Tropical Malady Review (2004) — 81% Celluloid Score
Directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul · 2004 ·
Tropical Malady (2004) earns a 81% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics (94%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (80%).
Averaged from five public sources (critic, audience, Metascore, Letterboxd, IMDb). See how we calculate scores.
Five-source breakdown
Theatrical release Where to watch
Not confirmed on any major streaming platform yet — check local listings.
Why this score?
- Strong critic approval (94% positive).
- General viewers mostly liked it (80%).
- Metascore is generally favorable (78/100).
- Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
- Celluloid Score 81% averages all five public rating sources — our own composite, not a third-party trademark score.
Best for
- Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, romance, fantasy 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 Tropical Malady worth watching?
Yes — Tropical Malady earns a 81% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.
Critics Consensus
Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s queer jungle fable — Cannes Jury Prize — remains the international face of Thai art cinema that Bangkok’s world festival champions at home.
Celluloid Critics Consensus
Critics (94%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (80%).
What is Tropical Malady about?
The passionate relationship between two men with unusual consequences. The film is divided in two parts. The first half charts the modest attraction between two men in the sunny, relaxing countryside and the second half charts the confusion and terror of an unknown menace lurking deep within the jungle shadows.
Critic Reviews
Tropical Malady (2004) Review
★★★½☆
Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Tropical Malady (2004) remains a defining Drama landmark from Thailand, with scores that still shape how audiences discover the title.
Essential viewing — a certified classic.
More Like This
Featured Syndromes and a Century
Drama, Romance · 1h 45m
Cannes 2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
Drama, Fantasy · 1h 54m
Berlinale 2017 On Body and Soul
Drama, Romance · 1h 56m
Venice 2017 The Shape of Water
Drama, Fantasy · 2h 3m