Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

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Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

R

Released Oct 26, 2007

1h 56m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

179 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a debt-ridden broker, needs some quick cash. He ropes his younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke), into a scheme to commit the perfect crime: to rob their parents' (Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris) jewelry store. The scheme goes horribly awry, and the family patriarch takes justice into his own hands, unaware that the criminals he is hunting are his own sons.

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Critics Consensus

A tense and effective thriller, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead marks a triumphant return to form for director Sidney Lumet.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

I enjoyed it all the way through the last second.

Rated: A-

Sep 12, 2017

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Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

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Jordan Hoffman

UGO

Suspense and action would be enough to seal this film, but the feeling of dread, that under different circumstances this could be us, makes this a heist picture for the ages.

Rated: A-

Aug 14, 2009

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Ray Pride

Newcity

Told with force and assurance, hewing to primal archetypes of family and fate; economy of means; elegance of composition; a sense of time and place that is immediately coherent and memorable; a bracing sense of humor.

Rated: 10/10

Aug 29, 2024

Full Review

Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

Fortunately, [Sidney] Lumet's hard work has paid off this time around--the title comes from the Irish toast, "May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead"--and he's currently at work on his 45th feature in 50 years.

Rated: 3.4/4

Mar 17, 2024

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Dimitris Passas

PopMatters

There is a lot of family drama in Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, combined with bouts of suspense, and the finalé is fitting and satisfying.

Nov 28, 2023

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Johannes S

It just takes one dark turn after the next until the rabbit hole collapses. Very solid thriller.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/25

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Jeremiah C

Interesting story full of deplorable characters and a narrative sequence that made absolutely no sense. Having the timeline jump all over the place added nothing to the story and only serves to disorient the reader. Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan made unorthodox sequencing popular, and directors just ran amok with it in the 2000s. This is an example of said running amok.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/10/25

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Tany s

It's a script and casting that grabs you from the very first moment. The performances of the protagonists are on another level, they leave you breathless and keep you glued to the screen. It's a true cinematic gem. It's a shame that actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman, are no longer with us. He was a genius, an unparalleled talent. He really made you feel every emotion of the character. I highly recommend you watch it, it's an experience you can't miss.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

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Audience Member

This cinematography is good for its time but the script itself is deficient. The film talks to you while barely ever looking you in the eye. Beyond having a prime Marisa Tomei sauntering around half nude in 85% of her scenes, there's not much to like about this film. The cast is extremely talented, but the way the story is told leaves a lot to be desired.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

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Sergio A

One of the best screenplays of that decade, with a handling of time jumps and flashbacks so elegant that even Nolan would admire it. The finest final work of one of the greatest directors in history.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

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Steven N

This movie is okay. The acting is outstanding out the plot jumping around so much seemed unnecessary. It was hard to ground yourself around the characters with everything moving so much. 5/10

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/25

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Andy Hanson

Ethan Hawke

Hank

Marisa Tomei

Gina

Albert Finney

Charles

Rosemary Harris

Nanette

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Synopsis

Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a debt-ridden broker, needs some quick cash. He ropes his younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke), into a scheme to commit the perfect crime: to rob their parents' (Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris) jewelry store. The scheme goes horribly awry, and the family patriarch takes justice into his own hands, unaware that the criminals he is hunting are his own sons.

Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Michael Cerenzie, Brian Linse, Paul Parmar, William S. Gilmore
Screenwriter: Kelly Masterson
Distributor: ThinkFilm
Production Co: Capitol Films, Funky Buddha Productions, Unity Productions
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Nudity|Strong Graphic Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 15, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.1M
Runtime: 1h 56m

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