He’s wearing a cheap green suit and fake Savile Row gloves. His name is Lord Doyle—well, technically it’s Brendan Reilly, but in the neon-soaked fever dream of Macau, names are mostly just suggestions. This is the setup for The Ballad of a Small Player, and honestly, it might be the most "Colin Farrell" performance we’ve seen in years.
After the massive, prosthetically-heavy success of The Penguin, you'd think the man would take a break. Instead, he teamed up with director Edward Berger—the guy who gave us the visceral All Quiet on the Western Front—to make a movie about a man who is addicted to losing. It’s a weird, lurid, and surprisingly soulful psychological thriller that just hit Netflix.
You’ve probably seen the trailer. It makes the movie look like a high-stakes heist or a slick action thriller.
It isn't. Not really.
What Most People Get Wrong About The Ballad of a Small Player
There’s a misconception that this is just another Rounders or The Gambler. People see a casino and think "heist." But colin farrell new film is actually a ghost story masquerading as a noir.
Farrell plays a disgraced Irish financier who fled to Macau after some serious financial crimes back in the UK. He spends his nights at the baccarat tables, playing a character he invented for himself. The "Lord Doyle" persona is a shield. Underneath it, he’s just a guy drowning in debt, alcohol, and a very specific kind of superstition that only gamblers truly understand.
The movie isn't interested in the "win." It’s interested in the unraveling.
🔗 Read more: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
- The Setting: Macau is rendered as an opulent, tacky, beautiful hellscape. It’s not the glitz of Vegas; it’s more oppressive.
- The Performance: Farrell has this way of "carrying pain in his eyes," as director Kogonada once put it. In this film, he uses that to show a man who is literally clutching his own arm to stop himself from betting another hand.
- The Twist: Tilda Swinton shows up as Cynthia Blithe, a private investigator who is basically the embodiment of Reilly’s past coming to collect.
Honestly, the chemistry between Farrell and Fala Chen, who plays a mysterious credit broker named Dao Ming, is the actual heart of the film. She sees through his "Lord" act immediately. She’s the one who tells him, "Winning will get you killed faster than losing." That’s a heavy line, and Farrell plays the reaction with a silence that’s louder than any dialogue.
Why 2025 Was a Rollercoaster for Farrell
It’s been a strange year for him. Before The Ballad of a Small Player landed on Netflix in late October 2025, he had another big swing: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.
That one was a romantic fantasy co-starring Margot Robbie. On paper, it was a guaranteed hit. Sony put $45 million into it. It had a script from the Black List. It had Kogonada directing.
And it flopped. Hard.
The box office was a measly $20 million, and critics were... let's say "confused." It was a movie about two strangers reliving their pasts through a magical GPS. Maybe it was too whimsical? Maybe the tone didn't land? Either way, it left a bit of a bruise on Farrell’s recent hot streak.
That’s why colin farrell new film on Netflix feels like such a redemption. Even though the reviews for Ballad have been a bit mixed—currently sitting around 48% to 64% on Rotten Tomatoes depending on which day you check—the praise for Farrell himself has been universal. He’s doing that thing he does best: playing a charming loser who is his own worst enemy.
💡 You might also like: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
Breaking Down the Plot (Without Giving Too Much Away)
The film follows Reilly as he hits rock bottom. He’s about to be kicked out of his luxury hotel. He’s being hunted by creditors. Then, he meets Dao Ming.
The story takes a turn into magical realism. Is he hallucinating? Is Macau actually haunted? There are scenes with "Grandma" (played by the legendary Deanie Ip) that suggest the casinos are filled with literal ghosts of people who lost everything.
The climax involves a final $8 million bet on a single hand of baccarat. It’s tense, but it’s not about the money. It’s about whether Reilly can finally stop running from himself.
The Edward Berger Factor
Edward Berger is a director who loves "sensory overload." If you saw Conclave or All Quiet, you know he doesn't do "quiet" very well. The score by Volker Bertelmann in Ballad is thunderous. Sometimes it’s a bit much.
Critics have pointed out that the movie "squanders its virtues by doubling down on excess." They aren't wrong. There are moments where the style swallows the story.
But when Berger just lets the camera sit on Farrell’s face, it’s magic. There’s a specific scene where he’s drinking heavily at a bar, trying to maintain the "Lord Doyle" facade while his hands are shaking. It’s heartbreaking. It’s the kind of acting that wins awards, even if the movie itself is divisive.
📖 Related: Priyanka Chopra Latest Movies: Why Her 2026 Slate Is Riskier Than You Think
What’s Next for Colin Farrell?
So, where does he go from here?
The big question everyone is asking: Will there be a Penguin Season 2? Farrell has been a bit cagey about it. In recent interviews, he’s joked about the grueling makeup process, saying he’s not sure he wants to sit in that chair for another year. But with the DCU expanding under James Gunn, the character of Oz Cobb is too big to just disappear.
For now, he seems to be leaning back into these "upscale," character-driven dramas. He’s at a point in his career where he can balance the massive blockbusters with weird, gritty Netflix thrillers.
If you're looking for something to watch tonight, The Ballad of a Small Player is the move. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s occasionally confusing, but it’s a reminder that Colin Farrell is one of the few actors who can make a "cheap green suit" look like a suit of armor.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Buffs
- Watch for the Sound: Pay attention to the Foley work and the score. Berger uses sound to mimic the anxiety of addiction. It’s uncomfortable on purpose.
- Check out Lawrence Osborne: If the movie’s vibe hits you, read the original 2014 novel. It’s even darker and more introspective than the film.
- Compare the Performances: If you have time, watch a clip of Farrell in The Penguin and then a scene from Ballad. The physical transformation—not just the makeup, but the posture and gait—is a masterclass in range.
Don't go into this expecting a happy ending or a standard thriller. Go into it for the atmosphere. It’s a moody, neon-lit character study that proves Farrell is still one of the most interesting actors working today.
Check out The Ballad of a Small Player on Netflix—it's currently sitting in the Top 10 for a reason.