The Tenant

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The Tenant

R

1976

2h 5m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

39 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In Paris, isolated Eastern European émigré Trelkovsky rents an apartment in a spooky old building whose inhabitants regard him with suspicion and even outright hostility. When he learns that the apartment's previous tenant, a beautiful woman, tried to commit suicide by jumping out the window, Trelkovsky begins to identify with her in increasingly disturbing ways. Then, to make matters even worse, he reaches the conclusion that his new neighbors are plotting to kill him.

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Critics Consensus

A rough-edged thriller that lacks the precision of Polanski's best work, but makes up for it with its skillful mounting of paranoia, dread, and dark themes.

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Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

01/23/2024

The Tenant is a poetic nightmare about punishment imposed on an unguilty man who merely entertained great fear of guilt.

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

02/18/2010

4/5

A disturbing and poignant anthology of Roman Polanski's favourite, oppressive themes.

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Variety Staff

Variety

10/18/2008

It has a humorous tang, underlying the macabre.

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Dave Aldridge

Radio Times

Nov 11

3/5

Melvyn Douglas and Shelley Winters co-star in a puzzling and absorbing thriller that, on occasions, recalls not just Repulsion but also has vague echoes of Rosemary's Baby.

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

03/17/2025

B

Polanski hopes to get under the skin during the offering, but such irritation only connects periodically in the overlong feature, though creepiness and interesting interpretational elements do contribute to the puzzle aspect of the material.

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Steve Warren

The Barb (Atlanta)

05/09/2023

It's strange stuff, and too subtle for people who like The Exorcist and The Omen, but The Tenant is a real horror movie.

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Jonathan S.

@JonathanColeSpivey Jun 14

The Tenant (1976) film review Roman Polanski is one of our finest and masterful international filmmakers and has proven his worth in every film he has crafted. None of his works are as auteur as The Tenant which was crafted in 1976, with the beloved star Shelly Winters and other gifted actors. Like many of Polanski’s work he is dealing with extreme exclusiveness, paranoia and disillusionment. Polanski commonly deals with protagonist being ostracized in some form or fashion and this chosen character must struggle with acceptance. This makes sense because he is a holocaust survivor and witness to the brutal capture of his Jewish parents. Not many filmmakers have witnessed suffering as much as Roman Polanski has in his childhood and early years, and this is proven in his interpretation of humanity and creation of stories. Polanski often deals with a secret society and a group that could possibly be compared to a coven. The Tenant focuses more on…(Facebook Cole Spivey)

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j15j15j15 j

@J15cTell Jan 27

@}>--->>*

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Billy L

@RT72202244 Oct 8

Its so funny the film got terrible reviews in 1976...today its hailed as a great work...It a Masterpiece !! .

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thiago s

@Thiagostone 06/09/2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

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Sarfaraz A

@RT40602226 01/10/2025

Roman Polanski directed and co-wrote The Tenant (Le locataire). It is based on the same-named novel published in 1964. Other cast includes Isabelle Adjani and more. The film's opening amused me with Polanski's interactions as a meek person attempting to win the hearts of others by his smile, kindness, and polite conduct. Because the film's topic is paranoia, this individual descends into insanity, mimicking the last tenant, a young woman who committed suicide by jumping off the window. This movie is overly lengthy at 2 hours and 5 minutes, and it loses your interests after an hour.

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Lorenzo D

@RT11947074 10/29/2024

Please watch it. It's a masterpiece

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Synopsis

In Paris, isolated Eastern European émigré Trelkovsky rents an apartment in a spooky old building whose inhabitants regard him with suspicion and even outright hostility. When he learns that the apartment's previous tenant, a beautiful woman, tried to commit suicide by jumping out the window, Trelkovsky begins to identify with her in increasingly disturbing ways. Then, to make matters even worse, he reaches the conclusion that his new neighbors are plotting to kill him.

Director: Roman Polanski
Producer: Andrew Braunsberg
Screenwriter: Gérard Brach, Roman Polanski
Production Co: Marianne Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 26, 1976, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jun 11, 1976
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.6K
Runtime: 2h 5m