review aggregator rotten tomatoes reports that 77% of 94 critics gave the film a positive review, for an average rating of 6.7/10. the site's consensus states that "more complicated than your average bodice ripper, catherine breillat's last mistress features beautiful costumes, wrought romances, and a feral performance from argento." metacritic gave the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 25 critics.