Trophy (2017)
89%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 6 nominations
Trophy offers a thought-provoking look at big-game hunting that should challenge, trouble, and enrage viewers regardless of their personal perspective.
Trophy is a documentary that will make you think twice about your stance on big-game hunting. While some critics found the storytelling to be choppy and disjointed, others praised the filmmakers for their even-handed approach to a complex issue. Personally, I found the film to be a wild ride, like a rollercoaster of emotions. One minute I was outraged at the hunters, the next I was sympathizing with their arguments. It’s definitely not a comfortable viewing experience, but it’s one that will leave you with a lot to ponder. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Louis Theroux-style documentary?
Production Company(ies)
2.4.7. Films, France 3 Cinéma The Kennedy Marshall Company,
Distributor
The Orchard
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2017
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 48m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2017
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, big-game hunting, wildlife conservation, animals, commodities, Shaul Schwarz, Christina Clusiau, Lauren Haber, Julia Nottingham, box office, gross USA, The Orchard, MPAA rating, reviewed by Ben Sachs, Kristen Lopez, Simran Hans, Trevor Johnston, Isobel Raphael, Ed Potton, Leslie Combemale, Marisa Carpico, Amelie Lasker, Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Daniel Krauze, Edward Porter, starring Tim Black, Philip Glass, John Hume, Bill Travers Jr., directed by Shaul Schwarz, Christina Clusiau, written by N/A, producer N/A, budget N/A, critic reviews, Fresh Kernels, audience score, streaming movies, TV shows, theaters, limited release, English, genre, runtime, distributor, documentary film, thought-provoking, big-game hunting industry, breeding industry, wildlife conservation industry, complex consequences, commercial case, emotive kills, African big-game trade, hunters’ reasoning, moral quandaries, Louis Theroux documentary, eye-opening scenes, knotty, balanced idea, necessary, top horror movies, RT podcasts, most anticipated movies, best Netflix series, renewed & cancelled TV shows 2022, worst horror movies of all time, best Netflix series & shows
Worldwide gross: $22,553
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $27,204
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,111
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,967
US/Canada gross: $21,439
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $25,860
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,791
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,522
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,248
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,812
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Philip Glass – self
John Hume – self
Bill Travers Jr. – self
Shaul Schwarz – director
Christina Clusiau – director
Director(s)
Shaul Schwarz, Christina Clusiau
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Lauren Haber, Julia Nottingham
Film Festivals
Sundance, South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (2)
Schwarz and Clusiau also come across as glib storytellers, cutting impatiently between several different stories and presenting them in bite-size chunks, as in a TV news broadcast.
March 25, 2020
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Trophy should be mandatory viewing in spite of its narrative presentation.
November 20, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kristen Lopez
Spectrum Culture
TOP CRITIC
The film gives voice to the commercial case for breeding and hunting, which feels at odds with the emotive way these kills are positioned.
November 19, 2017 | Rating: 2/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
If ‘Blue Planet II’ is a bit too touchy-feely for you, this hard-hitting doc should do the trick.
November 17, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Trevor Johnston
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A powerful film, but also sometimes very tough to watch.
November 17, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Isobel Raphael
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau’s disturbing documentary digs into the murk of the African big-game trade with candour and even-handedness.
November 17, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Ed Potton
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It behooves those of us with curiosity, a conscience, and a desire to find solutions to pay attention. The documentary Trophy asks us to consider one such issue, and as such is worth a little discomfort.
October 18, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Leslie Combemale
Cinema Siren
However, the new documentary, Trophy…suggests that not only is the issue of hunting vs. conservationism not so black-and-white, but that the two [are] intertwined.
December 25, 2018 | Rating: 9/10
Marisa Carpico
The Pop Break
In the style of a Louis Theroux documentary, Trophy’s filmmakers give us extensive insight into the hunters’ reasoning for doing things some of us might think cruel and even disgusting.
August 26, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Amelie Lasker
FF2 Media
The stakes are high, so it’s worth considering all points of view. Thanks to the even-handed, illuminating approach of directors Christina Clusiau and Shaul Schwarz … , we can.
February 25, 2018
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Hammer to Nail
Trophy is not a pleasant experience, but it is necessary.
December 8, 2017
Daniel Krauze
El Financiero
In an account full of eye-opening scenes, the film gives us a knotty, balanced idea of the moral quandaries involved.
November 20, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Edward Porter
Sunday Times (UK)…
Plot
Trophy is a startling exploration of the evolving relationship between big-game hunting and wildlife conservation that will leave you debating what is right, what is wrong and what is necessary in order to save the great species of the world from extinction.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary Trophy features interviews with Tim Black, Philip Glass, John Hume, and Bill Travers Jr.
Shaul-Schwarz.jpg
