The Boondock Saints

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The Boondock Saints

R

Released Aug 4, 1999

1h 50m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

26%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Tired of the crime overrunning the streets of Boston, Irish Catholic twin brothers Conner (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) are inspired by their faith to cleanse their hometown of evil with their own brand of zealous vigilante justice. As they hunt down and kill one notorious gangster after another, they become controversial folk heroes in the community. But Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe), an eccentric FBI agent, is fast closing in on their blood-soaked trail.

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Critics Consensus

A juvenile, ugly movie that represents the worst tendencies of directors channeling Tarantino.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

A macho bloodbath with a lot of juvenile humor and fake Catholic mysticism...

Jul 14, 2022

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Nathan Rabin

AV Club

Satire or self-parody would be vastly preferable to the film's unironic endorsement of outlaw justice, but you'd be hard pressed to find anything resembling irony or subversiveness in this exercise in lovingly rendered ultra-violence.

Jul 26, 2011

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

[A] dim-witted, aesthetically clunky Tarantino clone.

Rated: C-

Oct 23, 2009

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The entire production feels uneven, shoddy, and offensively oxymoronic.

Rated: 0.5/4

Aug 30, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

An enthralling gangster epic, a solid action film, and a jolting vigilante-justice crime caper.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 10, 2020

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Ed Travis

Hollywood Jesus

The Boondock Saints, on one level, is a really great direct-to-video cult film. Stylish, defiantly endearing, and even borderline iconic.

Apr 10, 2020

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Chris R

The critics need to get a new job maybe? This film is an absolute piece of art, cult following or not it's great even in 2025!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/25

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Anson M

An enthralling gangster epic, a solid action film, and a jolting vigilante-justice crime caper.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

Full Review

Jeff W

I’m with the critics on this one. I don’t understand the cult fascination with this film. It’s an absolute mess.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

Full Review

Audience Member

There is nothing to hate about this movie! How Rotten Tomato's didn't hone in on this movie being fun Is beyond me!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $45,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/25

Full Review

Alain E

I am a big fan of Willem Dafoe, but sadly I agree with the professional reviewers. This parody of gangster movies starts ok, but eventually loses direction and keeps going on and on. The analogy with Tarantino only reveals the ignorance of the people who think there is any relationship. Like comparing generic convenience store vodka in a plastic container with Grey Goose. As one of the heroes says in the movie: People in glass houses sink ships!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

Full Review

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Troy Duffy

Director

Willem Dafoe

Paul Smecker

Sean Patrick Flanery

Connor MacManus

Norman Reedus

Murphy MacManus

David Della Rocco

David Della 'Roc

Billy Connolly

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Synopsis

Tired of the crime overrunning the streets of Boston, Irish Catholic twin brothers Conner (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) are inspired by their faith to cleanse their hometown of evil with their own brand of zealous vigilante justice. As they hunt down and kill one notorious gangster after another, they become controversial folk heroes in the community. But Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe), an eccentric FBI agent, is fast closing in on their blood-soaked trail.

Director: Troy Duffy
Producer: Chris Brinker, Robert N. Fried, Elie Samaha, Lloyd Segan
Screenwriter: Troy Duffy
Distributor: New City Releasing [us], Indican Pictures
Production Co: Chris Brinker Productions, B.D.S. Productions Inc, Fried Films, Franchise Pictures, Brood Syndicate, The Lloyd Segan Company
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $45.0K
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby

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