79% Celluloid Score

Directed by Charlie Polinger · 2025 ·

Short answer

Is The Plague worth watching?

Yes. The Plague (2025) earns a 79% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (100%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (60%). See the 4 inputs.

79%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

100% Editorial Rating
60% Audience snapshot · excluded
79 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.5
6.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Runtime
1h 38m
Age rating
R (US) · 15 (UK) · 17+ (Indonesia) · MA 15+ (Australia)
Cast
Joel Edgerton , Everett Blunck , Kayo Martin , Kenny Rasmussen
Streaming
Hulu, AMC+, Sundance Now
Language
English

Also known as La plaga A Praga 더 플래그 瘟疫 Veba Bệnh Dịch Hạch

Where to watch

  • Hulu
  • AMC+
  • Sundance Now

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Plague by country

Country Streaming on
United Kingdom Sky Cinema
United States Hulu, AMC+, Sundance Now

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (100/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (60%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (79/100).
  • Celluloid Score 79% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch
  • 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

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is The Plague worth watching?

    Yes — The Plague earns a 79% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick. Read our full review (5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Charlie Polinger turns a boys' summer swim camp into a pressure cooker of cruelty and shame, using queasy, chlorine-soaked atmosphere to transform ordinary preteen social panic into something genuinely nightmarish.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics (100%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (60%).

    What is The Plague about?

    In the summer of 2003, at an all-boys summer water polo camp, socially anxious twelve-year-old Ben struggles to fit in amidst a ruthless social hierarchy....

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The Plague

    The Plague (2025) Review: Cruelty in the Deep End

    The Plague is Charlie Polinger's startling debut about boys at a 2003 water polo camp, a coming-of-age drama that turns preteen social panic into near-horror.

    Yes. It is one of the most precise and unsettling debuts in years, essential for viewers who value bold coming-of-age cinema and can tolerate real discomfort.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    The Plague stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Plague production still 1
    The Plague production still 2
    The Plague production still 3
    The Plague production still 4
    The Plague production still 5
    The Plague production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Plague: frequently asked questions

    Is The Plague worth watching?

    Yes. The Plague (2025) has a Celluloid Score of 79%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch The Plague?

    In the United States, The Plague streams on Hulu, AMC+, Sundance Now with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home. Elsewhere: Sky Cinema in the United Kingdom. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The Plague?

    The Plague runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).

    What is The Plague rated?

    The Plague is rated R in the United States, 15 in the UK, 17+ in Indonesia and MA 15+ in Australia. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Plague?

    The Plague is directed by Charlie Polinger and stars Joel Edgerton, Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, Kenny Rasmussen.

    What is the Metascore for The Plague?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Plague is 79 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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