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Matador

Play trailer Poster for Matador NC-17,  1986,  1h 42m,  Comedy/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 93% 28 Reviews Tomatometer 78% 10,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Forced to retire after a goring, matador Diego Montez (Nacho Martínez) has since become a teacher. Among his students is Angel (Antonio Banderas), a naive boy so perversely desperate to impress that he attempts to rape Diego's girlfriend, Eva (Eva Cobo). He fails, but turns himself in regardless, also confessing to a series of murders he's recently seen in psychic visions. A lawyer (Assumpta Serna) steps in to defend him, but the police are unconvinced Angel is the real culprit.
Matador

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Intertwining murder and seduction, Pedro Almodóvar's Matador is a provocative thriller that will shock even the most adventurous moviegoers.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Jan 30, 2020
Almódovar unfolds this convoluted plot with zig-zagging surrealism and a careening, sordidly erotic energy that effectively undermines the culturally institutionalized repression targeted by the filmmaker. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers People Magazine Jan 30, 2020
The film is fiercely funny, executed in a reckless, raucous rage by the most wantonly gifted new filmmaker on the international scene. Almódovar relishes mocking his country's sacred cows. Go to Full Review
Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Jan 30, 2020
If Blue Velvet raised eyebrows, Matador will have some moviegoers blinking in disbelief. Go to Full Review
André Didyme-Dôme Rolling Stone en Español Aug 14, 2026
Pedro Almodóvar transforms Italian giallo, bullfighting, and melodrama into one of the most perverse, sensual, and fascinating films in his entire filmography. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Dave Giannini InSession Film Feb 27, 2024
Matador is just one more example of a filmmaker throwing caution to the wind and telling the exact story they wish to. Go to Full Review
Candice Russell South Florida Sun-Sentinel Jan 30, 2020
Almodóvar celebrates the controversial potential of the medium more so than most other directors at work today. His movies get people talking and thinking. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Luke L Jul 12, 2018 Almodovar is fucking wild and this might be his most insane film. Banderas plays a character that's pretty impossible to describe. The film takes tons of risks and especially for the 80s and while after one viewing, I have mixed reactions, it's definitely something I need to watch again. See more
Kylo R Sep 18, 2014 7.8 [Pedro Almodóvar]
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Matador

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Cast & Crew

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Pedro Almodóvar

Director

Assumpta Serna

María Cardenal

Antonio Banderas

Ángel

Nacho Martínez

Diego Montez

Eva Cobo

Eva

Julieta Serrano

Berta Giménez

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Matador

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Movie Info

Synopsis Forced to retire after a goring, matador Diego Montez (Nacho Martínez) has since become a teacher. Among his students is Angel (Antonio Banderas), a naive boy so perversely desperate to impress that he attempts to rape Diego's girlfriend, Eva (Eva Cobo). He fails, but turns himself in regardless, also confessing to a series of murders he's recently seen in psychic visions. A lawyer (Assumpta Serna) steps in to defend him, but the police are unconvinced Angel is the real culprit.
Director
Pedro Almodóvar
Screenwriter
Pedro Almodóvar
Production Co
Stratus Films
Rating
NC-17
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 7, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2016
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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