Black Mass

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Black Mass

R

2015

2h 2m

Biography

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

289 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

While his brother Bill (Benedict Cumberbatch) remains a powerful leader in the Massachusetts Senate, Irish hoodlum James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) continues to pursue a life of crime in 1970s Boston. Approached by FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), the lawman convinces Whitey to help the agency fight the Italian mob. As their unholy alliance spirals out of control, Bulger increases his power and evades capture to become one of the most dangerous gangsters in U.S. history.

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Critics Consensus

Black Mass spins a gripping yarn out of its fact-based story -- and leaves audiences with one of Johnny Depp's most compelling performances in years.

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Angie Han

Slashfilm

06/14/2017

Scott Cooper appears to have made Black Mass under the assumption that his work was half done the moment he jotted the words "Boston-set crime drama" on a notepad.

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Kristen Yoonsoo Kim

Complex

02/22/2017

2/5

Depp sticks out like a sore thumb in an otherwise bland crime drama. And when the film isn't distracting, it's mostly just plain boring.

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Max Weiss

Baltimore Magazine

06/12/2016

2/4

Yes, it's a relief to see Depp playing a real character again, not another one of his circus freaks -- I just wish he'd been given a better film to operate in.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

02/16/2024

3/5

Still, for at least two hours, it's awfully nice to stare in impressive awe at Johnny Depp without having to roll our eyes or squint.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

05/27/2022

2.5/4

Despite the seemingly eternal appeal of gangsters in cinema, and Bulger as a subject of fascination and horror, Black Mass proves to be little more than uninterestingly made based-on-a-true-story fare.

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Olly Richards

NME (New Musical Express)

06/08/2021

3/5

Johnny Depp plays a monstrous Boston gangster in a disguise so unsettling you'll struggle to recognise him.

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Ian M

09/07/2024

Dont glorify what he did, solid film

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Don V

Nov 29

Black Mass' walks in a very entertaining way between the work of its director - the sensational sequences of violence - and its actors.

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Ant O

Sep 3

Depp’s finest hour and a great score. A jaw dropping story even if they messed it up. They didn’t.

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Gareth v

Aug 13

While the pacing can be uneven and the storytelling occasionally feels more procedural than personal, the atmosphere, tension, and commitment to authenticity keeps it interesting enough from start to finish.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 30

Based on a true story in 2 hours and 2 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Brutal Violence, Brief Drug Use, Language Throughout and Some Sexual References!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $62,600,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Yossam I

Jun 26

Black Mass is as good as it can be given its constraints, holding the audience's attention throughout with lean editing and sterling performances.

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Scott Cooper

Director

Johnny Depp

James "Whitey" Bulger

Joel Edgerton

John Connolly

Benedict Cumberbatch

Bill Bulger

Dakota Johnson

Lindsey Cyr

Kevin Bacon

FBI Agent Charles McGuire

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Synopsis

While his brother Bill (Benedict Cumberbatch) remains a powerful leader in the Massachusetts Senate, Irish hoodlum James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) continues to pursue a life of crime in 1970s Boston. Approached by FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), the lawman convinces Whitey to help the agency fight the Italian mob. As their unholy alliance spirals out of control, Bulger increases his power and evades capture to become one of the most dangerous gangsters in U.S. history.

Director: Scott Cooper
Producer: John Lesher, Brian Oliver, Scott Cooper, Patrick McCormick, Tyler Thompson
Screenwriter: Mark Mallouk, Jez Butterworth
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Head Gear Films, Free State Pictures, Warner Bros., Le Grisbi, Cross Creek Pictures, RatPac-Dune Entertainment
Rating: R (Brutal Violence|Brief Drug Use|Language Throughout|Some Sexual References)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $62.6M
Runtime: 2h 2m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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