In a dark, whirling swirl of neon lights and desperation, the just-released trailer for Netflix's psychological thriller, Ballad of a Small Player, stars Colin Farrell as a struggling man already trapped by debt, memory, and the tawdry implosion of chance. He leans into risk and destruction, painting a picture of a gambler pushed to his limits. Crime thriller enthusiasts are having a field day dissecting every frame of the irresistible trailer, which puts The Penguin star's new role on a wild, yet familiar, ride.

No sooner had the trailer landed online than the users flooded social media with polarizing views on Colin Farrell's performance as Lord Doyle, rife with tormented breakdowns, grit, gambling, and self-destruction in equal measure. While some X users commended Farrell's turn to sink into the dark and haunting characters, others, however, bristled at what they saw as a cliché gambler trope or glorification of crime. 

In the Ballad of a Small Player, helmed by Edward Berger (Conclave and All Quiet on the Western Front Fame) and scripted by Rowan Joffé from Lawrence Osborne's 2014 novel, Farrell portrays Lord Doyle, a compulsive gambler hiding out in Macau, buried in debt and tormented by what went wrong. As Doyle's universe collapses, he is brought face-to-face with Dao Ming (Fala Chen), whose secrets hold the key to salvation or further danger. Tilda Swinton stars as Cynthia Blithe, a gumshoe tailing Doyle's shadow, while Deanie Ip, Alex Jennings, et al round out the cast of the psychological thriller, and fans cannot get enough of the neon-lit chaos.

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While Colin Farrell's fans remain excited to watch his new role unfold into pure pandemonium, several users online are actively standing against the upcoming release by Netflix.

Fans are divided on Colin Farrell's performance as the "desperate hero" in Netflix's psychological thriller, Ballad of a Small Player trailer. This comes amidst Netflix's increasing controversies, following which several US users have cancelled the platform. Some X users are tired of the same old gambling trope, while others consider it unnecessary. 

However, the other half of the fandom cannot stop showering Farrell with immense praise. Meanwhile, Farrell's return to a gambler role has stirred up The Penguin fans craving for more.

As fans contemplate whether to stream it or skip it, Netflix has scheduled Ballad of a Small Player's release on October 29, 2025. The movie plays in limited theaters from October 15, 2025, extended to the UK on October 17. Viewers can expect to find ample tension, visual richness, unnerving character study, and a tightly coiled fall into obsession, as Lord Doyle's wagers rise higher than chips and tables.

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Will you be watching Ballad of a Small Player on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below.