A Real Pain

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2:20

A Real Pain

R

Released Nov 15, 2024

1h 29m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

274 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

500+ Verified Ratings

Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

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Critics Consensus

Led by a scene-stealing turn from Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain is a powerfully funny, emotionally resonant dramedy that finds writer-director-star Jesse Eisenberg playing to his strengths on either side of the camera.

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Audience Says

A Real Pain handles weighty themes with restraint and levity in an off-the-cuff naturalistic way poignantly rendered by Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg.

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Adam Nayman

Toronto Star

For the most part, it feels as though the complications and confrontations are being generated by the people onscreen instead of doled out by a screenwriter.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 17, 2025

Full Review

Stephen Romei

The Australian

[Keiran Culkin] is remarkable from the opening scene to the final moment.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 21, 2025

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Udita Jhunjhunwala

Livemint

Eisenberg tenderly and firmly directs the movie, entering the Holocaust experience through a comic road trip, speaking of modern life and several unmined feelings that continue to haunt third generation Americans.

Jan 28, 2025

Full Review

Tim Miller

Cape Cod Wave Magazine

Writer-director Jesse Eisenberg blends humor and heartbreak in this buddy dramedy in which he and Kieran Culkin play cousins who tour Poland in memory of their Holocaust survivor grandmother.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 22, 2025

Full Review

Alise Chaffins

MacGuffin or Meaning (Substack)

It may seem prudent to simply push emotions down, but A Real Pain asks us if we could do something else. Instead of ignoring them or fully indulging our worst instincts, maybe it would be better to try to express those emotions in a healthier way.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 16, 2025

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Fletcher Powell

KMUW - Wichita Public Radio

A huge step up for Eisenberg as a director.

Apr 17, 2025

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Nathan

Just a beautiful movie exploring the bonds of family and the pain that gets passed down through generations

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

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Ettie

Great concept. Can’t say I ever saw a film about cousins. Would have loved a better ending & there was room to do so. Not sure why the writers decided to end it like that.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/25

Full Review

Ruth W

Performances from Eisenberg and Culkin were great. I think the other characters could have been fleshed out more to make the story more multi-dimensional. I also bought the big reveal about Culkin's character in a monologue was a bit abrupt. Obviously Eisenberg made a conscious decision not to have flashbacks in the film, but maybe there could have been a better way to communicate the characters challenges.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/25

Full Review

Karen

The movie was very slow and left us all confused

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/02/25

Full Review

Jason B

Outstanding performances make this film worth seeing. Funny and touching, it is a bit of an emotional roller coaster… like real life can be.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/25

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Mike C

Really enjoyed this. Quirky, educational, emotional, well acted. Glad we saw it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

Full Review

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Jesse Eisenberg

Director

Kieran Culkin

Benji Kaplan

Jesse Eisenberg

David Kaplan

Jakub Gasowski

Receptionist

Will Sharpe

James

Daniel Oreskes

Mark

A Real Pain: Extended Preview

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A Real Pain: Movie Clip - Anyone Else Feeling This?

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A Real Pain: Movie Clip - She Said That?

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A Real Pain: Exclusive Movie Clip - No One Wants to Be Alone

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A Real Pain: Featurette - Passion

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A Real Pain: Featurette - Odd Couple

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A Real Pain: Featurette - Director Jesse Eisenberg

1:59

A Real Pain: Trailer 1

2:20

A Real Pain: Teaser Trailer

1:02

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Synopsis

Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Producer: Jesse Eisenberg, Ali Herting, Dave McCary, Ewa Puszczyńska, Jennifer Semler, Emma Stone, Ewa Puszczyńska
Screenwriter: Jesse Eisenberg
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Production Co: Topic Studios, Fruit Tree, Extreme Emotions
Rating: R (Some Drug Use|Language Throughout)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 2024, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 31, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.3M
Runtime: 1h 29m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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