The Cannes Film Festival 2025 has witnessed a polarized reception towards some of the films presented, with reactions ranging from long ovations to loud boos. While some works, such as Alpha by Julia Ducournau, have garnered nearly 12 minutes of applause, others have faced harsh criticism. A clear example of this is Personal Shopper, directed by Olivier Assayas and starring Kristen Stewart, which received boos during its presentation in 2016, reflecting a historical resistance from Cannes towards genre cinema.
A movie that was once vilified, now adored
Personal Shopper tells the story of Maureen, a young assistant to a model in Paris, who can communicate with the dead while dealing with the recent loss of her brother. This premise, which combines elements of drama and supernatural genre, was not well received at the festival, causing divisions among critics and the audience. Some, like G. Calvo from Variety, have defended Assayas’ vision, arguing that his original approach is a brave attempt to explore less conventional territories in cinema.
Despite the controversy at its premiere, Personal Shopper has achieved a favorable average on Metacritic, with a score of 77/100, suggesting that, outside of Cannes, it has found a significant group of admirers. This film, which is available on Prime Video, could be considered an interesting option for those looking for different and challenging stories.
The disparity in audience reactions at Cannes has also been notable. Historically, the festival has shown a resistance to films of certain genres, which may explain the negative reactions towards Personal Shopper and other films with similar themes. With Cannes 2025 still ongoing, the dynamics of love and hate continue to define the festival experience.
