The 10th Victim

The 10th Victim

Year: 1965

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Elio Petri

ComedyDrama

In a near‑future society where wars are avoided, violent individuals are given a sanctioned chance to kill in the Big Hunt. The Hunt, the world’s most popular sport, offers fame and fortune to participants who alternate ten rounds—five as hunter, five as victim—until only one remains. The cat‑and‑mouse chase makes it a survival spectacle.

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Timeline & Setting – The 10th Victim (1965)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The 10th Victim (1965). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

21st century

The story unfolds after World War III in a post-war, high-gloss society. Violent tendencies are channeled into a televised competition that runs across a global, media-saturated landscape. The world’s elite seek fame and fortune through ten rounds of perilous engagement, with retirement as the ultimate prize.

Location

Rome, Temple of Venus, the beach

In the near-future Rome serves as the main urban stage for The Big Hunt. The Temple of Venus is a key public backdrop for interviews and staged dangers, reflecting the game’s blend of mythic imagery and media spectacle. Beach locations appear as glamorous sets where seduction and danger play out in front of the cameras.

🏛️ Rome 🎬 Modern Satire 🌍 International Setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:52

Main Characters – The 10th Victim (1965)

Meet the key characters of The 10th Victim (1965), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Marcello Polletti (Marcello Mastroianni)

A seasoned contestant who has already racked up six kills, yet finds his wealth dwindling as his mistress Olga and ex-wife Lidia cash in on his fame. He is resourceful, wary of manipulation, and willing to bend the rules to survive The Big Hunt. Despite the odds, he holds a pragmatic, cool-headed approach to the deadly game and the cameras watching his every move.

💼 Wealth 🎭 Charisma 🧭 Pragmatism

Caroline Meredith (Ursula Andress)

A victim-turned-strategist who travels to Rome and adopts the persona of a reporter to study Italian men's sexual preoccupations. She engineers a dramatic live-fire moment by drugging Marcello and intends to kill him on air, but the plan backfires. Her drive for fame and fortune makes her both dangerous and daring.

🎯 Ambition 🕵️‍♀️ Cunning 📺 Publicity

Olga (Elsa Martinelli)

Marcello's mistress who has spent his winnings on a lavish lifestyle. She represents the personal cost of the game’s glamour and demonstrates how wealth and romance can complicate strategic planning within The Big Hunt.

💎 Indulgence 💰 Financial Interests 🎭 Drama

Lidia (Luce Bonifassy)

Marcello's ex-wife, a participant in the web of financial and romantic entanglements that surround the game. Her role underscores how wealth and fame affect relationships, and how past choices continue to factor into present schemes.

💔 Past 💰 Wealth 🧭 Revenge

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:52

Major Themes – The 10th Victim (1965)

Explore the central themes of The 10th Victim (1965), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Media Spectacle

The film exposes how reality is manufactured for audiences and sponsors. The Big Hunt is designed to deliver high ratings, blending violence with glamour. Characters manipulate events and themselves to perform for the cameras, blurring the line between life and entertainment.

💰 Wealth & Power

Money drives every move, from sponsorships to personal vendettas. Past winnings being spent by lovers and ex-spouses highlight the fragility of wealth in a fame-obsessed world. The pursuit of retirement riches fuels betrayals, schemes, and alliances.

❤️ Love & Escape

Romance emerges amid manipulation as Caroline and Marcello drift from prey and hunter to partners. Their plan to break free from The Big Hunt culminates in a spontaneous marriage, suggesting that human connection can outlive the spectacle. The finale, with a celebratory shower of flowers, reframes the game as a miracle of escape rather than conquest.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:52

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Futuristic Media Satires like The 10th Victim

Stylish critiques of a future world obsessed with entertainment and performance.If you enjoyed the satirical take on televised violence in The 10th Victim, you'll find similar critiques here. These movies imagine future or alternate worlds where entertainment, news, or social status have become dangerously intertwined, offering thought-provoking and stylish stories.

satiricalfuturistictenseabsurdstylishthought-provokingsuspenseful

Narrative Summary

These stories often center on a protagonist caught within a system that turns life into a performance. The conflict arises from the tension between authentic human connection and the demands of a spectacle-hungry society, leading to a questioning of the very nature of reality and violence.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared focus on using science fiction and satire to explore themes of media manipulation, the performance of identity, and the absurdity of a society that treats serious matters as entertainment. The tone balances tension with a darkly humorous or surreal edge.

Hunter vs Hunted Romance Movies like The 10th Victim

High-stakes hunter vs hunted dynamics complicated by unexpected attraction.Fans of the erotic and tense cat-and-mouse chase in The 10th Victim will enjoy these films. They feature similar dynamics where professional adversaries find their deadly mission complicated by growing attraction, leading to bittersweet and uncertain outcomes.

tenseeroticsuspensefulbittersweetcat-and-mouseromantic tensiondangerous attraction

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows two opponents locked in a structured, high-stakes conflict. As they pursue each other, a genuine connection forms, forcing them to choose between their assigned roles and their newfound feelings. This internal conflict often leads to a climax where they must collaborate to escape the system that pits them against each other.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific blend of suspense and romance, where the core tension comes from the life-or-death game and the emotional unpredictability of the central relationship. The pacing is steady, building towards a confrontation that resolves the physical danger but leaves the romantic future ambiguous.

Unlock the Full Story of The 10th Victim

Don't stop at just watching — explore The 10th Victim in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The 10th Victim is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The 10th Victim Summary

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The 10th Victim Summary

The 10th Victim Timeline

Track the full timeline of The 10th Victim with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The 10th Victim Timeline

The 10th Victim Spoiler-Free Summary

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The 10th Victim Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The 10th Victim

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