As of this writing, “Pan’s Labyrinth” still holds the top record for standing ovations specifically at Cannes — not any other film festivals — but a pretty diverse array of other movies that premiered along the Croisette garnered a ton of applause as well. Just behind “Pan’s Labyrinth” is Michael Moore’s 2004 Iraq War documentary “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which earned 20 minutes of uninterrupted applause (and Moore’s previous effort, 2002’s “Bowling for Columbine,” had audiences clapping for 13 straight minutes). Jeff Nichols’ 2012 drama “Mud,” which stars Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, garnered 18 minutes, and the creepy 2016 Nicolas Winding Refn project “The Neon Demon” trails that record with 17 minutes of applause during its own festival.
2012’s steamy Zac Efron-Nicole Kidman effort “The Paperboy,” 2014’s French reproductive rights drama “Two Days, One Night,” and the 2018 Lebanese film “Capernaum” all had audiences on their feet and cheering for 15 minutes, and other award-season darlings like 2022’s biopic “Elvis,” 2009’s “Inglourious Basterds,” and 2018’s “BlacKkKlansman” earned 12 minutes, 11 minutes, and 10 minutes, respectively. Considering that the 2024 Cannes Film Festival is ongoing, have any films managed to even come close to the outpouring of love given to “Pan’s Labyrinth” or the films that trail it in the record books?
