At Cannes, applause isn’t just appreciation—it’s currency. Every year, the length of a standing ovation becomes a measure of artistic triumph or emotional impact, and Cannes 2025 was no exception.
It delivered everything a good festival should: big stars, bold premieres, and unforgettable moments. But nothing captures the drama quite like a thunderous applause
In a setting where every second of praise is watched, timed, and scrutinized, certain movies this year ignited overwhelming reactions. The following titles didn’t just play well; they echoed through the Palais with thunderous approval.
Sentimental Value – 16.3 minutes
As of Thursday 22, “Sentimental Value” by Joachim Trier has drawn the longest and most talked-about ovation of Cannes 2025. Deadline clocked the applause at an astonishing 19 minutes, while Variety and The Hollywood Reporter reported a more modest—but still impressive—15, averaging out to around 16.3 minutes of non-stop clapping.
The film, a comedy-drama co-written by Trier and longtime collaborator Eskil Vogt, follows sisters Nora and Agnes as they reconnect with their estranged father Gustav, a once-celebrated director hoping to stage a comeback. When Gustav offers Nora a role in his new film and she turns it down, tensions rise after she learns he’s given the part to a rising Hollywood star. It stars Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning, and Cory Michael Smith.
The History of Sound – 7.5 minutes
“The History of Sound,” directed by Oliver Hermanus, made its world premiere in competition at Cannes 2025, drawing early buzz for its tender, atmospheric take on queer intimacy and cultural memory. Based on Ben Shattuck’s short story, the film centers on David (Josh O’Connor) and Lionel (Paul Mescal), two young men who meet at the Boston Music Conservatory in 1917 and later embark on a journey through rural Maine, recording folk songs in the wake of World War I. Their shared mission slowly transforms into something deeper, as the soundtrack of a changing nation parallels their evolving relationship.
With its lush cinematography, restrained emotionality, and the magnetic chemistry between O’Connor and Mescal, “The History of Sound” has emerged as one of the festival’s most delicately powerful entries. The picture was hotly pursued ahead of Cannes, with Mubi ultimately securing North American rights alongside Focus Features and Universal Pictures International for global distribution.
Die My Love – 7 minutes
“Die, My Love,” Lynne Ramsay’s long-awaited return to Cannes, premiered in competition on May 17 and instantly stirred conversation for its harrowing, unflinching portrayal of a woman unraveling in isolation. Adapted from Ariana Harwicz’s explosive 2017 novel, the film stars Jennifer Lawrence as a mother in rural Montana gripped by postpartum depression and encroaching psychosis.
With Robert Pattinson in a restrained but powerful supporting role, the story unfolds in a claustrophobic farmhouse, where the protagonist’s fractured inner world collides with the expectations of motherhood, marriage, and identity.