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

272 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

Full Review

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

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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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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Eisenberg’s script is observant and whip-smart, but it only works as well as it does because the actors he has cast perform their roles with such thought and delicacy

Rated: 8/10

Apr 13, 2025

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

a serio-comic film of genuine depth, nuance, and humanity that asks hard questions in a meaningful way

Rated: 4/4

Apr 1, 2025

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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

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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

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Karen

The movie was very slow and left us all confused

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/02/25

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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

Full Review

Mike C

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

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

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Boca Tennis Reviewer

Very, very much a one-note film. If you like Kieren Culkin, you are in for a treat. Otherwise, i would stay home.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/25

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

8:37

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

1:03

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A Real Pain: Featurette - Passion

1:47

A Real Pain: Featurette - Odd Couple

2:38

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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