Hotel Artemis (2018) is a gritty, neo-noir sci-fi thriller written and directed by Drew Pearce, who’s better known for his work on Iron Man 3 and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. The film blends crime, science fiction, and dark humor, all set within the claustrophobic walls of a secret hospital for criminals in a dystopian Los Angeles.
Detailed Summary
The Rules of the Hotel
Set in Los Angeles, 2028, the city is in chaos following a violent riot sparked by water privatization. Amid the chaos lies the Hotel Artemis, a secret, members-only hospital run by The Nurse (Jodie Foster). The Artemis has strict rules: no cops, no weapons, no killing other patients, and no non-members. Every patient gets a room named after a city—Niagara, Waikiki, Nice, and so on.
The Nurse is assisted by Everest (Dave Bautista), a loyal and intimidating orderly who enforces the hotel’s rules with quiet menace. She’s a reclusive woman, haunted by her son’s death years ago, which keeps her isolated from the outside world.
The Arrival of Waikiki and Honolulu
Brothers Waikiki (Sterling K. Brown) and Honolulu (Brian Tyree Henry) enter the hotel after a botched bank robbery. Honolulu has been shot, and Waikiki is desperate to save him. They’re admitted as members, but tensions begin to rise when it becomes clear that the riot outside is growing—and that the Artemis is slowly becoming a pressure cooker of desperation and secrets.
The Other Guests
Among the guests are Nice (Sofia Boutella), a professional assassin with her own hidden mission, and Acapulco (Charlie Day), a sleazy arms dealer with more ego than sense. The interactions between these characters are volatile, with alliances shifting and tempers flaring as the night progresses.
The Nurse learns that the hotel’s owner and underworld kingpin, The Wolf King (Jeff Goldblum), is on his way to the Artemis—gravely injured and needing treatment. This news sends a chill through everyone.
The Wolf King Arrives
When the Wolf King finally arrives with his son Crosby (Zachary Quinto), things escalate quickly. It’s revealed that Honolulu had stolen from the Wolf King during the earlier heist—an act that now puts both brothers in mortal danger.
Meanwhile, Nice’s secret mission is revealed: she’s there to assassinate the Wolf King as revenge for killing her lover.
The Tipping Point
The Nurse finds herself caught between her moral code and the chaos surrounding her. After discovering that the Wolf King was indirectly responsible for her own son’s death, she breaks one of her cardinal rules and helps Nice carry out the hit. The assassination triggers a violent standoff, forcing everyone to make desperate choices to survive.
Movie Ending
The final act erupts into chaos. Nice successfully kills the Wolf King but is mortally wounded in the process. Waikiki discovers his brother Honolulu has died despite the Nurse’s efforts to save him. Enraged, he fights his way out, taking down Crosby and his goons.
As the riot outside reaches the hotel, the Nurse finally decides to break her own isolation. She patches up Waikiki one last time, gives him a head start, and walks out into the burning streets of Los Angeles—symbolically stepping back into life after years of hiding.
Everest stays behind to protect what’s left of the hotel, and in a bittersweet moment, we see him looking out over the ruined city. Waikiki disappears into the chaos, leaving behind the only home he’s known in years.
There’s no magical happy ending—just survival, closure, and the faint hope of redemption.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Hotel Artemis does not have a post-credits scene. Once the credits roll, that’s it. No teasers, no hidden clues—just the echo of the chaos you’ve just witnessed.
Type of Movie
Hotel Artemis is a neo-noir sci-fi thriller with elements of crime drama and dystopian fiction. It’s stylish, violent, and character-driven, blending the cool aesthetics of John Wick with the confined tension of Panic Room.
Cast
- Jodie Foster as The Nurse
- Sterling K. Brown as Waikiki
- Sofia Boutella as Nice
- Jeff Goldblum as The Wolf King
- Dave Bautista as Everest
- Charlie Day as Acapulco
- Brian Tyree Henry as Honolulu
- Zachary Quinto as Crosby
Film Music and Composer
The film’s atmospheric score was composed by Cliff Martinez, known for his work on Drive and Only God Forgives. His electronic, pulsing soundtrack perfectly matches the film’s neon-lit, claustrophobic vibe.
Filming Locations
Hotel Artemis was filmed primarily in Los Angeles, making use of old downtown buildings and custom-built sets that captured the decaying yet stylish interior of the Artemis. The hotel’s look—a mix of art deco luxury and futuristic decay—reflects the film’s theme of elegance lost to chaos.
Awards and Nominations
While Hotel Artemis didn’t win major awards, it received praise for its production design, score, and Jodie Foster’s performance. It was nominated for smaller genre awards in science fiction film circles and festivals like Saturn Awards and Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Jodie Foster came out of a five-year acting hiatus specifically for this role.
- Drew Pearce originally conceived the story as a graphic novel before turning it into a screenplay.
- The film was shot in just 33 days on a limited budget.
- The set design for the Artemis was inspired by real Los Angeles hotels from the 1920s.
- Sofia Boutella performed most of her own stunts during the film’s action scenes.
Inspirations and References
The movie takes inspiration from:
- Classic noir films like Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon.
- Cyberpunk aesthetics similar to Blade Runner.
- The secret-society element is clearly influenced by John Wick’s Continental Hotel.
- Drew Pearce has also cited the French film “La Haine” (1995) as an influence on the film’s depiction of urban unrest.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Early drafts reportedly had The Nurse die in the final act, but test audiences reacted strongly against it. Instead, the ending was rewritten to show her walking into the city, symbolizing rebirth. There were also deleted flashbacks showing more of her son’s death, which were cut for pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Hotel Artemis is an original screenplay, not based on a book. However, its layered world-building and rich lore have led many fans to wish for a novelization or prequel exploring the origins of the Artemis and The Nurse’s past.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The Nurse explaining the rules of the Artemis in the opening.
- Nice’s stunning slow-motion fight sequence in the hallway.
- The Wolf King’s calm yet menacing arrival.
- The Nurse’s emotional confession about her son.
- The hotel’s destruction as riots consume Los Angeles.
Iconic Quotes
- The Nurse: “This is a members-only hospital. You know the rules.”
- Everest: “I’m a health care professional, but this is above my pay grade.”
- Nice: “You can’t buy peace with money. Only time.”
- The Wolf King: “In this business, family is a liability.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The hotel’s design subtly mirrors the layout of a human body—each room representing an organ.
- The name “Artemis” refers to the Greek goddess of healing and protection.
- There’s a recurring motif of broken clocks, symbolizing lost time and regret.
- The Nurse’s key card number (2119) is a reference to Nurse Ratched’s patient number in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Trivia
- Jodie Foster modeled her physical performance on elderly women she observed in downtown LA.
- Drew Pearce wanted the film to feel like “a night at the end of the world.”
- The entire movie takes place over the course of one night.
- Jeff Goldblum improvised several of his lines, adding his signature charm.
Why Watch?
Watch Hotel Artemis for its unique world-building, stellar performances, and claustrophobic tension. It’s a movie for those who love morally gray characters, stylish visuals, and crime stories set against a crumbling futuristic backdrop. It’s like John Wick met The Twilight Zone in a Los Angeles hotel.
Director’s Other Works
- Fantastic Four (2015) – producer
- Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) – story
- Iron Man 3 (2013) – co-writer
- The Fall Guy (2024)
