The Apprentice

Set in late 1970s New York, The Apprentice follows a hungry young Donald Trump as he learns the ropes of real estate power and self promotion. He craves not just money but public notice, a name people fear and respect. A chance encounter with Roy Cohn, the ruthless attorney with a knack for turning threats into leverage, changes his course. Cohn spots a fearless apprentice who will do what it takes to win and quickly becomes the man behind the myth, shaping strategy, swagger, and increasingly audacious deals. As the Trump clan watches, the film traces how ambition, family pride, and a mentor's hard edge fuse to forge a future star who is never just what he seems.

Directed by Ali Abbasi, the film adapts Gabriel Sherman's material and lands in 2024 with a 16 million budget, featuring Sebastian Stan as a young Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn alongside Maria Bakalova as Ivana.

Box office worldwide gross is 17,271,613 dollars, a modest return against a 16 million budget. The numbers reflect a solid opening and steady performance that sparks discussion about profitability.

Reception and themes revolve around the pull of ambition and the mentor-protege bond that shapes a future political dynasty. The film casts Stan as a hungry, calculating Trump and Strong as a formidable Cohn, giving the late 1970s New York power scene a tight, calculating edge. The setting and family dynamics deepen the portrait.