the film. Release In September 2014, the first image from the film was released. Equals was sold by Mister Smith Entertainment to over 35 territories for distribution at Marché du Film during the Cannes Film Festival. On July 29, 2015, it was announced that Equals was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival and had its world premiere on September 5. On August 18, 2015, it was announced the film was selected to have its North American premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. On October 16, 2015, it was announced A24 alongside DirecTV Cinema had acquired the distribution rights of the film. The film was released on DirecTV Cinema on May 26, 2016, before opening in a limited release on July 15, 2016. Reception The film has received mixed reviews from critics. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 36% based on 83 reviews with a weighted average score of 5.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Equals is a treat for the eyes, but its futuristic aesthetic isn't enough to make up for its plodding pace and aimlessly derivative story." On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 43 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Peter Debruge of Variety, giving the film a positive review, said "Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult play citizens living in an emotion-free future who struggle to understand the attraction they feel for one another in this stylish, if simplistic sci-fi romance." IndieWire gave the film a C−, writing that "the real wonder and marvel and breathless mystery of Equals may be that something so dazzlingly white can be so very dull." See also We (novel) Brave New World THX 1138 Equilibrium (film) 1984 (novel) References External links 2015 films 2015 independent films 2015 romantic drama films 2010s science fiction drama films A24 (company) films American independent films American romantic drama films American science fiction drama films American dystopian films Films directed by Drake Doremus Films shot in Osaka Films shot in Singapore Films shot in Tokyo Scott Free Productions films Films scored by Dustin O'Halloran 2010s English-language films 2010s American films