Which films had the longest standing ovations at Cannes?

As a prestigious and time-honored event, the famed Cannes Film Festival has a long history of overzealous applause. The celebrated actors and directors stand awkwardly for the entire duration, unsure of what to do with their hands, and it's weird but sweet.

Of course, a standing ovation always trumps being booed, for which the festival is also notorious, despite its elite crowds. Surprising films like 'Taxi Driver' (1976), 'L'Avventura' (1960), and Sofia Coppola's 'Marie Antoinette' (2006) were all booed by men and women in tuxedos and gowns.

Many surprising films have earned the longest standing ovations in Cannes history, with the longest recorded reaching an astounding 22 minutes! Click through to find out the films with the most physically demanding fanfare.

'Horizon: An American Saga'

In 2024, Kevin Costner finally premiered his lifelong passion project, 'Horizon: An American Saga,' at the Cannes Film Festival. The Western is his first directorial effort in 11 years and is incredibly meaningful to the 69-year-old, as he also co-wrote the film and stars in it. According to Warner Bros. Pictures, it's "a multifaceted chronicle covering the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West." Following the premiere, the crowd gave Costner a 10-minute standing ovation that brought him to tears. He made an emotional speech after, declaring that he would "never forget" the experience. "I made this. It's not mine anymore. It's yours. I knew that the minute this was over and that's what it should be." He went on, "And I hope that you do share this movie with your sweethearts, with your children. I feel so lucky. I feel so blessed — and there's three more," he announced to renewed applause. 

‘All We Imagine As Light’

'All We Imagine As Light,’ the first Indian film to enter the Cannes Film Festival in the last 30 years, this in 2024, earned an eight-minute standing ovation. A sensation that captured the hearts of audiences worldwide, it follows the storylines of three nurses in Mumbai as they face the daily challenges of living in a big city. The film was praised by critics and fans alike for its humanity, as well as its portrayal of kinship, love, and hope.

'Killers of the Flower Moon'

Martin Scorsese returned to Cannes in 2023 year for the first time since 1985’s 'After Hours,' and to roaring results. 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone premiered on May 20, and after its 3 hour and 26 minute run-time, the audience stood up and applauded for another nine minutes—the longest of the festival. The film tells the story of the dark chapter in American history when members of the Osage Nation in northeastern Oklahoma were systematically murdered, and Gladstone, who plays an Osage woman betrayed by her greedy husband, received the loudest applause of all.

'Jeanne Du Barry'

Following the premiere of Johnny Depp's French biopic 'Jeanne Du Barry,' which opened the festival on May 16, 2023, the audience gave a seven-minute standing ovation despite the backlash over Depp's mere appearance.  Variety reports that the actor, who has remained out of sight ever since his highly publicized defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, got emotional over the reaction to his role as King Louis XV. The film's director and other star, Maïwenn, who plays the king's lover, also got emotional, though she has similarly received backlash for allegedly assaulting a journalist and being "outspokenly anti-#MeToo." 

'Triangle of Sadness'

'Triangle of Sadness' had a whole eight minutes-worth of standing ovation in 2022. The dark comedy is directed by Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund and follows a model (Harris Dickinson) and his influencer girlfriend (the late Charlbi Dean), who embark on a luxury cruise for the ultra-rich which is captained by Woody Harrelson’s Marxist character.  

'The French Dispatch'

Wes Anderson's film, 'The French Dispatch,' brought its roster of A-list actors to Cannes for its premiere, among them the likes of Bill Murray, Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, and Timothee Chalamet. Swinton and Chalamet had everyone's attention from the red carpet due to their dazzling outfits, and they continued to eat up the attention during the film's incredible nine-minute standing ovation. 

'Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood'

Tarantino's 1994 'Pulp Fiction' was the cause of some boos at the festival when it won the Palme d'Or over Krzysztof Kieślowski's 'Three Colors: Red.' In 2019, however, he entered the ranks of the films with the most applause with 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' earning a seven-minute-long (some say six) standing ovation.

'Moonrise Kingdom'

Wes Anderson's 2012 film, about two 12-year-olds who fall in love, racked up a five-minute standing ovation as well.

'The Beguiled'

In 2017, Sofia Coppola soaked in a five-minute standing ovation for her haunting drama starring Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning, Colin Farrell, and Kirsten Dunst.

'Burning'

This mysterious drama by South Korean director Lee Chang-dong earned a five-minute standing ovation at the Cannes screening in 2018.

'Twin Peaks'

At the 2017 festival, David Lynch screened his two-hour premiere of the Showtime series revival, which received a five-minute standing ovation.

'Good Time'

This Safdie brothers film saw Robert Pattinson in a refreshingly new role that descends into madness and chaos, earning a six-minute standing ovation in 2017.

'Clouds of Sils Maria'

In 2014, a seven-minute standing ovation celebrated Olivier Assayas' backstage drama starring Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart.

'Foxcatcher'

In 2014, Bennett Miller's film starring Steve Carell and Channing Tatum earned not only an eight-minute standing ovation, but also the Cannes Best Director award.

'Mommy'

Canadian director Xavier Dolan earned a nine-minute standing ovation in 2015 for his emotionally striking coming-of-age drama, along with the Jury Prize.

'Biutiful'

Alejandro González Iñárritu's drama, starring Javier Bardem, earned a nine-minute standing ovation in 2010, as well as the Cannes Best Actor award for Bardem.

'Captain Fantastic'

In 2016, Matt Ross' dramedy about a family raised in isolation who venture out into the world earned a 10-minute standing ovation.

'BlacKkKlansman'

Spike Lee's provocative film won the prestigious Grand Prix in 2018, as well as a 10-minute standing ovation.

'The Artist'

In 2012, this black and white silent drama directed by Michel Hazanavicius, regarded as a French salute to Hollywood in the '20s, had an impressive 12-minute standing ovation.

'The Paperboy'

Lee Daniels' 2012 thriller starring Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack, Zac Efron, and Nicole Kidman had an impressive 15-minute standing ovation.

'The Neon Demon'

Nicolas Winding Refn's 2016 thriller starring Elle Fanning tells the story of a young girl who tries to make it big as a model in the cutthroat LA industry, and it was rousing enough to sustain 17 minutes of a standing ovation.

'Fahrenheit 9/11'

Michael Moore's 2004 political documentary questioning the Bush administration's motives for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was so brilliantly executed that the viewers gave a 20-minute standing ovation, in addition to the Palme d'Or.