Contempt
“More bold! More brazen! And much, much more Bardot!”
Art film producer Jeremy Prokosch, unhappy with the work of his director, hires Fritz Lang (as himself) to direct an adaptation of The Odyssey, but when it seems that the legendary filmmaker is making a picture destined to bomb, he brings in a screenwriter to energise the script. The professional intersects with the personal when a rift develops between the writer and his wife.
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Cast
8 people
Brigitte Bardot
Camille Javal
Known for
...And God Created Woman
The Truth
Michel Piccoli
Paul Javal
Known for
We Have a Pope
Belle de Jour
Jack Palance
Jeremy Prokosch
Known for
The Swan Princess
Batman
Giorgia Moll
Francesca Vanini
Known for
Misunderstood
Fritz Lang
Fritz Lang
Also in
For Example Fritz Lang
Hilde Warren and Death
Raoul Coutard
Cameraman
Also in
The Hideout
The Outskirts of Alphaville
Jean-Luc Godard
Lang's Assistant Director
Known for
Breathless
Fiancés on the Bridge
Linda Veras
Sirene
Known for
Run, Man, Run
Sabata
Jean-Luc Godard Director · Alberto Moravia Author Georges Delerue Composer
Worldwide gross $528K · Budget $900K · United States release December 18, 1964
Box office
Budget
$900,000
Worldwide gross
$528,428
Gross vs. budget
0.6×
Production
Rome-Paris Films
Production
Les Films Concordia
Production
C. C. Champion
Production
Compagnia Cinematografica Champion
Production
France · Italy
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Le Mépris
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
English · French · German · Italian
Release dates
Italy · October 29, 1963
Theatrical
France · December 20, 1963
Theatrical
United States · December 18, 1964
Theatrical
United States
June 27, 1997 · Theatrical · Re-release
China
April 16, 2026 · Premiere · Beijing International Film Festival
Denmark
November 27, 1964 · Theatrical
Finland
March 27, 1964 · Theatrical
December 26, 1997 · Theatrical · Re-release
France
April 20, 1999 · Physical · DVD
November 3, 2009 · Physical · Bluray
July 27, 2011 · Theatrical · Re-release
August 24, 2011 · Digital · VOD
November 20, 2013 · Theatrical · Re-release
November 25, 2019 · TV · France•5
September 1, 2020 · Digital · Netflix
May 24, 2023 · Theatrical · 60ème Anniversaire du film "Le Mépris" de Jean-Luc Godard
June 14, 2023 · Physical · Édition 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray™ (enrichie de nombreux bonus)
July 29, 2025 · TV · France•5
December 28, 2025 · Digital · (hommage à Brigitte Bardot : 28/09/1934 - 28/12/2025) France•tv
December 28, 2025 · TV · (hommage à Brigitte Bardot : 28/09/1934 - 28/12/2025) France•2
September 11, 2026 · TV · Ciné+ Classic
Germany
January 22, 1965 · Theatrical · West Germany
August 29, 2002 · Theatrical
Indonesia
November 22, 2025 · Premiere · Festival Sinema Prancis
Japan
November 22, 1964 · Theatrical
Netherlands
September 24, 2009 · Physical · Bluray
April 5, 2010 · Physical · DVD
January 18, 2018 · Theatrical · Re-release
September 14, 2023 · Theatrical · Re-release (Digitally Restored Version)
Portugal
July 25, 1974 · Theatrical
February 22, 1976 · Limited theatrical · Cineclube do Porto
November 21, 1997 · Theatrical · Re-release
Russia
November 10, 2011 · Physical · DVD
October 30, 2025 · Theatrical
South Korea
January 8, 2004 · Physical
July 15, 2026 · Theatrical
Sweden
December 17, 1966 · Theatrical
Türkiye
May 8, 1972 · Theatrical
Uruguay
August 23, 1965 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.