Bad Times at the El Royale - wikipedia Bad Times at the El Royale Bad Times at the El Royale Theatrical release poster Directed by Drew Goddard Produced by Drew Goddard Jeremy Latcham Written by Drew Goddard Starring Jeff Bridges Cynthia Erivo Dakota Johnson Jon Hamm Cailee Spaeny Lewis Pullman Chris Hemsworth Music by Michael Giacchino Cinematography Seamus McGarvey Edited by Lisa Lassek Production company Goddard Textiles TSG Entertainment Distributed by 20th Century Fox Release date September 27, 2018 ( 2018 - 09 - 27 ) ( Fantastic Fest ) October 12, 2018 ( 2018 - 10 - 12 ) ( United States ) Running time 141 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $32 million Box office $27.1 million Bad Times at the El Royale is a 2018 American neo-noir thriller film written, produced and directed by Drew Goddard. The film stars Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Cailee Spaeny, Lewis Pullman, Nick Offerman and Chris Hemsworth. Set in 1969, the plot follows seven strangers each hiding dark secrets, who come to a head one night in a shady hotel on the California - Nevada border. Bad Times at the El Royale premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 27, 2018, and was theatrically released in the United States on October 12, 2018. The film has grossed $27 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its acting and Goddard 's screenplay and direction, although some reviewers disliked the 141 - minute runtime and pacing. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Release 5 Reception 5.1 Box office 5.2 Critical response 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Plot The film opens in 1959, when a man enters a hotel room, pulls up the floorboards, and buries a dufflebag, before being shot and killed. Ten years later, in 1969, Catholic priest Daniel Flynn, singer Darlene Sweet, home supplies salesman Laramie Seymour Sullivan, and hippy Emily Summerspring arrive at the El Royale. Sullivan explains to Father Flynn and Darlene that the El Royale, which straddles the California - Nevada border, had been a bustling hotel until the previous year when it lost several permits. They meet the hotel 's only employee, Miles Miller, and book their rooms. Upon checking into the honeymoon suite, Sullivan ( in reality an FBI agent named Dwight Broadbeck, sent to investigate the hotel and remove evidence of their operations ) discovers a passageway leading into a corridor looking onto one - way mirrors in each of the hotel 's rooms, as well as a 16mm camera setup at the end of the hall. Broadbeck witnesses Father Flynn pulling up his floorboards and Darlene practicing singing, before watching an apparent kidnapping in progress in Emily 's room ; over the telephone he is instructed by the Director of the FBI to not interfere with the kidnapping, and to instead sabotage the guests ' vehicles to prevent any of them from leaving the hotel. Meanwhile, Flynn, who is staying in the room next door, overhears Darlene singing and invites her to join him for dinner. She sees him drugging her drink and knocks him unconscious with a bottle, running out of the hotel to escape. Miles, whom Sullivan had seen earlier that night passed out in the maintenance closet in a drug - induced stupor, finds Flynn and, believing him to be a priest, asks for absolution for his sins ; he reveals to him the secret passageway, explaining that `` management '' has instructed him to film certain guests and send the footage to them. However, he chose to hold back one particularly incriminating film reel of a recently deceased public figure, which he has hidden in the closet, because the subject was nice to him. Against orders, Broadbeck attempts to rescue Emily 's `` hostage, '' who is revealed to be her younger sister, Rose. Emily opens fire on Broadbeck, killing him and accidentally injuring Miles who was watching from behind the mirror. Darlene attempts to escape in her car after witnessing the murder, but Flynn arrives and asks to talk. He reveals that he is really a criminal named Donald `` Doc '' O'Kelly, who was imprisoned after a botched robbery ten years earlier. Recently freed on parole, O'Kelly has returned to the El Royale in priest garb to retrieve the money which his brother Felix had hidden there before being killed in a double cross - but owing to his failing memory he can not recall which room it was in. He had attempted to drug her to gain access to her room, believing the cash to be buried there after he could not find it in his own room. Darlene agrees to allow him to search her room in exchange for half the cash. In the lobby, Emily and Rose, having discovered the corridor, interrogate Miles about the surveillance operation, while Emily weighs whether or not she should kill him. It is revealed that Emily has forcibly removed her sister from a cult led by Billy Lee, a charismatic and sadistic figure responsible for a string of murders in Malibu. However, Rose reveals that she has already called Billy about their location and that he is on his way to retrieve her. As O'Kelly and Darlene attempt to leave with the money, Billy Lee and his cultists arrive and hold them hostage along with Emily and Miles. While interrogating and terrorizing the group, Lee discovers the money and the film Miles had hidden, which he realizes is worth much more than the money. In a sadistic game of roulette, Lee kills Emily, and threatens to kill Miles, O'Kelly, and Darlene. Using a brief power outage to his advantage, O'Kelly attacks Lee as the hotel lounge catches fire. During the chaos, Miles reveals that he served as a sniper in Vietnam where he killed 123 people. At Darlene 's insistence, he picks up a gun and kills Lee and the other cultists. A distraught Rose stabs Miles, but is shot by O'Kelly. As Miles lies dying, Darlene urges O'Kelly to play the part of priest one more time and absolve Miles of his guilt over his actions in Vietnam and at the El Royale. O'Kelly and Darlene retrieve the money and Sweet tosses the film and ledger book page with their names on it into the fire before the pair flee the hotel. Not long after, Darlene performs at a show in Reno for the crowd, as O'Kelly proudly looks on. Cast Jeff Bridges as Donald O'Kelly / Daniel Flynn, a robber masquerading as a priest, staying in Room Four. Cynthia Erivo as Darlene Sweet, a struggling soul singer staying in Room Five. Dakota Johnson as Emily Summerspring, a woman trying to save her sister from Billy 's cult, staying in Room Seven. Hannah Zirke as young Emily Jon Hamm as Dwight Broadbeck / Seymour ' Laramie ' Sullivan, an undercover FBI agent, staying in Room One, the Honeymoon Suite. Cailee Spaeny as Rose Summerspring, Emily 's sister and Billy Lee 's accomplice Charlotte Mosby as young Rose Lewis Pullman as Miles Miller, the concierge and sole employee left at the El Royale, who served as a sniper in Vietnam. Austin Abell as young Miles Chris Hemsworth as Billy Lee, a charismatic cult leader and Rose 's spiritual guide. Nick Offerman as Felix O'Kelly, Doc 's brother and criminal partner Xavier Dolan as Buddy Sunday, a music producer who fires Darlene due to budget cuts Shea Whigham as Dr. Woodbury Laurence, a prison doctor who diagnoses O'Kelly Mark O'Brien as Larsen Rogers, Doc and Felix 's accomplice Charles Halford as Sammy Wilds, Doc 's prison cellmate Jim O'Heir as Milton Wyrick, the presenter at Darlene 's show in Reno Manny Jacinto as Waring `` Wade '' Espiritu, a member of Billy Lee 's cult Alvina August as Vesta Shears, a singer who replaces Darlene Gerry Nairn as Paul Kraemer, a reporter Production On March 8, 2017, it was announced that 20th Century Fox had bought the spec script Bad Times at the El Royale, written by Drew Goddard, who would also direct and produce the film. On August 23, 2017, Chris Hemsworth and Jeff Bridges were cast in the 1960s - set film, to play two among the several characters who collide at the El Royale hotel, near California 's Lake Tahoe. That same day, it was also reported that Tom Holland had passed on a role, and that Beyoncé was being courted for the role of an African - American vocalist. It was also revealed that main roles in the ensemble would include a vacuum cleaner salesman, two female criminals, a male cult leader, and a desk clerk. Later in August 2017, newcomer Cailee Spaeny was added to the cast to play an impressionable Southern girl brought to the hotel, while Cynthia Erivo was cast as the African - American singer who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. In January 2018, Dakota Johnson and Russell Crowe joined the cast. In February 2018, Jon Hamm, Nick Offerman, and Mark O'Brien joined the cast, and in May 2018, Lewis Pullman was also confirmed for a role. Principal photography on the film began on January 29, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia. In February, it was being shot in Burnaby. The El Royale is quite similar in appearance and characteristics to a closed former hotel - casino called the Cal Neva Lodge & Casino. Release The first trailer was released on June 7, 2018. The film had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 27, 2018 and also screened at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. It was theatrically released in the United States on October 12, 2018. Reception Box Office As of October 28, 2018, Bad Times at the El Royale has grossed $16.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $10.5 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $27.1 million, against a production budget of $32 million. In the United States and Canada, Bad Times at the El Royale was released alongside First Man and Goosebumps 2 : Haunted Halloween, and was projected to gross $8 -- 12 million from 2,808 theaters in its opening weekend, with some predictions going as high as $17 million. The film made $2.8 million on its first day and went on to debut to $7.2 million, finishing seventh at the box office. Deadline Hollywood speculates the film was hurt by its 141 minute runtime, as well as its niche genre and lack of awards buzz. The film dropped 52 % in its second weekend to $3.4 million, finishing ninth. Critical response On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 73 % based on 193 reviews, with an average rating of 6.5 / 10. The website 's critical consensus reads, `` Smart, stylish, and packed with solid performances, Bad Times at the El Royale delivers pure popcorn fun with the salty tang of social subtext. '' On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 60 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating `` Mixed or average reviews ''. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of `` B -- '' on an A+ to F scale. See also Identity Looking Glass Vacancy References Jump up ^ `` Bad Times at the El Royale ''. San Sebastián International Film Festival. Retrieved September 18, 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` Bad Times at the El Royale ( 2018 ) ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 28, 2018. Jump up ^ Travis, Ben ( June 7, 2018 ). `` Bad Times At The El Royale Trailer Breakdown with Drew Goddard ''. Empire. Archived from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018. Jump up ^ Wiseman, Andreas ( June 27, 2018 ). `` Fox Dates Amy Adams Pic ' Woman In The Window ', Moves Thriller ' Bad Times At The El Royale ' ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 27, 2018. Jump up ^ Knight, Lewis ( October 12, 2018 ). `` Bad Times at the El Royale review round - up : Critics praise Chris Hemsworth in wacky new film ''. Daily Mirror. Retrieved October 14, 2018. Jump up ^ Busch, Anita ( March 8, 2017 ). `` Fox Buys ' Bad Times At The El Royale ' From Drew Goddard Who Will Also Direct ''. Deadline. Retrieved August 24, 2017. Jump up ^ Kit, Borys ; Ford, Rebecca ( August 23, 2017 ). `` Chris Hemsworth, Jeff Bridges to Star in Drew Goddard 's ' Bad Times at the El Royale ' ( Exclusive ) ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 24, 2017. Jump up ^ Sneider, Jeff ( August 23, 2017 ). `` Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth to Star in Drew Goddard 's `` Bad Times at the El Royale '' ``. The Tracking Board. Retrieved September 26, 2017. Jump up ^ Kit, Borys ( August 24, 2017 ). `` Drew Goddard 's ' Bad Times at the El Royale ' Adds Newcomer Cailee Spaeny ( Exclusive ) ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2017. Jump up ^ Ford, Rebecca ; Kit, Borys ( August 29, 2017 ). `` Tony Winner Cynthia Erivo Joins Drew Goddard 's ' Bad Times at the El Royale ' ( Exclusive ) ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2017. Jump up ^ Sneider, Jeff ( January 8, 2018 ). `` Dakota Johnson to Star Opposite Chris Hemsworth in Drew Goddard 's Thriller `` Bad Times at the El Royale '' ( Exclusive ) ``. The Tracking Board. Retrieved February 16, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Dakota Johnson and Jon Hamm finish filming Bad Times at the El Royale ''. Mail Online. Retrieved 2018 - 04 - 11. Jump up ^ White, Peter ( 2018 - 03 - 06 ). `` ' Parks and Recreation ' Star Nick Offerman Joins Amazon 's ' Good Omens ' ''. Deadline. Retrieved 2018 - 04 - 11. Jump up ^ `` EXCLUSIVE : Nick Offerman Joins The Cast Of Thriller Bad Times At The El Royale 🔫 Celebrity WotNot ''. 2 February 2018. Jump up ^ `` First ' Bad Times at the El Royale ' Images Let Us Revel in Shirtless Chris Hemsworth ''. 29 May 2018. Jump up ^ `` Bad Times at the El Royale : Chris Hemsworth, Dakota Johnson, Jeff Bridges & More Filming in Vancouver Area ''. What 's Filming ?. January 25, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Dakota Johnson begins work on Bad Times at the El Royale ''. Mail Online. February 14, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018. Jump up ^ Marotta, Jenna. `` ' Bad Times at the El Royale ' Trailer : Drew Goddard 's ' The Martian ' Follow - Up Is An Eerie Ensemble Film Set in 1969 ''. IndieWire. Retrieved September 7, 2018. Jump up ^ Ramos, Dino - Ray. `` Fantastic Fest : ' Bad Times At The El Royale ' Set As Closing Night Film, ' MID90S ' And ' Under The Silver Lake ' Added To Lineup ''. Deadline. Retrieved September 17, 2018. Jump up ^ Rolfe, Pamela. `` ' Bad Times at the El Royale ' to Close San Sebastian Film Festival ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 7, 2018. Jump up ^ Rubin, Rebecca ( October 9, 2018 ). `` ' First Man ' Takes on ' Venom ' and ' A Star Is Born ' as October Box Office Goes Galactic ''. Variety. Retrieved October 10, 2018. ^ Jump up to : D'Alessandro, Anthony ( October 14, 2018 ). `` ' Sony Swings Past $1 Billion As ' Venom ' Bites $35 M+ ; ' First Man ' Lands Third With $16 M+ -- Sunday AM ''. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved October 14, 2018. Jump up ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony ( October 21, 2018 ). `` ' Halloween ' Scares Up Second - Best October Opening With $77 M+ ; Best Debut For Blumhouse & Carpenter Canon ; Great Launch For Miramax ''. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved October 23, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Bad Times at the El Royale ( 2018 ) ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 25, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Bad Times at the El Royale reviews ''. Metacritic. Retrieved October 27, 2018. External links Bad Times at the El Royale on IMDb Films directed by Drew Goddard The Cabin in the Woods ( 2012 ) Bad Times at the El Royale ( 2018 ) X-Force ( TBA ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bad_Times_at_the_El_Royale&oldid=866521168 '' Categories : 2018 films English - language films Films directed by Drew Goddard 2010s mystery films 2010s thriller films 20th Century Fox films American films American mystery films American thriller films Neo-noir Films about death Films about murder Films scored by Michael Giacchino Films set in 1969 Films set in California Films set in hotels Films set in Nevada Screenplays by Drew Goddard Hidden categories : Articles containing potentially dated statements from October 2018 All articles containing potentially dated statements Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Euskara فارسی Français Italiano Polski Русский Српски / srpski Tiếng Việt 中文 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 30 October 2018, at 21 : 04 ( UTC ). 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Question: who wrote bad times at the el royale
Answer: Drew Goddard