Black Butterfly
Paul, a down on his luck screenwriter, takes in a drifter he meets, hoping to lend a hand and perhaps spark a new story. But the guest proves unstable, breaking into Paul's apartment and gripping the night with threats. The stranger imposes a harsh demand he must write under hostage pressure,... Read more
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Streaming availability last verified: January 19, 2026
About Black Butterfly
Paul, a down on his luck screenwriter, takes in a drifter he meets, hoping to lend a hand and perhaps spark a new story. But the guest proves unstable, breaking into Paul's apartment and gripping the night with threats. The stranger imposes a harsh demand he must write under hostage pressure, turning the writer's world into a pressure chamber. As days blur into nights, the forced collaboration uncovers past betrayals, debts, and secrets neither man anticipated. The bond between captor and captive tightens in troubling ways, revealing that the art of writing may be as dangerous as the blade that holds it. The tension arises from threats and the moral cost of turning someone into a reader of private secrets.
Directed by Brian Goodman, Black Butterfly is a psychological thriller built from a collaboration between writers Justin Stanley and Marc Frydman. It features Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Rhys Meyers in a claustrophobic setup that tests trust and resilience under pressure.
Box office data for Black Butterfly isn't listed in the provided materials, so no reliable worldwide gross figure is available here. The film's commercial footprint remains uncharted in this description globally. Its production values suggest a lean but determined approach.
Critics described the film as a taut character study that probes coercive power and the price of art under duress. It centers on trust, guilt, and hidden histories that reshape who the characters are when the grip loosens. The atmosphere relies on close quarters, a minimal score, and restrained performances.
There isn't a notable cultural footprint attached to Black Butterfly. No famous quotable lines or iconic scenes have entered pop culture, and the film tends to be remembered mainly by genre fans who appreciate intimate psychological thrillers that favor performance and mood over flashy set pieces. It rewards patient viewers.
What Viewers Are Saying
Most viewers see Black Butterfly as a solid if not standout suspense thriller that works best as a one time watch. The plot threads a lonely writer, a woman helping him sell his house, and a tense trucker encounter, and it dangles several endings that can feel overlong. The pace shifts from a slow setup to brisk, twisty turns, and the finale sparks debate with some wishing for a different ending.
Details
- Release Date
- May 26, 2017
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Rating
- R
- User Ratings
- 561 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Thriller, Mystery, Drama
- Country
- United States
- Studio
- Battleplan Productions +3 more
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Antonio Banderas
Paul
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Jack
Piper Perabo
Laura
Abel Ferrara
Pat
Nicholas Aaron
Delivery Man
Vincent Riotta
Lt Carcano
Gioia Libardoni
Waitress
Nathalie Rapti Gomez
Julie
Alexandra Klim
Paul's Wife
Katie McGovern
Nancy Barrows
Director: Brian Goodman
Written by: Justin Stanley, Marc Frydman