A Private Life

Play trailer

1:47

A Private Life

R

Jan 2026

1h 45m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

145 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

When renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner learns of the death of one of her patients she is deeply troubled. Convinced that it was murder, she decides to investigate....

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A Private Life mixes Hitchcockian suspense, glossy aesthetics, and a playful streak of camp into an entertaining if somewhat slight mystery that's held together by Jodie Foster's captivating presence.

Read Critics Reviews

Bianca Farmakis

The Australian

Sep 9, 2026

2/5

At times, its overtly camp hypnosis sequences distract from the more endearing work of its veteran leads. At others, the disarming relationship between Foster and Auteuil elevates its quieter, sweeter moments into something genuinely touching.

Go to Full Review

Miriam Balanescu

Empire Magazine

Jul 1, 2026

3/5

This stylish, silly and strange whodunnit/family-drama mash-up, while shaky at times, is a fun filmic amuse-bouche, with Foster on top form.

Go to Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Jul 1, 2026

The screenplay doesn’t hold up to scrutiny: it’s a flimsy thing, barely propped up by unconvincing character behaviour and a tenuous foray into regression hypnosis.

Go to Full Review

John Serba

Decider

Aug 1, 2026

The film is essentially a character study uncomfortably wedged into an idiosyncratic murder mystery, with Foster relishing opportunities to deliver the kind of French-tickler comic moments that sneak up on and surprise you.

Go to Full Review

Chezelle Bingham

Radio Times

Jul 10, 2026

4/5

Unlike such other entries in the sub-genre, which often struggle to explore characters beyond their motives, A Private Life is also interested in examining the guilt and grief felt by its players.

Go to Full Review

Tom Shone

Sunday Times (UK)

Jul 1, 2026

3/5

The film is a little like one of those gamey, slightly camp reworkings of Hitchcock that Roman Polanski used to make, and I would give it a hard pass were it not for the sound of Foster’s fluent French and the delightful chemistry between her and Auteuil.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Lili

Mar 1, 2026

Great movie, but it seemed to end abruptly.

See more

Susan C

Feb 22, 2026

Jodie Foster is an American treasure and her acting was good in this film. But, the story line was a bit obtuse and implausible … the film kept my interest, though … and I was super impressed with Foster’s fluency in French.

See more

Helen A

Feb 10, 2026

a muddled improbable plot

See more

Charlie H

Feb 8, 2026

Fascinating idea but a very difficult one to put into film. Acting was superb as was the theme. Ending came out of nowhere.

See more

ssusan

Feb 7, 2026

Kept waiting for it to go somewhere. Jodie Foster was good. But script not so much.

See more

Meloney

Feb 7, 2026

I’m not sure I liked this movie… neurotic characters… messy interpersonal relationships… the conclusion was a little vague. It was great to see Jodie Foster, and her French was excellent. I hope we’ll see her in more films.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Rebecca Zlotowski

Director

Jodie Foster

Lilian Steiner

Daniel Auteuil

Gabriel Haddad

Virginie Efira

Paula Cohen-Solal

Mathieu Amalric

Simon Cohen-Solal

Vincent Lacoste

Julien Haddad-Park

A Private Life: Extended Preview

9:34

Now Playing

View more videos

Anatomy of a Fall

96%

91%

Anatomy of a Fall

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Anatomy of a Fall

Crime 101

88%

83%

Crime 101

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Crime 101

Woman of the Hour

91%

68%

Woman of the Hour

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Woman of the Hour

Wind River

87%

90%

Wind River

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Wind River

Caught Stealing

85%

83%

Caught Stealing

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Caught Stealing

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

A Private Life: Trailer 1

1:47

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

When renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner learns of the death of one of her patients she is deeply troubled. Convinced that it was murder, she decides to investigate....

Director: Rebecca Zlotowski
Producer: Frédéric Jouve
Screenwriter: Rebecca Zlotowski, Anne Berest, Gaëlle Macé
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Les Films Velvet, France 3 Cinéma
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Brief Violence|Language|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: French
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 3, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.4M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings