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A Most Violent Year

Play trailer Poster for A Most Violent Year R 2014 2h 4m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 227 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
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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A Most Violent Year

A Most Violent Year

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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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Critics Reviews

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Jason Bailey Flavorwire 05/30/2016
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. Go to Full Review
Adam Nayman Reverse Shot 12/14/2015
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. Go to Full Review
Nick Schager The Daily Beast 10/20/2015
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. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/19/2022
4.5/5
There is something to be said about sitting back and watching good actors work. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 08/18/2022
4/4
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. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 08/09/2022
[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... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Frank W Jul 16 The movie had all of the trappings to pull me in. A good story about corruption, business, competition with a slight hint of implied gangsterism Good acting. . But the movie never gave what it was teasing with. No real action. The wife kept saying she and her dad whom We assume was a gangster would Handle things but it never happened. A long drawn out movie with a weak ending that amounted to nothing. I wish I could get my time back. The guy played the character like Michael Corleone. Boy what a tease. It was all For nothing. See more patrick l @Paddytheshadow Jun 29 A very decent movie. Smart and well acted. Way better than some of the crap been chucked out these days. See more Stephen L Mar 15 ​"A Most Violent Year" is a masterfully crafted film that delves into the moral complexities of ambition and integrity. Oscar Isaac delivers a compelling performance as Abel Morales, a man striving to uphold his principles amidst escalating pressures in 1981 New York City. Jessica Chastain's portrayal of his wife, Anna, is equally remarkable, adding depth to the narrative. J.C. Chandor's direction emphasizes storytelling and strong performances over flashy cinematic techniques, resulting in a gripping and thought-provoking experience. Despite its critical acclaim, the film remains underappreciated, making it a must-watch for those seeking quality cinema. See more Jan 30 What movie were the 90% watching? This movie Sucked. Love the cast but Boy, it was so boring I was snoring halfway through. This might be the thinnest script I've ever watched. And the nonsensical plot points- are you telling me the driver had the courage to buy and use a gun and engage in a gun fight- but chose to commit suicide rather then go to jail? For gun possession? Felony gun possession for a person w/ a totally clean record and given the victim of multiple robberies would've probably not even done jail time? You can't take something that has no drama and make it melodramatic, which is what they tried to do. I am a collector and I have movies that aren't awesome for one reason of another but this is a movie I won't be adding to mine, there just wasn't anything to it. Bad Netflix movies have deeper manuscripts, and that's saying a lot. See more Oaklee D @ODie63 09/27/2024 I was introduced to the work of Oscar Isaacs when I saw this movie for the first time a few years ago. Upon rewatching it I found that even though Isaacs offers a great performance, this film is a very slow slog to sit through. It definitely won't be everybody's cup of tea and it wasn't mine but go see it and decide that for yourself. See more Jodi W @msjlynnhtx 07/30/2024 I honestly did not expect myself to say this but this may be one of the best films I have seen. See more Read all reviews
A Most Violent Year

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Movie Info

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
Producer
Neal Dodson, Anna Gerb, J.C. Chandor
Screenwriter
J.C. Chandor
Distributor
A24
Production Co
Washingston Square Films, Old Bull Pictures, Before the Door
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
Runtime
2h 4m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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