A Most Violent Year

R

Released Dec 31, 2014

2 hr. 4 min.

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

90%

234 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1981 New York, a fuel supplier (Oscar Isaac) tries to adhere to his own moral compass amid the rampant violence, corruption and decay that threaten his family and his business.

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Critics Consensus

Gritty, gripping, and weighted with thought-provoking heft, A Most Violent Year represents another strong entry in writer-director J.C. Chandor's impressive filmography.

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Jerod S

I was surprised with how understated A Most Violent Year was. Isaac and Chastain run a oil company in NYC in the early 80s. Things are shady and they've evading violence against their employees and charges from the DA.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/21/24

Full Review

Georgan G

Perspective is everything. What looks like a crook to me, may live in an environment where he is considered a righteous man. Held my interest every moment.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/18/24

Full Review

James B

good movie but very slow. movie was 2 hours long but felt like 3 hours long. had to stop movie on max app multiple times and come back to it because it was slow. great chase scene highlight of film. film is slow but great acting good cinematography and good costume design and dialogue. worth a watch for acting only. i would not rewatch this film though because its very very slow paced.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/24

Full Review

Alec C

It's hard to stay above the corruption in a year of crime, violence and betrayal! A fuel supplier finds his business and personal life threatened by thievery and serious setbacks as he tries to maintain a somewhat law-abiding position. Intense and introspective, this film examines the lines between morality and business mentality!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

Full Review

Scott M

Morality story about a business owner who is constantly berated by his wife for not chosing an immoral path. Oscar Isaac and Chastain are wonderful as usual. Some parts of the movie could've been better, but overall it was very entertaining.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/02/24

Full Review

Alec B

The narrative is alternately too vague and too straightforward, often engaging and well acted but never as brilliant as it could be.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

Full Review

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J.C. Chandor

Director

Oscar Isaac

Abel Morales

Jessica Chastain

Anna

David Oyelowo

Lawrence

Alessandro Nivola

Peter Forente

Albert Brooks

Andrew Walsh

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Instead of directing a movie that screams "HEY, IT'S THE '80S," he made one that looks, sounds, and feels like a refugee from that era, and lets the audience do the rest.

May 30, 2016

Full Review

Adam Nayman

Reverse Shot

A Most Violent Year's final scenes are its worst: they reveal that the plot's sure-footed plodding hasn't led anywhere unexpected, narratively or thematically.

Dec 14, 2015

Full Review

Nick Schager

The Daily Beast

A Most Violent Year resonates as the rare film to not simply take its superficial cues from The Godfather, but to truly understand its underlying ideas -- and, more impressive still, to re-work them into something thrillingly unique.

Oct 20, 2015

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

There is something to be said about sitting back and watching good actors work.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A Most Violent Year is a brilliant look at greed, hubris, and the effect of capitalism, and it cements Chandor as a distinctive voice in American cinema.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 18, 2022

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

[S]et in the crime-ridden culture of early 1980s New York City (which was the most violent year on record in the city’s history), it's a smart, shadowy tribute to the crime dramas of the seventies and early eighties...

Aug 9, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

In 1981 New York, a fuel supplier (Oscar Isaac) tries to adhere to his own moral compass amid the rampant violence, corruption and decay that threaten his family and his business.

Director: J.C. Chandor
Executive Producer: Jeff Skoll, Jonathan King, Glen Basner, Joshua Blum, Kerry Orent
Screenwriter: J.C. Chandor
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Before the Door, Old Bull Pictures, Washingston Square Films
Rating: R (Some Violence|Language)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 31, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7M
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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