A Real Pain

Play trailer

2:20

A Real Pain

R

2024

1h 29m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

278 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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.

Read Audience Reviews

Arjun Sajip

Sight & Sound

Nov 11

It plays nicely as a buddy movie, the lack of surprises in characterisation made up for by the vividness of the performances.

Go to Full Review

Adam Nayman

Toronto Star

Jun 17

3/4

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.

Go to Full Review

Stephen Romei

The Australian

Feb 21

4/5

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

Go to Full Review

Nicolás Medina

Peliplat

Dec 4

6/10

"At its core, A Real Pain is a story about journeys. The literal journey to Poland and the internal journey of two characters who try, in their own way, to make sense of their family history. " [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Matthew Koss

The Wandering Screen (YouTube)

Aug 16

A

What truly resonates in this film is its exploration of connection—the desperate need for it and the struggle to find common ground when distance grows.

Go to Full Review

Patrick Beatty

ABC4 Utah

Aug 11

“A Real Pain” is a real joy.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Loretta

21h

Kieran Culkin was great.

See more

patrick c

Sep 20

Meh, boring and annoying.

See more

Nathan

Jul 15

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

See more

Ettie

Feb 14

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.

See more

Ruth W

Feb 11

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.

See more

Karen

Feb 2

The movie was very slow and left us all confused

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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?

1:14

A Real Pain: Movie Clip - She Said That?

0:58

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

1:03

View more videos

Twinless

97%

94%

Twinless

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Twinless

My Dead Friend Zoe

94%

95%

My Dead Friend Zoe

Watchlist

TRAILER

for My Dead Friend Zoe

Somewhere in Queens

92%

92%

Somewhere in Queens

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Somewhere in Queens

Cha Cha Real Smooth

85%

61%

Cha Cha Real Smooth

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Cha Cha Real Smooth

Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood

86%

70%

Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Awards Leaderboard: Best Movies of 2024

Oscars 2025: Where to Watch the Nominees

Dune: Part Two and The Substance Nominated at 2025 Producers Guild Awards (PGA)

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

View more videos

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now