Much like many of von Trier's films, Melancholia (2011) is an exceedingly bizarre and unique film. The film follows two sisters (played by Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg, respectively) who have a strained relationship. However, once another planet appears and threatens to collide with Earth, their relationship is challenged even more as they both must fight to survive in the face of tremendous challenges (like hailstorms, for example).
The critics consensus on movie review website Rotten Tomatoes says the following of the film: "Melancholia's dramatic tricks are more obvious than they should be, but this is otherwise a showcase for Kirsten Dunst's acting and for Lars von Trier's profound, visceral vision of depression and destruction." And although the film won only a few minor awards (including Best Actress for Dunst at the Academy of Science Fiction), it was moderately successful at the box office. Against a budget of approximately $10 million, it made back $15.9 million at the box office. Nevertheless, Melancholia will likely not be remembered as a great film -- or even von Trier's best. Still, it is an incredibly solid movie which made a little bit of money at the box office in the United States and abroad.
