# The Apprentice (2024 film)

The Apprentice is a 2024 independent biographical film that examines Donald Trump's career as a real estate businessman in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s, including his relationship with attorney Roy Cohn. Directed by Ali Abbasi, written by Gabriel Sherman, and co-distributed by James Shani's Rich Sprit in partnership with Briarcliff Entertainment, the film stars Sebastian Stan as Trump, Jeremy Strong as Cohn, Martin Donovan as Trump's father Fred, and Maria Bakalova as Trump's first wife, Ivana.
An international co-production between Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and the United States, the film was announced in May 2018, but languished until Abbasi, Stan, and Strong joined in 2023. After premiering at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2024, and despite impressing the critics, sparking an eight-minute standing ovation at Cannes, and "feverish media attention" the film struggled to find American distribution due to its subject matter and an attempt by Trump's legal team to block its release. Briarcliff Entertainment eventually bought the rights, and theatrically released it on October 11, 2024. The film grossed $17 million on a $16 million budget.
The film received praise from critics for its acting, directing, and editing; Trump, meanwhile, described it as a "defamatory, politically disgusting hatchet job" intended to harm his ultimately successful 2024 presidential campaign. For their performances, Stan and Strong each received nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTAs for Best Actor and Supporting Actor respectively, with Strong also earning a SAG Award nomination.

## Plot

In 1973, the young Donald Trump, after pointing out various wealthy people to his date, meets Roy Cohn, a contentious lawyer known for prosecuting the Rosenbergs, at a New York City social club. Trump complains that the federal government is investigating his real-estate mogul father, Fred Trump, for discrimination against African-American tenants; Cohn offers to help.
After Cohn blackmails the lead prosecutor with photos of him with a cabana boy, the prosecutor settles the case for little, despite evidence of racial discrimination. Trump eventually descends further into Cohn's orbit, seeing him as a better mentor than his father. Cohn teaches Trump about dressing well and media relations, and offers his "three rules": always attack, never admit wrongdoing, and always claim victory, even if defeated. Trump attends a decadent Cohn party, where he walks in on Cohn (whose homosexuality is an open secret) having an orgy.
Trump wants to develop the derelict midtown Commodore Hotel, near Grand Central Terminal, into a Hyatt. Cohn, using blackmail audiotapes of officials, helps Trump get a $160 million tax abatement for the project, outraging advocates for the poor. Trump does not ask Fred, with whom he has a tense relationship, for permission to build.
Trump develops the luxurious Trump Tower, belittling Fred's smaller achievements, and the media begins to treat him as a successful mogul. Cohn criticizes unions and welfare queens, presenting himself as a guardian of the American spirit, while attacking rules, morals, and truth. During the Reagan era, Trump says America needs to be stronger instead of disrespected by foreign nations. Trump and Roger Stone approve of one of Reagan's slogans, "Let's Make America Great Again".
Against Cohn's advice, Trump proceeds with some real estate developments, such as the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, causing losses. Fred is ashamed of his eldest son, Fred Jr., for becoming an airline pilot with TWA, considering it akin to being "a bus driver with wings". Fred Jr. spirals into alcoholism, derailing his career, while the Trump family distances themselves from his self-destruction, and he eventually dies, devastating the family. His mother, Mary Anne, is agonized by this, and by Donald's attempts to manipulate his father's dementia to gain control of his siblings' inheritance to pay off mounting debts.
Trump meets Czech model Ivana Zelníčková, gets her admitted to his club after she is turned away, pays for her expenses, then pursues her to Aspen, Colorado to ask her on a date. They eventually wed. She becomes an influential figure in the success of The Trump Organization. However, Trump grows resentful of Ivana overshadowing his fame and tells her he is no longer attracted to her (though not mentioning his various affairs). She complains of her breast enlargement he requested and calls him fat, so he assaults her. Now addicted to amphetamines to help control his weight, Donald is discouraged from using them by his doctor, with whom he discusses his obesity and baldness. Trump has contentious relations with the new mayor, Ed Koch.
While facing disbarment, Cohn develops AIDS but publicly denies it. His lover Russell also develops AIDS, and Cohn asks Trump to put Russell up at the Hyatt. Trump eventually evicts Russell, claiming that guests complained, and refuses to approach Cohn, who berates Trump on the street, calling him an ungrateful fraud. After Russell dies, Trump takes Cohn to Florida and celebrates his birthday. He gives Cohn Trump-branded diamond cufflinks, but Ivana informs Cohn during dinner that the diamonds are zirconium knockoffs. When the cake arrives, Roy weeps and excuses himself from the table.
Cohn dies in 1986. Trump undergoes liposuction and scalp-reduction surgeries. He meets with Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter of his autobiography, The Art of the Deal, and misquotes Cohn's three rules as his own. Trump muses about becoming President of the United States, talks about the genetic superiority of winners, and expatiates his greatness while looking out toward an American flag waving against the backdrop of the New York skyline.

## Cast

* Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump
* Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn
* Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump
* Martin Donovan as Fred Trump Sr.
* Catherine McNally as Mary Anne Trump
* Charlie Carrick as Fred Trump Jr.
* Ben Sullivan as Russell Eldridge
* Jason Blicker as George Steinbrenner
* Mark Rendall as Roger Stone
* Joe Pingue as Anthony Salerno
* Bruce Beaton as Andy Warhol
* Ian D. Clark as Ed Koch
* Tom Barnett as Rupert Murdoch
* Stuart Hughes as Mike Wallace

## Production

The film was first announced in May 2018. Gabriel Sherman, who had covered Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign as a journalist, was announced to be writing the screenplay. Sherman wanted to tell Donald Trump's "origin story" after speaking about the relationship between Trump and Roy Cohn with "people who had worked for Trump since the '80s." During these conversations, Sherman learned about how Cohn had mentored Trump, who during his 2016 campaign, employed "strategies" that had been taught to him by Cohn. In 2022, Sebastian Stan signed on to play Donald Trump. To prepare for the role during pre-production, Stan listened to tapes of a younger Trump's voice as he did daily tasks, even practicing how his mouth moves, having a talent for imitating people since childhood. In addition to this, Stan thought about how he was told about the American Dream when, after moving from Romania to the United States, his mother took him to see New York City's skyscrapers.
In October 2023, Ali Abbasi was confirmed to be joining the film as director and, as initially reported, co-writer. However, it was later confirmed that Sherman would be the film's sole writer. According to Abbasi, producers had shared the script with multiple filmmakers, including Paul Thomas Anderson and Clint Eastwood, who had turned down the offer to direct, seeing the film as a "business risk". In anticipation of filming, Stan consumed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Coca-Colas to gain weight. When the film got temporarily suspended, he started bulking up in order to reprise his role as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Thunderbolts*, but had to frustratingly reverse course when that Marvel Studios production got suspended as well due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The film began principal photography in November 2023 in Toronto, where Stan, Strong and Bakalova were announced as the lead roles. Filming wrapped on January 28, 2024. In February 2024, it was announced that Martin Donovan had joined the cast portraying Fred Trump. The film is a joint production of Canada, Denmark, Ireland and the United States.
In September 2024, after financier Kinematics, backed by Trump supporter Dan Snyder, exited The Apprentice due to creative differences, independent production and distribution companyRich Spirit, founded by James Shani, stepped in to fill the financial gap. Initially an early investor with a $500,000 contribution, Shani acquired Kinematics' stake and secured additional private investment to support the film's release. This acquisition occurred when other studios were hesitant to distribute the film, fearing potential retaliation from Donald Trump. Steven Cheung, Trump's then-chief campaign spokesperson said: "We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers," he added "This 'film' is pure malicious defamation, should not see the light of day."
Rich Spirit expanded into distribution through this acquisition, partnering with Briarcliff Entertainment for The Apprentice's domestic release on October 11, 2024. The company is focused on independent films, genre cinema, and international productions, with an emphasis on bold, original storytelling and grassroots marketing strategies. Shani, a USC alumnus, previously worked in music videos and commercial production before moving into film financing and distribution.
In collaboration with Briarcliff CEO Tom Ortenberg, Shani launched an awards campaign for The Apprentice, targeting multiple Academy Award categories, including Best Director (Ali Abbasi) and acting nominations for Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong. Rich Spirit also planned an extended marketing strategy through 2025, featuring university screenings and community activations.
The success of The Apprentice positioned Rich Spirit as an emerging boutique studio, aiming to acquire and distribute three to four films per year, prioritizing projects that resonate with younger and international audiences. The company has since engaged in discussions for future acquisitions, including a potential partnership on another Briarcliff release.
In October 2024, Abbasi described the film as "a movie about a human being". Strong characterized it as "a humanistic interrogation and investigation of these people. Ali is not making The Great Dictator — it's not a farce, it's not a cartoon. We're trying to hold a mirror up to this world and these individuals and try to understand how we got here."

## Release

The Apprentice was submitted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, held from May 14 to 25, 2024. It was included in competition for the Palme d'Or in April 2024, alongside 18 other films, and had its world premiere on May 20, 2024, at the festival. It also screened at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2024, and the 2024 BFI London Film Festival on October 15, 2024.
Following the departure of financier Kinematics, Rich Spirit, an independent production and distribution company founded by James Shani, stepped in to provide additional financing for the film and supported its domestic release. Initially an early investor, Shani acquired a majority stake in the project and partnered with Briarcliff Entertainment to ensure its theatrical distribution.
StudioCanal acquired UK and Irish distribution rights to the film prior to its world premiere at Cannes. In June 2024, after much difficulty in finding a domestic distributor over concerns regarding its content as well as an attempt by Trump's legal team to block its release, Tom Ortenberg's Briarcliff Entertainment was reported to be close to acquiring U.S. distribution rights for a fall 2024 release, a deal that was confirmed in August 2024. The film was distributed in Australia by Madman Films.
On September 3, 2024, a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter was launched to help prolong the film's theatrical release in the US, with rewards including props worn in the film and VIP tickets to attend the film's premiere in New York City. The first trailer for the film was released on September 10, 2024, coinciding with the presidential debate between Trump and Kamala Harris.
The Apprentice was released theatrically in Australia on October 10, 2024, and in the US on October 11, with limited marketing costs (including no TV spots). The film was released on premium video on demand (PVOD) on November 1, 2024. Following its 97th Academy Awards nominations, Briarcliff announced a re-release in theaters beginning on January 31. Rich Spirit implemented a grassroots marketing campaign that extended into 2025, including university screenings, community events, and pop-up discussions featuring cast and crew members. The company positioned the film as a case study for its boutique distribution model, focusing on bold, independent storytelling aimed at younger and international audiences.

### Home media and streaming

As of March 5th 2025, "The Apprentice" can be rented on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime or YouTube.

## Reception
### Box office

In the United States and Canada, The Apprentice was released alongside Terrifier 3, Piece by Piece, My Hero Academia: You're Next, and the wide expansion of Saturday Night, and was projected to gross $1–3 million from 1,740 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $590,000 on its first day, including $150,000 from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $1.6 million, finishing 10th. Anthony D'Alessandro of Deadline Hollywood said Briarcliff Entertainment struggled to market the film because of a limited marketing spend, despite its controversies with the former president; iSpot, which tracks TV spots, said there were no spots registered for The Apprentice, and theatrical trailers supposed to be attached to Wolfs were reduced after that film scaled back its release. Furthermore, Briarcliff could not start booking theaters and fully promoting the film until Labor Day weekend, which complicated its rollout.
As of January 2025, The Apprentice has grossed approximately $17.3 million worldwide, with $4 million from the United States and Canada, and $13.3 million from international markets. ​
In the United States and Canada, The Apprentice was released on October 11, 2024, across 1,740 theaters. It debuted at tenth place, earning $1.6 million in its opening weekend. The film's domestic run concluded with a total gross of $4 million.
Internationally, The Apprentice performed as follows:​
* United Kingdom: Released on October 18, 2024, with an opening weekend of $977,720, totaling $2.8 million.​
* France: Released on October 9, 2024, with an opening weekend of $623,273, totaling $2.3 million.​
* Germany: Released on October 17, 2024, with an opening weekend of $289,574, totaling $1.5 million.
* Denmark: Released on October 17, 2024, totaling $1 million.
* Netherlands: Released on October 24, 2024, with an opening weekend of $205,003, totaling $897,319.​
* Sweden: Released on October 11, 2024, totaling $840,715.​
* Italy: Released on October 17, 2024, with an opening weekend of $177,031, totaling $374,535.
* Finland: Released on October 11, 2024, totaling $332,716.​
* Switzerland: Released on October 17, 2024, totaling $327,003.
* Belgium: Released on October 16, 2024, totaling $315,037.​
* Austria: Released on October 17, 2024, totaling $284,033.​
* Norway: Released on October 18, 2024, with an opening weekend of $68,379, totaling $251,644.​
* Poland: Released on October 18, 2024, with an opening weekend of $61,227, totaling $221,750.​
Budget and Financial Outcome
The film had a production budget of $16 million. With a worldwide gross of $17.3 million, it achieved a modest profit. ​
The Apprentice received critical acclaim, particularly for the performances of Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, both of whom received nominations for major awards.

### Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 83% of 242 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Instead of cross-examining its subject, The Apprentice gives Sebastian Stan the chance to shine in a simplistic yet entertaining foray into the world of a young Trump." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 64 out of 100, based on 54 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B–" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it a 71% overall positive score, with 46% saying they would definitely recommend it. On AlloCiné, the film received an average rating of 3.6 out of 5, based on 30 reviews from French critics.
David Rooney in The Hollywood Reporter praised Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong's performances in the film with Stan "going beyond impersonation to capture the essence of the man". Beyond the portrayal of Trump and Cohn, Rooney writes that the film examines the rise of 'winners' and 'losers' thinking in American life from the cynicism of the Nixon years to the rise of corporate greed during the Reagan presidency in the 1980s. The Times' Kevin Maher gave the film 4/5 stars, writing, "This is the Donald Trump movie that you never knew you needed: full of compassionate feeling yet ruthless in analysis." James Croot of Stuff also gave the film 4/5 stars, calling it "an engrossing mentor-mentee tale (à la The Color of Money or Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps) that showcases two, quite frankly, amazing performances."
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film 2/5 stars, writing, "Director Ali Abbasi has given us fascinating monsters in the past with Holy Spider and Border but the monstrosity here is almost sentimental, a cartoon Xeroxed from many other satirical Trump takes and knowing prophetic echoes of his political future."
Stone tweeted of Strong, "I knew Roy Cohn. Roy Cohn was a friend of mine. As much as I hate to say it, this guy deserves an Oscar". He added, "I am, however, much better looking than the guy they had playing me" (Rendall).
During his acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor at the 97th Academy Awards, Kieran Culkin praised his former Succession co-star Jeremy Strong, who was also nominated in the same category for his role in The Apprentice. Culkin addressed Strong directly, saying, "Jeremy, you're amazing in The Apprentice. I love your work; it's f***ing great."

### Accolades

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Cannes Film Festival | May 25, 2024 | Palme d'Or | Ali Abbasi | Nominated | |
| Astra Film Awards | December 8, 2024 | Best Indie Feature | The Apprentice | Nominated | |
| San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle | December 15, 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |
| Toronto Film Critics Association | December 15, 2024 | Outstanding Supporting Performance | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | December 20, 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Jeremy Strong | Won | |
| Golden Globe Awards | January 5, 2025 | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Sebastian Stan | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards | January 5, 2025 | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |
| Austin Film Critics Association | January 6, 2025 | Best Supporting Actor | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |
| London Film Critics Circle | February 2, 2025 | Supporting Actor of the Year | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |
| Artios Awards | February 12, 2025 | Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Feature Studio or Independent (Drama) | Carmen Cuba, Stephanie Gorin, and Brendan Wilcocks | Nominated | |
| British Academy Film Awards | February 16, 2025 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Sebastian Stan | Nominated | |
| British Academy Film Awards | February 16, 2025 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |
| British Academy Film Awards | February 16, 2025 | Best Casting | Carmen Cuba and Stephanie Gorin | Nominated | |
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 22, 2025 | Best Director | Ali Abbasi | Nominated | [64] [65] [66] |
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 22, 2025 | Best Lead Performance | Sebastian Stan | Nominated | [64] [65] [66] |
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 22, 2025 | Best Editing | Olivier Bugge Coutté and Olivia Neergaard-Holm | Nominated | [64] [65] [66] |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | February 23, 2025 | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |
| César Awards | February 28, 2025 | Best Foreign Film | The Apprentice | Nominated | |
| Academy Awards | March 2, 2025 | Best Actor | Sebastian Stan | Nominated | |
| Academy Awards | March 2, 2025 | Best Supporting Actor | Jeremy Strong | Nominated | |

### Legal issues

Trump described the film as "a cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job" and described those involved in it as "human scum".
Billionaire Dan Snyder, formerly the owner of the Washington Commanders NFL team, invested money in the production of The Apprentice with the impression that the film would be a positive portrayal of Trump. Snyder is a close friend of Trump who donated $1.1 million to his inaugural committee and Trump Victory Committee in 2016 and $100,000 to his 2020 presidential campaign. After seeing a cut of the film in February 2024, Snyder was said to be furious, and lawyers for the Snyder-backed Kinematics production company sought to stop the release of the film.
The film includes controversial scenes, including those that depict Trump violently raping his first wife, Ivana, abusing amphetamines to lose weight, and undergoing liposuction and plastic surgery to remove a bald spot. The rape scene was based on divorce records. In a deposition under oath, rendered during their divorce proceedings, Ivana accused Donald of rape and of pulling out her hair by the handful when his plastic surgery to alter his hairline failed. In 2015 Ivana Trump issued a statement clarifying earlier allegations made during her 1989 divorce proceedings. She claimed that her use of the term "rape" was not meant in a literal or criminal sense and was made during a time of high emotion, stating "Donald and I are the best of friends, and together we have raised three children that we love and are very proud of. I have nothing but fondness for Donald, and I wish him the best of luck on his campaign. [...] I have recently read some comments attributed to me from nearly 30 years ago at a time of very high tension during my divorce from Donald. The story is totally without merit. Donald and I are the best of friends and he would never rape me." Sherman cited the Trump biography Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J. Trump, by Harry Hurt, as the main source for Trump's use of amphetamines and said, "There’s been other reporting over the years that Trump, in the ’80s, took these pills that essentially are amphetamines, and they kind of give you manic energy...It’s always been one of the explanations for why he went on this deal-making binge...I felt it was one of the themes of the film—as Trump gains more power, he loses touch with his own humanity. I thought of the diet pills as him trying to develop this superpower of never needing to sleep."
On May 20, 2024, Variety reported that Steven Cheung, the communications director of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, threatened legal action over the film. On May 24, Variety reported that Trump's attorneys sent a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers, seeking to block "all marketing, distribution, and publication of the Movie." The film's producers responded to the letter by issuing a statement saying, "The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide."
Subsequent to this, Abbasi offered to screen the film for Trump, believing that he might approve of its depiction of him. He also said that realistic films need to be produced about the threat of fascism.
In September 2024, Dan Snyder and his production company Kinematics sold its stake in the film, citing creative differences. Snyder was reportedly motivated to depart because of the film's unflattering and controversial portrayal of the central figure. The stake was acquired by James Shani and his production company Rich Spirit, which was already involved in the film with an original investment of $500,000.