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Coward

Play trailer Poster for Coward 2h 0m War History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 34 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
As the First World War drags on, Pierre, a soldier newly arrived at the front, is eager to prove himself. Behind the lines, he meets Francis, who decides to lift the spirits of his comrades by putting together a theatre show. While the violence continues, both men try to find ways to escape the brutality of war, even if only for a moment.

Cast & Crew

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Lukas Dhont

Director

Emmanuel Macchia

Pierre

Valentin Campagne

Francis

Jonas Wertz

Actor

Lukas Dhont

Screenwriter

Angelo Tijssens

Screenwriter

Critics Reviews

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Philip De Semlyen Time Out May 28, 2026
3/5
With LGBTQ+ stories so rare in the filmography of World War I, it’s a rare and welcome perspective -- as well as another showcase for a gifted young filmmaker. Go to Full Review Justin Chang The New Yorker May 28, 2026
Dhont expertly handles the tension between the homosocial and the homoerotic, and if his honey-toned visual style sometimes leans toward fussiness, it’s counterbalanced by the brutality of the combat sequences. Go to Full Review David Rooney The Hollywood Reporter May 26, 2026
What really sinks Coward is the self-conscious grandiosity with which the director strains for lofty emotional peaks in moments that instead come off as hollow and artificial. Go to Full Review James Kleinmann The Queer Review 4 days ago
5/5
Dhont deftly and affectingly captures the physical and psychological brutality of the battlefield and delivers a powerful queer love story for the ages. Go to Full Review Ankit Jhunjhunwala ScreenAnarchy Sep 18, 2026
3/5
For all its sensitivity and craft, Coward remains a minor work: pleasant, humane and watchable in its modesty, but not nearly piercing enough to linger in the memory. Go to Full Review Adam Courtliff InSession Film Sep 18, 2026
A-
Coward will move audiences to their cores and become a film you think about long after the final credits have begun to roll. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
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Coward

Coward (2026) Coward (2026) Coward (2026) Coward (2026) Coward (2026) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis As the First World War drags on, Pierre, a soldier newly arrived at the front, is eager to prove himself. Behind the lines, he meets Francis, who decides to lift the spirits of his comrades by putting together a theatre show. While the violence continues, both men try to find ways to escape the brutality of war, even if only for a moment.
Director
Lukas Dhont
Producer
Lukas Dhont, Michiel Dhont, Juliette Schrameck
Screenwriter
Lukas Dhont, Angelo Tijssens
Distributor
MUBI
Production Co
The Reunion, Lumen, Topkapi Films, Versus Production
Genre
War, History, Drama
Original Language
French
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 2026, Limited
Runtime
2h 0m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)
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