The Apartment

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The Apartment

1960,

2h 5m,

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

94%

108 Reviews

Tomatometer

94%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

108 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Insurance worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) lends his Upper West Side apartment to company bosses to use for extramarital affairs. When his manager Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) begins using Baxter's apartment in exchange for promoting him, Baxter is disappointed to learn that Sheldrake's mistress is Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), the elevator girl at work whom Baxter is interested in himself. Soon Baxter must decide between the girl he loves and the advancement of his career.

Critics Consensus

Director Billy Wilder's customary cynicism is leavened here by tender humor, romance, and genuine pathos.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

Jul 12, 2025

5/5

The Apartment remains remarkably modern in both its construction and sensibility.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Feb 5, 2025

5/5

Such gritty material is infused with Wilder’s compassion and defined by two towering central performances.

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

Apr 18, 2022

Though lighter than Arrows 2018 release on the extras front, Kinos 4K of The Apartment provides the definitive home-video presentation of one of Billy Wilders greatest films.

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Carson Timar

ClapperCast

Aug 29, 2026

Billy Wilder reinvents the American drama with The Apartment, giving a far more grounded look at the debauchery that exists in established industries and breaking apart the American myth while having tons of fun.

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Noah Gittell

Washington City Paper

May 8, 2025

The film’s darkness, culminating in a shocking scene in which a character overdoses on sleeping pills and must be painstakingly revived, doesn’t just serve its sneaky social critique. It also upholds its romance.

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Brian Viner

Daily Mail (UK)

Jan 31, 2025

5/5

The screenplay by Wilder and IAL Diamond is as fresh and sparkling now as it ever was.

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Ron R

Mar 10, 2019

With some of the sharpest dialogue you'll hear in a motion picture, Wilder beautifully manages two sad clowns through a darkly humorous situation.

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Hermione M

Feb 7, 2019

I know Wilder is a world-renowned filmmaker, but is it possible heâ(TM)s still kinda underrated? This is a stone-cold cinematic masterpiece. MacLaine and Lemmon are beyond perfect; their charisma, their unique chemistry, their individual melancholy. It all centers the hilariously cynical story with beautiful humanity, a story thatâ(TM)s especially fascinating in the #metoo era; not just because of the women, but because of the way the upper level men treat the lower level men. Heartbreaking/warming and brilliant.

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George S

Dec 22, 2018

This movie was a gem to watch. It had y attention all the way through to the end. Great actors in this film along with a great producer - Billy Wilder

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Abraham S

Dec 21, 2018

Great movie, great actors. Must see! Seriously people give this movie a chance.

George W

Sep 2, 2018

yet not much fun to me...

Poe P

Jul 19, 2018

Jack Lemon is one of the finest film actors of all time and with Shirley MacLaine they bring out all the humanity in the dreary existence's of CC Baxter as a small time hustler renting his apartment to his higher ups in his company hoping to get a promotion and Fran as an elevator operator.The performances are as painful to watch as they are endearing. Its a bit of a miracle

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Billy Wilder

Director

Jack Lemmon

C.C. Baxter

Shirley MacLaine

Fran Kubelik

Fred MacMurray

Jeff D. Sheldrake

Ray Walston

Joe Dobisch

David Lewis

Al Kirkeby

The Apartment: Official Clip - You're on Your Way Up

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The Apartment: Official Clip - Shut Up and Deal

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The Apartment: Official Clip - The Floating Key

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The Apartment: Official Clip - Fruitcake Every Christmas

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The Apartment: Official Clip - Slow Down, Kid!

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The Apartment: Official Clip - We Never Close at Buddy Boy's

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The Apartment: Official Clip - Ring in the New

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The Apartment: Official Clip - All Washed Up

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The Apartment: Official Clip - A Flower From Miss Kubelik

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The Apartment: Official Clip - Sheldrake Wants the Apartment

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Synopsis

Insurance worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) lends his Upper West Side apartment to company bosses to use for extramarital affairs. When his manager Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) begins using Baxter's apartment in exchange for promoting him, Baxter is disappointed to learn that Sheldrake's mistress is Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), the elevator girl at work whom Baxter is interested in himself. Soon Baxter must decide between the girl he loves and the advancement of his career.

Director: Billy Wilder
Producer: Billy Wilder
Screenwriter: Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond
Production Co: Mirisch Corporation
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 1960, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 29, 2016
Runtime: 2h 5m

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