Plot Summary

The Lobster presents a striking dystopian vision set in the not-so-distant future, where being single is considered a crime. In this rigidly controlled society, individuals without partners are arrested and sent to a remote hotel, where they are given exactly 45 days to find a compatible mate.

Within the confines of the hotel, guests are subjected to absurd rituals and psychological pressure designed to force emotional connections. Relationships are not built on love or intimacy, but on shared superficial traits, as pairing becomes a matter of survival rather than choice.

Those who fail to form a successful relationship within the allotted time face a chilling punishment: they are transformed into an animal of their own choosing and released into the wilderness. This cruel rule turns personal desire into a calculated decision, blurring the line between human identity and instinct.

The Lobster uses deadpan humor and unsettling logic to critique modern ideas of romance, conformity, and social obligation. Through its surreal narrative and emotional detachment, the film challenges the audience to question whether love can truly exist under coercion—and what it means to be human in a world that fears solitude.