The Apprentice is a 2024 biographical drama directed by Ali Abbasi that follows Donald Trump's rise as a New York real estate mogul during the 1970s and 1980s, with Sebastian Stan starring as Trump and Jeremy Strong as his ruthless mentor, lawyer Roy Cohn. The film vividly portrays how Cohn's infamous "three rules"—always attack, never admit wrongdoing, and always claim victory—shape Trump's business tactics as he develops the Commodore Hotel and the iconic Trump Tower. After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2024, to an eight-minute standing ovation and critical praise, the movie struggled to find an American distributor due to legal threats from Trump's team before Briarcliff Entertainment released it theatrically on October 11, 2024. Despite the buzz, it underperformed at the box office, grossing $17 million worldwide against a $16 million budget. While critics lauded the performances and editing, Trump himself called it a "defamatory, politically disgusting hatchet job," yet the film ultimately earned Academy Award nominations for both Stan and Strong at the 97th Oscars.