Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord has rocked Rotten Tomatoes ratings by securing a 90% debut score. After receiving a 12-minute standing ovation at its global premiere - reportedly the biggest reaction for any film at the festival so far this year - Fjord has emerged as one of the breakthrough critical triumphs of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. And this Cannes victory has now translated into an impressive debut score.

The Rotten Tomatoes reviews suggest that the director has succeeded in what he was pushing for. Many hailed the film’s efforts to put the audience into a difficult spot where they are compelled to take sides, and many have just commended the movie’s theme that discusses the central issues at length without providing any easy answers.

Cristian Mungiu is the director, writer, and co-producer of the picture, which debuted on May 18 in the 2026 Cannes Film Festival's main competition section and is presently vying for the coveted Palme d'Or. Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve play a Romanian-Norwegian couple in the drama, and after moving to a secluded Norwegian community, their lives come under scrutiny. 

The film's restrained performances, stifling atmosphere, and emotionally devastating subject matter have all received overwhelmingly good early reviews from critics and festival goers. A similar sentiment has been echoed from the Rotten Tomatoes reviews, which largely appreciates the performances of the leads and the central theme of the film.

The worldwide praise and critical acclaim do not help but make one wonder about the story of the celebrated movie.

The plot of Fjord

Fjord, set in a small village in Norway, largely deals with a heated feud between two families. The complex relationships between two families - one with a Norwegian spouse and the other with a foreign nationality - are what make the film intriguing. The fact that both spouses' children are the same age initially provides them with something in common. 

But as the story goes on, it becomes clear how the two families differ, particularly in how they decide to raise their kids. In order to enhance the narrative, the movie eventually explores issues and queries pertaining to social and cultural diversity.

Fjord attempts to find out what it means to live in a free and accepting environment, as well as what privacy implies, through their struggle. The 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating indicates that Fjord succeeds in its quest.  

Are you excited to watch Fjord? Share your thoughts. 

Written by

Harshit Kumar

Edited by

Hriddhi Maitra